Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-16
RELUCTANT MR.. HOOVER PLAYS
HOB WITH PARTlSANSHIP

! His Unique Role in the Presidential Race
Embarrasses the Politicians and
Cheers the Public
| SHORTLY after the national election of
! ~ 1916, member of the American Com
! mission for the Relief of Belgium ad-
| dressed the Engineers Club of this city.
| Speculation on Woodrow Wilson's prob
able successor in the presidency followed
| discussion of the war topic The speaker
was asked his views.
81 don't know much about politics." he
apologized, "but ] should say that the
next President of the United States will
be Herbert C. Hoover. He is the greatest
American alive today"
A current of laughter, born chiefly of
bewilderment, rippled through the gath
ering. Auditors who knew vaguely who
Mr.. Hoover was were quite as much
! amazed as those who had never heard of
him before. The forecast was chartaby
relegated to the realm of the preposter-
Gus.
The other night in New \ ork julius H.
Barnes, federal wheat director, categor-
ically considered Mr.. Hoover as a pres
identia possibility. His audience, 100
members of the National Wholesale Dry
Goods Association, was not the least sur
prised at the conjecture. Indeed, the
chief emotion stirred was one of raptur-
Gus relief. Here at last was hopeful in
dication that Mr.. Hoover might permit
his name to be introduced in the coming
national campaigns.
But the old persistent element of the
| seemingly preposterous was not yet re-
moved Nobody knows-and this prob
| ably includes Herbert G.. Hoover himself
on what ticket he will run if he does
run. Nobody knows-and again we ven
! ture to include Mr.. Hoover-whether he
| will run at all.
| 1t is useless to seek the politicians.
| Their oracular pretensons 0n this sub
| ject lamentably break down The situa-
! ton has gone beyond them. They had
nothing whatever to do with making it.
although they may be compelled in the
end to give it cognizance.
There is no "Hoover BOOM" That
| phrase implies an eager, self-seekng
candidate, an organization of profes-
| sional boosters, brigade of press agents.
| an army of propagandists and an as
| sembage of political machinery designed
| to produce a "hand-pcked candidate"
Under these familiar conditions the pub
lies powers of initiative are decidedly
! restricted. The people can merely ac-
cept such presidential aspirant or they
! can reject him.
| But in the phenomenal historical drama
! that is now being enacted the public has
restless ambitions to be the stage man
/ ager. If this desire is consummated. if
| the large-scale popular enthusiasm for
| Herbert c. Hoover is eventually trans
! latable into distinct political terms,
| genuine and eXalting revolution will be
under way. It's progress will mean that
the widespread disgust with professional
| political methods has borne definite fruit
Since national party conventions first
| took charge of presidential possibilities
| they have never been confronted with a
situation faithfully akin to this one. Of
| Mr Hoovers fitness to be the chief
magistrate of these states no rational
honest American can doubt. His mastery
of the complexities of the food problem at
home and abroad, his superb admins
trative gifts, his comprehension of inter
national affairs, European and Asiatic;
his physical and mental vigor, his sincere
and unSpectacular patriotism, his disdain
of political trckery, his prediction for
facts instead of theories, his sound and
ethical grasp of business and social
relationships constitute a remarkable
equipment.
Hoover's services to the nation have
been vital and tangible. They are espe-
cially significant as an index of his worth
as reconstructionist, which is the type
of administrator which every nation on
earth primarily needs today.
His past record is quite as concretely
informing as his prospects are veiled and
mystifying. His prominence in a unique
situation has embarrassed the political
inner circles and delighted the formerly
helpless general public. The latter has
/ fast been losing faith in the conventional
party terminology.
Democratic and Republican "prin-
ciples" are astoundingly acrobatic nova
| days The faction which formerly ad-
vocated decentralization is now the
| champion of federal control. Similar
somersaults have been taken on the
| subject of world interest and isolation.
! Absolute free trade is now not even
whispered by the Democrats. Despite
| traditions and some platform essentials
not yet surrendered the two great parties
! of the nation are, perhaps, broadly class
! iiable as the "Ins" and the "0uts."
It is natural, therefore, that the public
should think in terms of men rather than
in political formulas. This explains the
! Joo, ;t,tarnzt in Mr. Jor,nr .rJ tE,, .,,,,,
! parative indifferehce-sav in the old
| guard partisan camps-to his political
! affiliations.
And yet the practical aspects of this
singular case cannot be dsregarded.
! They are almost as puzzling as was the
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