New-York tribune., 1920-03-26
Mismanaging Hoover

MIsmanagm9 Hoover
The announcement that headquar-
ters will soon be established in
Chicago to promote Mr.. Hoover's
nomination by the Republicans en-
phasizes the fact that Mr.. Hoover
SO far has not been politically we'll
served The mistakes of his friends,
their persistent wrong-headedness,
have dimmed bright prospects. Per-
haps it is going too far to say his
chances have been destroyed, for
they may revive during a convention
deadlock, but they have been weak
ened and valuable time has been lost.
Mr.. Hoover has been induced to
overplay the fact that he preferred
to be proposed to rather than to pro-
pose. A purely receptive candidacy
is practically impossible. No Ameri-
can since Washington has been con-
ceded such luxury. A man who
permits the free use Of his name, or
otherwise acts as a candidate COM
monty does, makes himself one.
When he encourages large numbers
of persons to become active in his
behalf he assumes an obligation to
go through unless excellent reasons
to the contrary develop. He can't
play coquette. This isn't fair play
ing of the game. Mr.. Hughes was
immured in a court, but in it's later
stages his passivity was artificial.
When receptivity is kept up long it
has a SAVIOR Of lack of candor. 1t
seems mock modesty that borders
on hypocrisy. 1t is better to be
frank, as was Roosevelt when he said
with a grin, "My hats in the ring"
A hearty Eyes" or "no," Mr.. Hoover.
Equally impossible is the attempt
to ride at the same time two horses
which are going in contrary direc-
tions. The complicated political
machinery Of the country compels a
Presidential aspirant to be on one
ticket or another, or else to seek to
create new party, as was done in
1912. By not indicating which of the
regular nominations he would accept,
or even whether he seeks a third,
Mr.. Hoover is put in the position,
against his wish, one may assume, of
seeming to say to one party: eff
you don't name me I will take the
other nomination." and to both, eff
neither of you nominate me l will
run Independently" No self-respect-
ing political organization likes to be
browbeaten-is averse to being COM
PEELED to accept any one by club.
Mr.. Hoover was also put in wrong
by the fact that his name was first
conspicuously urged. not by non
partisans or by those of no pro-
nounced party affiliation, but by
the country's foremost Democratic
organ. The average man scented a
familiar political trick, tried in
Greeley's case, of seeking to disintc-
CRATE opponents. If Mr.. Hoover
could be detached, perhaps he could
be won with; but if he could not, per-
haps then Republicans could be made
so dissatisfied as to vote Democratic.
To a great number of Americans
Mr.. Hoover, both with respect to his
record and to his personal qualities,
is most attractive figure. They
like his intelligent progressiveness.
They believe he is one Of those who
see clearly what sort Of remedies
must be applied to cure the dis
tempers Of the times. They are will
ing to allow much for his non-expert-
ness in American political psychol-
ogy--indeed, like him the more for
what may be called his political
grcenness.
But the time for him to take the
American people into his confidence
has come. If his mind is not yet
made up he should make it up. The
country is proud of Mr.. Hoover, but
neither in his favor nor any ones
else is it disposed to write blank
check.