Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-09
Denies That He Is a Candi-
date for Presidency or Has
Any reorganization" Mot in
Favor Of Third Party Plan.
WILL NOT JOIN EITHER
PARTY "BLINDFOLDED"
Declares He Will Support
League Of Nations and 0p-
pose Radica|ism and Control
Of Country by Big Business.

New York, Feb. 8-Herbert
Hoover tonight issued a statement
defining his attitude toward the pres
idency. He announced that he is not
candidate for the nomination and
that no one is authorized to speak
for him politically. If the league
of nations is made all issue in the
election he says he will vote for the
party that stands for the league. In
response to requests that he declare
allegiance to either one or the other
of the great political parties, Mr..
Hoover says he will wait until it
more definitely appears what the
party managers stand for, and Will
Exercise a prerogative of American
citizenship and decline to pledge my
vote blindfold." His statement was:
"In order to answer large num-
ber of questions all at once let me
emphasize that I have taken day
off from the industrial conference
in Washington to come TO New
York solely to attend to pressing
matters in connection with the chill
dren's relief. | want to say again,
I have not sought, and am not seek
ing the presidency. | am not a can
didate. l have no organization No
one is authorized to speak for me
politically.
Interested in Situation.
GAS an American citi~ birth
and of long, ancestry, ! am Istur-
ally deeply interested III the present
critical situation. My sincere and
only political desire is that one or
both of the great political parties
will approach the vital issues which
have grown out of the war and are
nov ~with a clear purpose looking to
the welfare of our people and that
candidates capable OF carrying out
this work should be dominated.
IF the treaty goes over to the
presidential election with any reser-
vations necessary to clarity the
worlds mind that there can be no
infringement of the safeguards pro-
vided by our constitution apd our
nation-old traditions), then I must
vote for the. party that stands for
the league. With it there is hope
not only of the prevention of war,
but also that we can safely econo-
mize in military policies. There is
hope of earlier return of confidence
and the economic reconstruction of
the world. I could not vote with
party if it were dominated by groups
who seek to set aside our constitu-
tional guarantees for free speech or
free representation. who hope to re-
establish control of the government
for profit and privilege. I could not
vote with a party if it were domi-
mated BY groups who hope for any
form of socialism, whether it be ma
tionalization of industry or other de-
struction OF individual initiative.
Both these extremes, camouaaged
or open, are active enough in the
country today. Neither of the doni-
nations would enable those con-
structive economic policies that will
get us down from the unsound eco
nomic practices which of necessity
grew out of the war,'nor would they
secure the good will TO production
in our farmers and workers or main
tain the initiative of our business
men. The issues look forward, not
backward.
Opposes Third Party.
"I do not believe in more than two
great parties Otherwise, combina-
tons of groups could, as in Europe,
create 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
issues of great parties. 1t appears to
me that the hope Of great ma
jority of>our citizens in confronting
this new period in American life is
that the great parties will take posi-
tive stands on the many issues that
confront us, and will select men
whose character and associations
will guarantee their pledges.
Il am being urged by people in
both parties to declare my allegi-
ancc to either one or the other.
Those who know me, know that
am able to make up my mind when
subject is clearly defined. Conse-
quently, un:il it more definitely ap-
pears what the party managers
stand for, / must exercise a preroga-
tive of American citizenship and de-
cline to pledge my vote blindfold.
L am not unappreciative of the
many kind things that my friends
have advanced On INV hahotf Vat