Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-09
What They Think of Hoover as
Il Democratic Obb0rtuntty.

TN HE foregOne conclusion that the Repub-
5 liCans will not nominate Herbert
Hoover and the probability that they
will lose in consequence many millions OF
votes which a candidate who appeals to the
country's independent thought can win, are
matters which every friend of the Democratic
party should take to mind and to heart
There are discerning Republicans here and
there. it is true, who see what an asset Hoover
would be to their organization, beggared as
1t is OF a statesmanly record and constructive
principles Tile Lincoln State1 Journal thus
points out that the powerful influence behind
the Hoover movement is the powerful, ever
increasing non-partisan spirit in America; "
the Los Angeles Express ardentIy declares
that he should receive every electoral vote
in every State" and that most genial oracle
OF Republicanism, former President Taft, has
let fall more than one significant remark
touching the Great Administrators favor
with the American rank and file. But these
are exceptional voices in the party of Lodge
and Fenrose. Typical opinion in that quar-
ter is expressed by Boss Penrose himself when
he reminds his brethren that Gin the last
Congressional election Mr.. Hoover issued a
statement insulting the Republican
party by urging the return of a Democratic
Congress- and the Pennsylvania politician
added, with the manifest approval Of his G.
O.LP. peers, "Mr. Hoover is neither good
nor a bad Republican-he is no Republican
at all This is undeniable. On every i'm
portant issue of the day Mr.. Hoover's ut
terances clash with Republican creed and
practice; so that not unless that party re-
undated its present spokesman and their poll
cies, not indeed unless it converted itself into
veritably Democratic institution, could it
conceivaby accept Hoover principles-as it
would have to do to procure Hoover leader
ship.
Now the interesting question for Demo.
cratic strategy is this: what will become of
the millions of votes that turn upon issues
and candidates rather than upon traditional
party allegiance, the votes that always tell
potently, and that in the next election are
likely to be all decisive? 1t is hardly think
able that they will go Republican with no
higher inducement in that direction than a
conventional politician on conventional plat
form. But is it any more probable that they
will go Democratic if the Democratic clan
has nothing better to offer? We of Geor-
gia and the South, of course, will stand
stoutly by the party of our affections, come
cut or 1ong-tail. But alone, it must be
reluctantly acknowledged, cannot elect a
President. We need the help of a few mil
lion votes in the North and East, a few mil
lion in the Middle West and all that we can
muster beyond the Rockies. Especially dc
we need, in this year of years, that deter
mining power of the political balance-the
Independent vote. Let us not deceive our
selves with a hope that shall be certain
to gain that element merely because the Re-
publicans are likely to lose it. The truly
independent voter (and rare though he is in
our quarter, his name. elsewhere is legion
is not given to embracing the frying pan sim
ply because he does not care to leap into
the fire. He has been known to refrain from
balloting at all, in which connection we shall
do well to remember that there are consid-
Ivy UOta in no ctr oh If O.
publicanism than there are in the strongholds
of Democracy. Strip US of our Independent
adjunct, and we are an outnumbered, hoWso-
ever valiant, host.
The land lying thus, it is not to be won.
dered that so many predetermined Demo
Gratis the nation over counseling the nomi-
nation of Herbert Hoover as their party's
W1sest choice at this monentous iuncture
They are not unmindfuI that Mr. Hoover has
refused to tie himself to "undefined partisan.
ship" They are we'll aware that he has made
no boast of his magnificent work under 2
Democratic Administration, preferring to lei
1t go as simple service to the country rather
than as anything meriting political reward
They realize, too, that he has incurred the
antlpathy OF large number of the party'E
Wlre-pullers, whose first thought, genial gen
tlemen though they are, runs naturally to self
elevation. But these circumstances instead
of 1essening Mr.. Hoover's availability. make
MS nomination all the more advisable, in the
Judgment of Democrats far and wide wht
are bordering how their party best can wiz
and best deserve to win. A glance at the lead
ing article in the latest number of that grea
and impartial mirror of current thought, the
literary Digest, will show that Hoover looms
foremost in Democratic discussion North
South East and West, and that he also il
the pronounced preference Of the Independent
press. His attitude toward the great issues
of the day." the Brooklyn Citizen (Dem) i
quoted, will find favor in both parties will
those who are progressive without being rad
zeal and with those who are conservative
without being reactiOnary." Says the st
Louis Star OndD, Herbert Hoover has &C
complished what no avowed candidate for tn
Presidency has accomplished-he has mad
his position and his convictions on some O
the leading questions of the day clear enough
for the public to know where he stands; Their
is no grab-bag uncertainty about Mr.. Hoover
at any rate" Says Governor Beckett, of NOrtl
Carolina, MIR. Hoover makes a more power
fll appeal to the sanity and to the imagina
ton of the people than any other man; il