The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-04-30
Praised in Washington.

Just about the same time officials
at washington began talking enthusi-
astlcally about Mr.. Hoover and story
was printed by the New York American
to. the effect that the former food ad-
ministrator was the choice of E. M
house, who was supposed to have
Doomed him at luncheon attended by
Lord Grey.
The fact was Mr.. Hoover didn't at
tend the luncheon and American poll
tics wasn't discussed. This chain of
incidents however, together with the
frequent praise of Mr. Hoover coming
from Democratic officials, put him in
an awkward position.
He cannot indulge in blanket re-
quotation OF these expressions of friend
snip because in measure he stood for
some OF the policies of President Wilson
in Europe.
Indeed, even the Providence Jour-
nails statement of ian entire lack of
sympathy" with the Wilson administra-
tion isn't exactly correct in every sense,
for in todays New York Tribune, Mr.
Hoover expresses himself in a special
article outlining his attitude on foreign
policy-and much of what he says is
in accord with the views of the mild
reservationsts in the senate as well
as President Wilson.
Position on the League.
For instance, Mr.. Hoover says in
answer to the Tribunes request for his
position:
No greater mistake can be made
than the assumption that our people
have lost their national aspirations and
idealism because they have gone back
to business. In defining these great
standards, the Republican party must
reach into the aspirations of our peo-
pie and into the social philosophy upon
which our national life is founded Our
people have an ideal of world service.
1t was not passing favor in which we
made the sacrifices Of the past three
years for the great ideal of the preven-
ton of war and the freedom of the OPP
pressed. 1t is now a dozen years since
the Republican leaderS-including
Roosevelt-first proposed league Of
nations. This ideal cannot be ignored
ss by the party. Its living force will in
sist upon our joining in the organiza-
ton Of the moral forces of the world to
reduce ornaments, check militarism
and relieve oppression. Our people do
i not desire to see us pledged to use
force in these purposes; Furthermore,
they have no more sympathy with the
growth of militarism at home than
. abroad. They will be faced with this
growth and cost If we insist upon iso-
iation that we cannot maintain. Fail
ure to support the league of nations
with proper reservations, would be a
. shock to the spiritual aspirations of the
American people.
The foregoing is plainly challenge
to Hiram w. johnson, who Is contend
ing for isolation and the nonentry of
. the United States into the league of
nations with or without reservations,
Is means that Herbert Hoover's hest
fancy to pledge himself to support the
next Republican nominee depends upon
. what the platform and the candidate
says Clearly Mr.. Hoover will not sup
port Hiram Johnson
Nor is it logical to suppose that he
would support Gen. Wood. Gov. Low
den or Senator Harding, unless they
took a Numerically opposite point of
view from the Californian on this point
at least. Mr. Hoover is still not COM
mitted to either party. He is merely
irving to have the Republican party at
fiiiation with which he personally pre-
fers adopt constructive platform in
favor of the peace treaty with reser-
Vatons.
Copyright by David Lawrence, Inc.)