The Washington herald., 1920-02-09
HOOVER NOT
TN POLITICS
Wants to Know Party Plat
forms and Candidates
Before Voting.
FAVORS BUT 2 GROUPS
States That He Does Not
Believe In Third
Parties.

New York, Feb. s.-Herbert Hoover
issued the following statement In
New York last night in answer to
large number of questions: Il have
taken a day off from the industriai
conference in washington to come TO
New York solely to attend to press
ing matters in connection with the
chiIdren's relief. l want to say AGAIN
/ have not sought and am not seek
ing the Presidency. l am not a can
didate / have no organization. NO
one is authorized to speak for me po-
liticalIy. .
AS an American citizen by birth
and of long ancestry, I am naturally
deeplv interested in the present sItu-
alton. NV sincere and only psliticaI
desire is that one or both the great
nolttical parties will approach the
vital issues which have grown out OF
the war and are new with a clear pur-
nose looking for the welfare OF our
people and that candidatG capable
Of carrying out this work should De
nominated.
..If the treaty goes over to the Pres
iJaDtiaI election (concedins any res
eryations necessary to clarify the
worlds mind that there can be no m
fr;nrement of the safeguards provided
nv, our Constitution and our nation-old
traditioas). then / must vote for the
nartv that stands for the league. win
n there is hope not only of the pre-
,-ention of war, but also that We can
saTaIy- sconomize in military policies.
-rbere a. hone of earlier return OF con-
fidence and the economic reconstruc-
tion Of the world. l could not vote
,,.ith a marty il il were dominated oy
srrouns who seek to set aside our
constitutional guarantees Tor 1ree
sneech or free representation, VINO
t,na 10 establish the control OF the
.oysrnrnent for profit and privilege.
I could not vote with party II II
we're dominated by groups VINO nope
f,y anv forms Of socialism whether
- he decentralization of industries OF
other destruction of individual inlu-
ative. -a.,. ~
18th these extremes. camouhaSed OF
onan are active enough in the country
today- Neither of these DENOMINATIONS
,,,o,,id enable those constructive eco
,or,ic DoIicies that win get us down
from the unsound economic processes
which of necessity grew out OF tne
var nor would they secure the Sood-
will to production in our farmers ana
workers or maintain the Initiative ot
our business men. The issues look
forward and not back
~ do not believe in more than two
great parties. Otherwise. comolna-
tions of groups could, as in Europe,
create a danger of minority rule. 1
do believe in party organization to
support great ideals to carry great
issues and consistent policies. Nor
can any one man dictate the issues
of the great parties. 1t appears 20
me that the hope of a great majority
OF our citizens in confronting this new
period in American life is that tia
great parties will take positive stand
on the many issues that confront us
and will select men whose character
and association will guarantee their
pledges as well l am being urged by
people in both parties to declare my
allegiance to either one or the other.
Those who know me will agree that
| am able to make up my mind when
I know what they represent Conse-
quently. until it more definitely ap-
for. 1 must exercise a prerogative of
American citizenship and decline to
pledge my vote blindfold.
Il am not unappreciative OF the
many kind things that my friends
have advocated on my behalf. Yet 1
hope they will realize my sincerity
in not tying myself to underlined par
tisanship."