The Washington times., 1920-03-13
PARTY
SUITS HOOVER
Would Accept Nomination From
Democrats or G. o. P II Plat
form Is Progressive.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIMMS,


Herbert Hoover will accept the
Presidential nomination from either
party, it makes little difference
which, on condition that the party
comes out with a platform answer
ing his description of independent
progressivism."
This statement was made TO the
International News Service here to-
day by a leading Democrat known 70
have entree to the inner circle OF
Hooverites, in reply to report COM
ing from New York that the former
Food Administrator would refuse the
Democratic nomination even II or
fered him.
Hoover Now in Capital.
The speaker. well known In ms
part OF the country as one OF tne
tanchest stand-bye of the ADMIN
istration, is in Washington TO Obtain
a closeup on the Independent Pro-
: gressive" for use back home as
basis for political maneuvers'
Hoover is in the Capital today 10
testify before the Senate committee
investigating the charges of Admiral
william s. Sims against Secretary OF
the Navy Josephus Daniels.
Claiming he had received confirma-
ton sufficient to satisfy him OF
Hoover's receptivity. provided the
conditions are right, the visiting
Democrat added:
Hoover is no longer a mere Presi-
dental possibility; he is a political
ISSUE.
Asked what he meant he said:
Hoover is a political program all
by himself. If he Is nominated by
either Republicans or Democrats IL
will mean that party has undergone
, brand-new orientation, both to DO
| mestic politics and foreign policy
: This view of Hoover was concurred
! in by a surprising number OF Sena-
| tors and Congressman here. some
! openly friendly toward the Hoover
ISSUE" others condemning 1t with
! equal cordiality.
All the regular Republicans,
; practically without exception. are
| against Hooverism. Ditto a fair num-
J Der OF Democrats. Those favoring
the Treaty of Versailles and the
/ League of Nations. however, either
| profess admiration for him or also
| refrain from committing themselves.
! one way or another.
. Senator Gilbert NJ Hitchcock. Dem
| ocratic generalissimo commanding
[ Administration forces in the treaty
fight, makes no secret OF his liking
| for Hoover. On the other hand. Sena-
tor James A. Reed, Democratic "ir-
! reconcilable" from Missouri, is on
! record as saying on the Senate floor:
; "If the Democrats nominate Hoover,
aothing will be left for the Repub-
: licans to do but to put up j. Rufus
wallingford."
william Jennings Bryan. who will
be- one of the greatest Individual
forces at the San Francisco convention
next June, whether an elected dele
gate from Nebraska or not, is not
Hoover man. Incidentally, 1t Is be-
lieved here that Bryan was one of
those Hoover had in mind when he
said he was against Democratic
radicals"
Congressman Claude Kitchin OF
North Carolina is also against Hoover
ism, and it is known that he is by no
means alone in this in the lower
house. But the principal opposition
10 the issues presented by the ex-
mod administrator comes from the
i'd guard" Republicans.
f'Hoover," Senator Boies Penrose OF
ennsylvania said. belongs to the
wilson end Of the Democratic party.
Ind would never be considered in
Republican convention"
Senator James d. Phelan, Democrat,
California, expressed the opinion
hat Hoover is perhaps the best rep
esentative Of American sentiment to-
lay.
''He is liberal and progressive he
said, "is opposed to machine politics,
land. am sure, those who fear the
British influence need not be afraid
of Hoover"
Senator Watson, Republican. OF In
diana. declared that such words as
..independent" and progressive. In
such times as these are without
meaning, and predicted overwhelming
defeat for the Democrats II Hoover
were nominated by that party.
EmbodIes wiIsonIan Idea.
Political analysts here assert Hoov-
er presents new problem in Amerl-
can politics. or an international
type they claim he is kind of physi-
cal embodiment OF the Wilsonian
idea of the new order Of things.
These experts. chasing Hoover as
the independent progressive" friend
of the League OF Nations; enemy alike
~ Democrats radicals" and Repub-
lican "reactionaries' believer in Is
cues rather than in men, an admitted
opponent OF party machines as now
nm agree that he thus personifies
an issue requiring solution in the
coming campaign.
nv the same token he Is definitely
considered as available as the stand
ard-bearer. of either party should one
~ the other solve the Hoover conun-
ANN by admitting its mind goes
, along with his.