The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-06-29
MARK SULLIVAN TELLS HOW HOOVER
ELIMINATED HIMSELF AS DEMOCRAT

SAN FRANCISCO. June 2S.--In the
midst of the talk about men VIII" ar"
In the situation. consider on" VINO Is
out II IL.
There is not the funniest doubt that
If Hoover had not eliminated himself
from the Democratic party there would
not now be any discussion as 10 who
the Democratic nominee would De-.
Every body would have known that II
would be Hoover. and. further than that.
would have felt certain that Hoover
would have had--to express II with the
smallest degree of mildness--an equal
chance TO win against Harding.
| That decision. which Hoover reached
oh March 81. TO take himself out Of the
Democratic situation and announce him
self a Republican, had consequences
vital TO American political history.
reason from without himself Hoover
may have had to make that decision
would be interesting to know. Prob:
ably, as in most cases, tho motives and
reasons were mixed and not easy To dis
tinguish.
Probably--and this also is charac-
terlstic II many such situations
Hoover himself could not accurately
say just why he did It Necessarily
there must have been much thought
preceding the dccision--thouSht both for
his own fortunes and for the public
good.
Missed Big Opportunity.
[ BY every law that governs human
conduct he must have supposed he
was doing the thing which would give
him the greatest opportunity for public
service and also would be best for the
country.
Hoover loves America. The cartoons
and rnnuendos OF his political oppo-
nents that represent him as prohibit
ish or pre- anything else but Americans.
are merely the Islander That picks the
nearest brick Hoover has for America
the almost exaggerated affection that
an exile often has for home.
! And yet one wonders whether Hoover
would not have s;rved the country bet
ter by continuing his early aittud" Of
non craftsmanship. or II" all"Elanc" :"
either party. OF being aboV" both par
ties and a little better than any party
! That this course would have more
greatly furthered whatever ambition ne
has 10 be President everybody who
knows politics will admit That !, also
would have served the country better
Is YOUR correspondents conviction.
There is in this country growing
independent rote--a Not" which not
merely refuses allegiance 10 parties,
but rather prizes lack Of allegiance to
| them. This independent vote ~ close
10 being a deciding factor in American
pol tiCs. II il the balance of power
vote. OF this vote Hoover was tn" hero
He could have led it where he would.
Lost Three Chances.
II Hoover had stuck to his indcpcnd-
ent position he would have had three
! chances. all of them superb OppCrtun.-
ties for service. His first chance and
this was the smallest of the threc-wai
that H. might get the Republican nomI-
nation because Of fear on IN" part "f
the Republicans that II they didn't take
him the Democrats would. His second
opportunity would have been 10 accept
the Democratic nomination. That 90
IL l.
out the shadow of a doubt.
| His third opportunity would have
been in some respects IN" most exalted
OF the three. That would have been 10
! refuse any nomination to retain his m
! dependence 10 be balance Of power -
between the parties and TO hold over
both tho DcfoCratS and the Republicans
the threat. the wholesome fear. that ne
would cast his influence and carry hts
following TO the better nominee ana IN"
better platform.
| He could have been either n candid
date on the one hand or on the other
hand the spokesman and accepted lead
or Of that independent vote which would
cast the balance Of power between all
candidates. What processes of thouGh'
within himself or what pcrsuasionS
from others led him 10 give up inns
unique position is matter OF SPecuIa-
ton wherever politicians meet Tor eoS-
sip.
! He had three wonderful chances and
he destroyed ali three by the single act
OF aligning himself with the Republican
party.
How It May Have Happened
| During the recent meeting Of po!iti-
clans in Chicago there were current IN
the gossip of the Hobbies two variations
Of what purported TO be the story OF
HooyeTs identifying himself with the
Republicans. One Of the versions was
published in local paper at tn" time
The story may or may not be true. IN
deed it struck, your correspondent az
having the characteristics or mat $"r,
Of story which never really happened
but which is invented to illustrate
situation and to make complex ththE
simple Nevertheless. the very exist
enCe OF the story does make clear the
advantage which the Republican party
won by getting Hoover to identify him.
self with It before the convention.
The story represents Hoover "a going
last March, TO ono OF the Republican
leaders, leader who is Identifcd win
the party managcment-to discuss his
personal. polite problem. II" is repre-
scented as having said 10 this leader that
ne had been approached hy s" many
Democrats with assurance Of support
chat he was compelled TO regard it rs
appa rent that he could get the Demo
cratic nomination IL hr wanted II.
The story further pictured him as say
ing to this Republican leader that he
would prefer the Republican nomina-
ton for the reason that II seemed -
him that there was likely to be a Rrpuh-
lican congress and that as president he
could get more things done II h" had
| a Sympat hetiC congress.
Inference Left 20 Imagination.
| The story represented him as finally
saying or intimatinE that he would pre-
fer tho Republican nomination and lot
ting tho Republican leader understand
that he would be willing I" accept II.
The story then. In the manner "f such
stories. represents tho Republican lead
! or ~ putting on his poker face and say
ing that y" was very much interested
and that no would like 70 discuss tho
idea further. but that he could not posS'-
bly, take any steps in tho matter SO long
as Mr.. Hoover was not formally Il Re-
publican.
Tho leader was represented as TAX
Ing The view that II would be improper
for hirn even 70 continue tho converse
ton. that Il would be a breach OF his
trust TO the Republican party I" have
anv further discussion with Mir Hoover.
looking 10 the Republican nomination
for the presidency. 50 long as Mr.. HonN-
or was not himself a member OF the Re-
publican party.
| Then the Story-aCain taking for
| granted tho obvious and the selfish mo-