New-York tribune., 1920-01-22
Democrats
Divided Over
Hoover Boom
Politicians Have Grave Mis-.
givings of Strength of
California Man, Is the
Opinion i'll Washington
Friends Fear Farmers
Some Uncertain Whether
Ex Food Administrator
Can Garry Woman Vote
Nep York Tribune
ItqshinotOp Purent.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 2l.-The edi-
torial announcement by "The New York
World this morning that it would sup
port Herbert Hoover for the Presiden-
cy caused decided political sensation
to-day in Washington. Coming at the
end of several weeks which have been
marked with more or less active and
exceedingly skillful propaganda for Mr.
Hoover, the announcement of "The
World brought him so souarely to the
front that Democrats began to sit up
and look over his boom with the feel
ing that they cannot much longer dodge
the issue.
Mr.. Hoover, so far as anybody here
knows, has not been an active figure
in the stories that have Aoated around
Washington about him and the sort of
candidate he would make, but they
have come, and they have been listened
to. and some of them have been pub
llshed. None Of them attracted partic-
ular attention, however, but "The
World' announcement, printed in a
newspaper which has been ,the most
consistent supporter of President Will
son, not only focused attention upon
Mr.. Hoover. but made many politi-
clan speculate in his own mind as to
whether there could have been an in
splratlon in it which came from some
where around 1900 Pennsylvania Ave
nue., where Woodrow Wilson is still a
sick man.
Wilson Favorable, Is Report
There are observers in Washington
Yho keep close watch of political de
velopments who will confide in the ear
Of a friend that the White House is not
At all unfriend.y to Mr.. Hoover For
weeks past Joseph p. Tumuty, the
Presidents secretary, has been regard
ed as active in support of A. Mitchell
Palmer, the Attorney General but,
while this has been taken everywhere
SIS an indication that Mr.. Wilson would
rot himself be a candidate, it was not
'aken seriously to mean that Mr.. VIII
son has Endorsed the Palmer candi-
'saey or that he would necessarily do So
Democrats at the Capitol who have
Presidential booms of their own and
others who have no hopes of getting
into the White House at this election
were inclined to sit down and ponder
& bit before they finally committed
themselves either for or against the
former Food Administrator A few of
them pointed out that Mr.. Hoover's
politics is not actually known; others
referred to him as an "Englishman,"
md still others wanted to see his plat
form before they took a step for him
or against him.
"But," said one Democrat in posi-
tion of great prominence, whose name
couldn't be used, Il would like to see
him nominated. He's the only man we
could win with"
-bo ,to I
in finding reasons why Mr.. Hoover
could not be the party candidate than
reasons why he should, discovered in
volumes of "Whos Who in America"
more than word of comfort. In the
editions for 1914-19l5 and 1916~1917
Mr.. Hoover's "home" is given as Red
House, Hornton Street. London.' Office
addresses are given in New York. Lon
don and San Francisco. In the 1912
1913 edition of the same work among
Mr.. Hoovers New York clubs is the
Republican"
In the Democratic cloakrooms it was
generally agreed that the intention Of
the world" to back Mr.. Hoover either
will quickly get such a reaction from
the Democratic and Republic press of
the country that they will be compelled
to take him seriously, and make their
plans with this in view, or the pendu-
lVIu Will nWiuS against IlOONcI, anu
his candidacy can be quickly laid away
in the moth balls and left there with
out watching.
Comes From California
Politicians who prophesy at this pre-
convention stage of the great quad
rennial game are saying this year that
the party that wins must carry the
West, beyond the Mississippi, and il
c in
Mr. Hoover as candidate might have
some advantage and possibly disad
cantages just as great. He comes from
California, and politicians have not for
gotten what California did for Wood
row Wilson back in 1916 The fac
that Senator Hiram W. Johnson, ol
tna1 state. is an active candidate fol
the Republican nomination, and that
so far, no Democrat Of any prominence
from west of the Mississippi has beer
trotted into the limelight, excepting al
ways William Jennings Byran, Nigh
nave some influence on the minds o
those who are weighing possibilities.
On the other hand, those who ex
anime candidates with microscopic car
see IN the fact that Mr.. Hoover wa
responsible for having q price fixed O.
wheat and in some Of the other thing
he did as food administrator materja
that might prejudice the farm
ers against him. The farmer vote
supposed to be one of the best organ
tied votes in the United States. 1t is
vote tina, member Of Congress sci
DOM II ever, opposes. and to put up
man who might not be acceptablep :
the farmers. in the eyes of member
OF Congress who are prone 10 liste,
hard to the farmers demands. woul
ne political blunder of the wors
=, There Is one fact in connection wit
n me possible candidacy of Mr.. Hooyc
which is Of interest to every ore ,rb.
Iaixes in politics. and that is how h
y VIII be regarded by the women voter
who Will cast few million ballot
next fall. Mr.. Hoover's activities !,
ms country were almost exclusiyel
OF such character that every day the