Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-30
HOOVER SEES NEED
FOR PARTY REFORM
IN FUNDAMENTALS
BY HARRY b. HUNT

WASHINGTON, ID. Glow does
Herbert Hoover stand on the
campaign being waged by his friends
to make him a candidate for presi-
dent2
Does he wish to run--is he can
didate? If so, does he wish to run
as a Democrat, as a Republican or
as an independent?
AS a candidate, will Mr.. Hoover
subscribe to and run on whatever
platform the organization leaders of
the party nominating him bring out
of convention?
These are questions uppermost not
only in the minds of party leaders
here, whose campaign plans have
been knocked galley-west by the inn
petus of the Hoover boom. but in
the mind of every individual who is
following political developments
even casually.
I can answer some of them. Not
on guesswork or dope" not even
on the views of "close associates
and eliminate friends but out of Mr.
Hoovers own mouth. To get to the
answers directly, [ will summarize
them first, before proceeding to
quote Mr. Hoover, as follows:
Mr.. Hoover is not actively can
didate, but will stand for election
on a progressive, human platform
if such is brought forward by any
party and Mr.. Hoover's leadership
demanded
He does not wish to run as a Re-
publican under the present machine
organization Of that party or on any
platform that may reasonably be eX-
pected from that party under its
present control.
Neither will be accept the Demo-
cratic nomination unless influences
now dominant within that party are
subordinated and a forward-looking.
liberal, human platform evolved
which he believes can win the ap-
prevail of the rank and file of voters
irrespective of former political affili-
atoms
Third Party leadership
While not seeking the formation
Of any third party, or now further
ing any division in the ranks of the
two dominant old parties, Mr.. Hoo
yer would accept the leadership of
such third party on a program of
his own choosing if, as now seems
| probable, the platforms and policies
of the Republicans and Democrats
deal in the same old issues, with the
same old platitudes, that have mark
| ed them in the past.
There is no doubt" Mr.. Hoover
told me, "but that there is tremen-
dous dissatisfaction with both the
| old parties, both in their present
| leadership and in their policies.
There is new spirit stirring in
| the average man, new hopes, new
| desires and new ambitions both for
| himself and for his country But in
| the present control of the RepubIi-
can and Democratic parties he sees
nc hope for advancement. Both are
| talking the same old policies, the
same old platforms of capital and
labor, high and low tariff, patriot
ism and Americanism-all in broad
| generalitieS.
Neither party is advancing any
definite, concrete program that prom
ises to meet the hopes and desires
and needs of the average man. The
old machines, the old organizations,
are still in control. The old, mar
row political ideals still dominate.
People Casting About
The result is that the people. -
| the rank and file Of voters in both
| parties-are casting about for some
man outside the circle of organiza-
ton leaders, on whom they can unite
and in whom they see hope for a
| 1,
| leadership.
Just now 1 am catching the re-
suit of that storm. That, however
| believe, is only a passing phase
The storm itself, though, is not a
passing one. The area of disturb
ance is too great. the elements in
volved too powerful The result,
believe, will be that unless the two
old parties get out of the ruts in
which they are now moving it is in
evitable that the progressive ele-
ments in both of them will unite be
hind some new leader. And I believe
1t to be wholly within the possibil-
tiles that, if the old parties pursue
their present course, with theil
present narrow outlook, a new party
might emerge which, on platform
of some 20 or 80 planks covering
the Fundamental needs and aspira
lions of the American people today
could sweep the country.
The trouble with both Republi
| cans and Democrats-with boil
! Roosevelt and Wilson'S that they
have tried to impose policies anC
| programs from the top. They have
tried to superimpoSe their own views
and heorieS on the country. VIVA
America must have Is a program
springing from the ground. from
human fundamentals. Nothing elst
will meet the nations needs or sat
isfy her peoples desires"
From which it may be deducet
that Hoover is not seriously fishins
either Democratic or Republican
pond. He will not bait his hook tt
suit the appetitHs of those in eithe
puddle.
If they want him to pull them out
they will have to swallow what h
himself chooses to put on the hook
Either party can have Hoover as it
candidate if it will nominate him OIL
platform that he believes is base
on the fundamental, down-to-the-soi
needs and desires of the people
Neither can get hir1 on any otha
rerrS