The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-26
Would Be Eligible.

Now If the constitution were inter
nreted TO mean that a man must be
resident within the United States" for
IA consecutive years prior TO his eleva-
ton to the office Of president, then the
question would turn on what consti-
tutes residence IL II the place where
d mans home Is located and where he
pays taxes and for all legal purposes
maintains a residence" or does It
mean that the man must actually be
IN the United States. the y consecu-
tive years before he Is nominatCdP
BY the latter construction, Woodrow
Wilson could have been regarded as in
eligible for he spent many months In
Europe while president Of Princeton and
the IA years before he took office were
broken by sojourns abroad, But while
there have been no decisions on that
point the fact that men have occu-
pied the office who have been away
from this country for short periods in
the pursuit OF their business would, in
the opinion OF many constitutional law
yers, here, seem to argue that MFR.
Hoover would not be ineligible on that
ground.
II any II years are meant. then plain
ly Mr. Hoover Is eligible because he did
not leave the United States until he
was Fl years Of age, similarly, Mr..
Hoover has been In the United States
every year with one exception In the
last 20 years and has spent at least
a few months at either New York or
San Francisco where he maintained
business offices.
As TO whether Mr.. Hoover Is the
choice Of the white House, only one
man can say and that's Woodrow Will
son. And he hasn't said anything
not even whether he would consent for
third term, However, persons very
close to the white House have openly
expressed their admiration for Mfr
Hoover and spoken OF him as the prob
able nominee OF the Democratic party
In which event Of course President Will
son would support him, as was brought
out in these dispatches on Jan. at
tile time Of the Jackson day dinner.
when the writer said that at would
not he surprising to find the Wilson
influence being turned in the direction
Of Herbert Hoover. II the Republicans
haven't captured him by midsummer"
What He Demands.
Now that Is precisely the situation
Which party will capture Herbert
Hoover?
II is the party which puts forth a
liberal platform and stands away from
any wave OF reactionary or Tory doc
trine and steers clear Of the equally
and socialism, Mr., Hoover isn't in
terested in personalities, but funda
mental issues and principles. He Is like
millions Of other independent minded
citizens who are waiting to see whether
the two big parties are merely going
to have contest for Jobs or whether
they offer concrete proposals for do
nestle reform and relief,
ls there a Hoover organization Moth
ing that has his sanction or support.
Mr., Hoover wouldn't be bit unhappy
ii somebody found he was legally de
barred from being a candidate. He
would look upon the discovery as re-
lief from a dilemma that is causing
him no end OF embarrassment. But peo-
pie are taking the question Of eligi-
hility seriously because Mr. Hoover has
maintained residence IN this country
during the last II years and has lived
within the United states for II con-
secuuve years
As for the organization OF Hoover
clubs and speeches being made by in
innate friends Of Mr. Hoover. there Is
no doubt that the former food admin
istrator Is doing all he can to discour-
age that sort OF thing and within the
next few days he will have made his
: position absolutely clear on that point
Nobody has been authorized 10 speal
for Mr.. Hoover and when the propel
moment comes he will speak for himse!
in unequiyocal terms for he isn't "A can
didate and will not lit a finger 10 be
come one. TN the htItT manu. no mat
ter what Mr.. Hoover says, or may say
in the hope Of detaChing himself from
the movement that has arisen spon
taneously in his behalf Republican
and Democrats win continue to lool
him over and make overtures until on
or the other parties finally does nomi
nate him.
Democrats Anxious.
Which will it be? The Democrat
seem most anxious at present writin
and the Republicans very reluctant t
rick Herbert Hoover. The Republi
cans can't forgive him for supportin
the Democratic congress in 1913, bu
II is fact that Mr.. Hoover was
member of the Republican club, Of Ne'
York, for about five years prior to 1871
and it Is also faet that in 1912 h
was sympathetic with the Bull Moos
platform But he didn't vote in 1871
or 1916 either.
He took part In an anti -Tamman
campaign when Mayor Mitchell wa
elected on a Fusion ticket but althoug
registered To vote was called away o
business and didn't get chance TO ca;
his ballot No matter what his DC
Etical past was-in truth he doesn
seem to want as yet to he identifie
with either party till he sees their pIat
forms-the fact is the party that real
stands against the extremes of rad
calsm gas well as Toryism and bold
proposes middle ground OF Constru,
tive liberalism will win the support
Herbert Hoover whether or not he
nominee or merely an unassumil
voter.