Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-02-24
ATTEMPT To QUIZ
HOOVER SURPRISE
To WASA|NGT
The Atlanta Journal News Bureau,
623 Riggs Building.
by TEEQDORE TILEER

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-Politic-
ians here learned with surprise ano
some amusement t. that the sub
committee Of the Georgia state Dem
ccratic committee had "interpreted
it's presidential primary rules and
Intended to try to Smoke out" Her
tert Hoover as to his party affilia-
tions before permitting his name t.
so on the primary BALLOT
The reaction in Washington was
favorable to Mr.. Hoover. Politician
who oppose the former food admin
lstrator believe the Georgia sub
committee has made a mistake that
will quickly enure to Mr.. Hoover S
benefit. Public men who favor him
as the strongest man the Democratic
party can offer TO the country like
wise believe Hoover stock will rise
because Of the act Of the Georgia
campaign committee.
Attention is called here to the lar
guage Of the rules governing the
presidential preference primary.
These rules say that ANY man" may
get his name or the ballot if one
hundred white voters of the state
Petition that it be placed there. Now
the subcommittee has interpreted this
to mean ''any Democrat" and de-
nand is made that MI. Hoover label
himself.
1t is asked here if Mr. Hoover is
expected to deny that he is a man"
Should he make such a denial it will
come as a distinct shock to B algiurl
Poland, the United States and other
nations who regarded Mr.. Hoover as
one of the most remarkable men Of
the war period.
Many persons believe Mr.. Hoover
emerged from the war period as it's
most conspicuous and admired figure.
There was considerable talk in
Washington today about the Georgia
situation as changed by the sudden
and unexpected action of the sub
committee. The consensus of opin-
ion seemed to be that the subcom<
mittee had overreached itself q in
endeavoring to force from Mr.. Hoov-
er, who is not presidential candi-
date, a statement announcing his
party utilization and indirectly, at
least, putting, Mr.. Hoover into the
presidential race.
The country wide spread of Hoov-
er sentiment recently has been large
Iy because of his aloofness from
partisan politics and his failure to
enter scramble for office. He has
declined to say with which party he
is in sympathy at this time. He
does not have to say it, politicians of
all factions admit, because he has
a1tnrad jcn nd no
had nothing to do with the acts of
voters in Georgia and elsewhere who
want to vote for him.
1t is not believed here that Mr..
Hoover will break his silence and
by informing the Georgia executive
committee that he comes within it's
Interpretation of a rule specifying
ANY man" to mean really amy Dem
ocrat." 's'-'"
There is a suggestion here that
Mr.. Hoover would be quite justified
in replying that the Democrats of
Georgia who are petitioning for the
use of his name are best qualified
to say whether he comes within their
conceptions of a Democrat, and with
in primary rules made in Georgia,
,'pouC. WnluA WIZ hoover .pFopdply
knows little. r.
Members of the Georgia delega-
ton. naturally would not discuss the
Hoover incident today, because they
all have decided to take a neutral
attitude in the presidential primary
permitting the voters to settle the
thing Tor themselves. However, even
members of the delega ton who have
M of
as presidential nominee on the
Democratic ticket privately say the
subcommittee has erred and it's &C
ton will prove boomerang. More
than ever before, they acknowledge,
there is a disposition this year
among voters to do their own think
ing and to select, if possible, the
very best man in the country for
PRESIDENT