Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-21
Mr. Hoover and the League

IN announcing that he will support the
! political party which in turn supports the
league of nations, Herbert Hoover has def
niteY edged himself in the direction OF the
democratic nomination for the presidency.
There can be little serious doubt as to the sig
niticance OF that declaration. Former Presi-
dent Taft whose Republicanism cannot be
questioned, quite understands this and has
given full warming to his party associates
that If Mr.. Hoover is nominated by the Demo-
Gratis and IL the latter goes before the coun-
try on u league of nations program he will
be elected.
This has prompted Senator Borah, leader
OF those irreconcilably opposed to the league
ana to the peace treaty generally to seek
further light upon the mental attitude OF
Mr. Hoover toward the pending covenant
Tho Senator wants to know il Mr.. Hoover
is willing to accept any reservations to the
treaty OF peace and if so, what reservations.
lie is particularly anxious to know il the
former food administrator will swallow
Article X. as submitted by the President or
would be inclined to approve Of the Lodge
reservation to that article
In presuming to question Mr. Hoover upon
these points, Senator Borah assumes what
most other people are assuming, namely, that
the former food administrator is a candidate
Tor the Democratic nomination, that lie is
being seriously considered for that honor by
many powerful Democrats. and it is proper
s.
sues involved in the treaty situation.
Mr.. Hoover may ignore the Borah oues-
ions. Ho may stand upon his public an
h'uhcenent that lie is not candidate, and
may decline to be drilled into making specific
statements regarding his attitude upon any
public issue. But he would increase the es-
TEEN in which he is held by the country as
whole If he should contde more Of his
convictions to the American people, whether
he does 1t in connection with Mr. Borah's re-
quest or does 1t in his own way, and he has
made start in that direction i'll his inau-
gural address Us president of the American
Mining Engineers. But that statement does
no go far enough
The actual truth is that the country as a
whole knows very little regarding the politi-
cal principles of Herbert Hoover. It knows
a" little about them as about his own per-
son:,l political leanings. The American peo-
pie arc interested in him and are interested
IN his reputed availability for high public
ONCE This interest has been increased dur
ing recent months by the activity Of his
friends and admirers who insist plausibly
that ne Is the best equipped man intellec-
tually and otherwise in the country to sue
ceed Woodrow Wilson in the White House.
But Mr.. Hoover will not DO Mr.. Wilson's
successor as long as his views regarding
great public questions and his attitude to-
ward great political principles remain mys-
Terry. lie must stand up and be measured
II that interest is to continue to be a vibrant
thing, and II either Of tho political parties
is to consider him seriously as presidential
possibility.
The surest way for Mr.. Hoover to make
good his statement that he is not a candi-
date Is for him to maintain his silence re-
gafdlng Ills politics and his attitude toward
the momontous problems which now rack
the mind of the nation. That silence will
put hi definitely ont Of the running and out
OF consideration when the time comes for
the party conventions to do their nominating.