The New York herald., 1920-01-26
SPECULATION GROWS
OYER HOOVER BOOM
Silence of Worlds Candidate
Opens Wide Field of Po-
litical SurrniSe.
NAY SEEK DOUBLE ROLE
Purpose to Try First for Republican
Nomination Is Seen by Some
Observers.

The BOOM for Herbert Hoover for Presi-
dent. which attained considerable impetus
by the Advocacy of his nomination by the
New York World and had been stimulated
by friends of Mr.. Hoover mostly Repub-
llcans. in Other parts of the country. was
the outstanding political development of
last week.
Mr. Hoover has been. mute as to his in
tentons. From his friends such informa-
tion asa could be obtained indicated that
Mr.. Hoover was willing to run as Repub-
lican capdidate. a Democratic candi-
date or Az tho candidate of both parties
an apparent impossibifity that actually has
ssemed To have entered the calculations of
some of Mr.. -Hoover's adherents.
Mr.. Hoover seems TO have qualified
about equalb as Republican and a
Democrat. Ibs eaty Republican affiEia-
ton seems IL have been esta blished, an
affiau ion borne out by the disclosure by
the SUI of his long term membership in
( the Nat onal Rspu blican Club, of this city
His qualification to be considered a Demo-
crat rests largely upon his support of
Of a Democratic Congress in 1918.
Oppou uepts Admit Ability.
Mr. Hoover's ability is admitted, even
by those who oppose his nomination by
either of the major panties. He undoubt-
; edly has the backing of powerful business
, interests, members of which believe that
a man of Mr.. Hoo~ers supposed grasp of
international questions is needed to guide
the United States Through the period. of
the worlds reconstruction.
Politically. Mr.. Hoover may be said to
have as yet developed little no strength
among the Republican leaders. 1t is pos
sble that he may later, but at present
none of the other Republican candidates
seems to be disturbed hoy his entrance into
the field.
1t is somewhat different on the Demo-
cratic side. There is undoubtedly some
Thing of feeling among Democratic poll
ticians that Mr.. Hoover might be the only
man with whom they would have a chance
TO win. The possibility that he might re-
ceive the backing of President Wilson also
has 20 be taken into consideration, and
The White House. aside from the fact that
some of those in its inner councils have
been .mppossd 10 favor Attorney General
y. Mitchell Palmer has given no hint OF
Us position. In fact, President Wilson's
Jackson Day letter to the Democratic Ma
liona Committee failed to state that he
would not be a candidate for denomination
which led to comment at the time that
tHe Presidents failure to declare his in
tention might be duo To a desire to keep
the field open for candidate whom he
eventually would favor.
To Form Hoover Leagues.
Apparently the method which will be fol-
lowed by the promoters of Mr.. Hoover S
candidacy will aim at the creation of pub
lie sentiment for him by the formation of
non-partisan bipartisan Hoover or
ganizations all over the cauntry. The Re-
publican National Convention will precede
the Democratic National Convention and
presumably attempt will be made to
get the Republican nomination for Mr..
Hoover IL nationwide demand for him
a candidate develops as strongly as
his hackers hope.
II this fails. the Hoover programme
seems 10 be to go after the Democratic
nomination. particularly il a conservative
candidate should be named by the Repub-
/, licans. There is also the possibility that
Mr.. Hoover. failing TO get either nominal =
ton. might run Independently. but this
is onsidered a matter for purely academic
discussion al the present stage of his cam
didacy
Politicians generally believe that this
programme will fail, basing their predic-
ton OH the fact that IL is unprecede ted.
Mr.. Hoover. in their view is merely try
TO repeat in the political arena the old
circus trick of trying 20 ride two horses
at one time. with one foot on the Repub-
lican and one on the Democratic steed.
Predict Fail Between Two Horses.
Such an attempt they believe, is likely
10 make for a fall. To carry the circus
parallel further. IL is possible that Mr..
Hoover might be saved from being spilled
in the political sawdust by a third horse
coming up at the proper moment and fur
nishing the seat OF an independent nomi-
nation; but few OF the Democrats or Re-
.publicans san see any set of conditions
which would enable third entry to beat
either Of the regular nominees under the
wire.
There has been an increased activity
. among the campaign managers. particu-
ary Of the Republican candidates for
5 President. during the week. Representa-
tive Norman ]. Gould of Seneca Falls
y Y. who will be the Eastern ampaign
manager for General Wood. arrived here
from Washington and will open his head
quarters I'm the Hotel Imperial today.
Angus McSween, campaign manager for
Senator Hiram w Johnson, OF California,
is also in the city and will open perma-
neut Eastern headquarters today or to-
morrow. The friends OF Senator Johnson
intend 10 conduct an active campaign for
delegates in several Eastern States and
10 conduct a general campaign to lessen
hostility toward Senator Johnson among
Eastern Republicans