Evening star., 1920-01-14
HOOVER IS IN RACE
FOR PRESIDENCY,
NEW WORKERS SAY
Availability Discussed From
Eon-Partisan Standpoint.
G. o. P. Aspirants Active.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.


NEW YORK, January 14.-There is
considerable talk among politicians
here of Herbert Hoover for the preSl-
dency. Some friendly scouts who have
been keeping tabs since l was mere
lust before Christmas report that
Hoover gossip has increased. Ihey
say il seems to be non-partlSan-that
is to say, that democrats ana repuo-
licans alike discuss him favorably as
possibly popular candidate on wnich-
ever ticket he might run, and NOBODY
appears to know or care much
whether he is a democrat or repub-
lican But they say that among tne
politicians of the President-maker
class, the men who sway delegations
one criticism is made OF hoover
possible availability.
Comment on Availability.
They are reported as saying that
the practical politicians may urge
against Mr.. Hoover that he had been
aloof from his country so long before
the war. residing abroad, that ne
might be found to be out of touch
with American politics. policies and
the feeling and thought of the people
Furthermore they say that Mr
Hooyer's executive ability demonstrate
ed as food director during the war
might be a different thing from his
ability as an executive in time OF
peace; that as war administrator ne
was. in fact, dictator. He told peo-
pie what they could eat. how much
and how often, and he was ooeyeo
in the larger sense.
But as President to enforce the
laws and not make them they won
der whether he would register such
signal success.
But. with all that. the Hoover boom
will attract attention, 1T is said here
Bankers Hear Gov. Lowden.
Gov. Lowden has opened his politi-
cal pack before a gathering of busl-
ness men to exhibit his wares. The
ner Monday night. All the big bank
crs heard him outline his views on
business. taxation and kindred sub
jects Inquiry on Tuesday among
some banking friends who heard him
elicited the statement that he made a
favorable impression.
Political leaders here who are, in
fact. leaders and in touch with the
situation through the state tell The
Stars correspondent that after Mich
OILS Murray Butler has been given the
necessary honorary support at Chi
cago the New York delegation will
go to the mat with Gov. Lowden and
Gen. Wood as the contestants.
For the present the Nicholas Murray
Butler peg will suffice to hang politi-
cal hats on while their wearers pom
der the merits of the two other can
didates. The Lowden- Wood contest
continues to run along the lines upon
ported by the old Roosevelt progress
sive element and the Plattsburg pre-
paredness outfit party le9Aers 1sid
business men. But these New York
republican managers are not ac-
in one basket Already they foresee
the possibility that Gov. Lowden and
Gen. Wood may block each other 1T
Chicago. each holding considerable
neither willing to give way to his
opponent.
Senator Harding Looms Up.
In that contingency they visualize
Senator Harding of Ohio looming up,
and they are making many inquiries
about the Ohio statesman. His
speeches lately have made a favorable
impression, it is reported, and the politi-
cal managers are sounding public SEN
timent constantly to see how he is
taking" with the public.
Roy o. West of Chicago is here busy
ing himself in Gov. Lowdens behalf.
This week he made a sortie into New
Jersey, starting back fire in that
stronghold of Gen. Wood. He found
the republicans who never were classed
as out-and-out progressives. The Low
den forces do not propose to let New
Jersey go to Gen. Wood without a fight
Row I'm Albany Gives Concern.
For the moment presidential politics
is subordinated in interest among the
republicans to the first-class row that
has broken out in the party over the
suspending of the five socialist members
of the assembly. City republicans are
almost unanimous in their verdict that
the party management at Albany is ''in
bad while up state sentiment is the
reverse. 1t is the socialist vote in the
counts, together with the view of the
lawyers that the speaker of the assem-
bly, went beyond his legal power in his
action. Quick settlement of the Incl
dent one way or the other is demanded
else the affair may prove menace to
state elections.
Treaty Ratification Chief Topic.
Overlapping everything else in inter-
est. however. is the concern over the
treaty developments at Washington
The newspapers accord them display
prominence, realizing the public atten-
ton to the subject. The man in the
street who, perhaps, does not know
what it is all about but hears about
II from his employers as delaying the
game. including the one he is con-
nected with, is as keen as any one.
Sublimating public opinion in a phrase
IL might be said that with the public
1t Will be of no avail to put the respon-
sibility for failure to ratify the treaty
upon this or that party or individual.
The public is not concerned with in
dividual or party in responsibility for
delaying the treaty. but does believe il
Is possible 10 come to agreement on
the reservations. and will vent its
wrath upon every man concerned in the
undertaking. if failure results.