Evening star., 1920-02-09
Mr.. HOOVER DENIES
He IS A CANDIDATE
Will Vote for Party Which
Stands in Favor of
League of Nations.

NEW YORK. February (by th'
Associated Press).-Herbert Hoover
last night issued a statement defining
his attitude toward the presidency
He announced that he is not can
didate for the nomination and that
no one il authorized to speak for him
politically. If the league of nations
is made an issue in the election lie
says he will vote for the party that
stands for the league In response I"
requests that he declare allegiance
to either one or the other OF tn,
great political parties. Mr.. HuoVe;
says he viii wait until it more def
lite1y appears what the party man
ayers stand fo-. and viii exercise q
prerogative of American citizenship
and decline to pledge my vote blind :
folded" His statement follows:
Text of Statement.
In order to answer :: large number
of questions all AT at one. let me
emphasize that ! have taken Il d.!
OF from the industrial conference IN
Washington TO come to New YORK
solely to attend pressing matters IN
connection with the children's relief.
I want to say again have ho'
sought and am not seeking the prtSi-
d-ncy | am not a candidate. haN"
no organizatiun. No on" is author
lied to speak for me pch'.cati!
'As an American citizen by hirth
and Of long ancestry. | am natura!iN
deeply Interested in the present crl,
ical situation. Ny sincere anu "hIs
Political desire is that on" or both
OF the great political parties VIII ap-
proach the vital issues. Which nav
grown out of the war and are ne"
Y, ith a clear purpose looking 10 tH'
welfare Of our pnopl" ana thal San
didatos capahl" OF CARRYING cut 'HlS
work should be nominated
IF The. treaty goes over to tie pre-
ion
lions necessary to clarity the W"rId
,nind that there can be no lnfriiise-
rrent of the safeguards pFoNluto ~
our Constitution and our hat -oiu
traditions). then ! must vote iol IN.
marty that stands for the league
With it, there is hope not only ol the
prevention of war. but also that We
can safely economize in miiitarN poii-
cies There is hope of GARNER return
OF confidence and the economic re
construction of the world. l couid
not vote with Il party II II We're oolni
mated by groups who seek to set aside
our constitutional guarantees 1oT
free speech or free representation:
who hope to re-establish control OF
the government for profit and priv
lege.
Against sociaIistic Parties.
[ could not vote with a party II II
were dominated by groups who nope
for any form of socialism. whether IL
be naturalization of industry or oth-
er destruction of individual initiative
Both these extremes. camounaged or
open are active enough In the coun-
try today. Neither of these domlna-
tions would enable those constructive
economic policies that Will get US
down from the unsound economic
practices which of necessity grew out
of the war. nor would they secure the
good will to production in our farm
ers and workers or maintain the ini-
tiative of our business men. The is
sues look forward. not back.
IT do not believe in more than two
great parties. Otherwise, combina-
tions of groups could. as in Europe.
danger of minority rule. l
do believe in party organization to
support great ideals and to carry
great issues and consistent policies.
nor can any one man dictate the IS
sues of great parties. 1t appears to
me that the hope of great majority
of our citizens in confronting this
new period in American life is that
the great parties will take positive
stands on the many issues that con-
front US, and will select men whose
character and associations will guar
antee their pledges
II am being urged by people in
both parties to declare my allegiance
to either one or the other. Those who
know me know that l am able to
make up my mind when a subject is
clearly defined. Consequently, until
it more definitely appears what the
party managers stand for, I must ex-
ercise a prerogative of American cit
izenship and decline to pledge my
vote blindfolded.
Il am not unappreciative of the
many kind things that my friends
have advanced on my behalf. Yet l
hope they will realize my sincerity in
not tying myself to underlined parti-
sanShiD,"