New-York tribune., 1920-03-11
MIR. Hoover Still Enmeshed
The latest from Mr.. Hoover, wh

The latest from Mr.. Hoover, while
excellent in spirit, strengthens an
impression left by his prior utter
ances-namely, that he little under
stands the realities and functions of
the American party system.
Mr.. Hoover speaks as if it were
possible to have non-partisan selec-
tion and election of the next Presi-
dent. Whatever the abstract merits
Of such action, it is SO unfeasible
that it is not worth while to waste
time discussing it. The next Presi-
dent will be named at Chicago or at
San Francisco. What's the use of
moony talk that disregards this
highly protuberant fact? The con-
ventions are but three months away,
and there is little profit in academic
debate that gets nowhere.
Mr.. Hoover still fails to indicate
which party he is the more in sym
pathy with. His excuse is that "the
issues confronting us are new and
the alignment upon them has not yet
been made by the great parties" "
So his notion of correct personal
procedure apparently is, first, to take
no part in inducing his party-for
he has none--to adopt correct pol
icies, and, second, to be silent until
both conventions have met, adopted
platforms and adjourned. Then Mr..
Hoover implies that he would say
where he stood and what he would
accept.
But conventions which adopt the
platforms also nominate the candi-
dates. They don't take a recess. Per-
haps they should, but they don't. Mr..
Hoover would have for deliberation
only the few hours Intervening be-
tween the report of the committee
on resolutions and the beginning Of
the balloting. Moreover, the two
conventions meet on different dates.
How would Mr.. Hoover know the
Chicago platform suited him as well
as the San Francisco platform would
suit him?
AS to his own views, Mr.. Hoover,
modestly saying that no one should
assume to dictate issues, has moth
ing more definite to say than that he
has been a progressive Republican
and that "I still object as much to
the reactionary group in the Repub-
lican party as I do to the radical
group in the Democratic party"
This is the attitude of The Tribune
and of a great majority, we believe,
of Republicans. But the statement,
though good as far as it goes, is
vague-is sort of generality in
which politicians indulge when spe-
ciiic questions are embarrassing.
Mr.. Hoover seems trying to ex-
press, without much success, feel,
ing that is entertained by many of
all parties-namely, that partisan
ship as it has been known is in many
respects archaic. But the idea with
out body is barren. 1t collides
with actualities Of our political sys-
tenn or involves itself in mesh of
absurdities.
Mr.. Hoover should either eff
fectively discountenance acts of his
friends which assume he is candi-
date or else be a candidate, and of
necessity say on what platform and
ticket. II he is to run, then he
should do all legitimately within his
power to SECURE delegates and to in
duce those/delegates, who are to be
platform makers as well as nomina-
tlon makers, to prepare such plat
form as he deems wise and patri-
otic.
In America Presidential candi-
date is more than an aspirant for
office, and even more than one willing
to accept an Office. He is perforce a
leader Of public opinion. Behind
him ideas are marshalled and con-
cretely march. Under some circurn-
stances man may restrict himself
to being merely a receptive candi-