Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-20
Hoover TO BACK
COOLIDGE IN 1928
Friends Are Told Secretary
WIN Not Consider Own Can
didacy at This Time.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,

Herbert Hoover, Secretary Of Com
nnerce has written friends recently
that he believed Calvin Coolidge IS
the logical man to succeed himself as
President of the United States IN the
election OF 1928.
This reply has gone forth to several
fnquirerS who had endeayored TO IN
terest Mr.. Hoover in the possibility
of getting things started In his behaH
TOR the next presidential election. Ev'
Cry man Of prominence and popular
ay in public life has politically -mind'
ed friends who feel that two years
ahead of an election is none too early
to start. The Secretary of Commerce,
however, has squelched all these eff
forts and there is no one in the Cool
idge cabinet who Is more loyal to the
President politically and otherwise.
Feared Wrong Impression.
1t is known, that Mr.. Hoover has
long desired to make a public state.
ment, of his belief in the necessity OF
nominating and electing Mr.. Coolidge,
but he has been embarrassed by the
fact that Mr.. Coolidge has preferred
not to have any one in his official
family even discussing 1928 because
it might, be misconstrued as having
So Mr.. Hoover has kept silent. And
the fact that he wrote several letters
to friends espousing the Coolidge
cause was not disclosed by him.. but
leaked out today through some of
those who had learned of the letters
after they We're sent.
The peculiar Importance OF Mr..
Hoover's pronouncement, however, Is
that he is being accused In political
circles of having an eye on the 1928
presidential nomination. In Congress
especially the Secretary Of Commerce
/ was not always regarded as APPROX
ing or disappearing measures without
a suggestion Of political advantage or
disadvantage. Opponents of some OF
Mr.. Hoover's policies have not omitted
the opportunity to ascribe his fights
against certain kinds of foreign loans
as being bid for political support
for himself.
Talk Initiates Secretary.
. All this has only irritated the Sec
rotary of Commerce and stimulated
him to scotch the political angle once
/ and for all. This now has been done
In his communications to friends. 1t
IS said that President Coolidge knows
I of Mr.. Hoover's attitude; indeed, that
!, he has known it for some time, and
that efforts to cause friction between
I the White House and Mr.. Hoover on
1 the ground that Mr.. Hoover was plan
ming his own political campaign have
caused only amusement to those at
the Executive Mansion who have
known the truth. Mr.. Hoover Is in
Minneapolis today making an inpor-
tant speech, and 1t probably will be
construed as a personal political ef-
| fort, but 1t really Is intended to
strengthen the Coolidge administra-
5 ton.
] Mr.. Hoover is one of the youngest
men in political life, and some day he
may be considered seriously for the
1 presidential nomination, but not in
1928, unless, of course, Mr.. Coolidge
should upset all calculations by refus-
Ting to run again. Mr.. Hoover will
complete next Spring his tenth con-
secutive year in public life here.
He is one of few men who came
here during the war and served In
both Democratic and Republican ad-
ministrations in positions of executive
responsibility.
Ability Is Recognized.
] He is popular among the correspond
ents here, who recognize his ability,
and If it were left to them some day
to choose a President on merit and
ability and not by the usual standards
OF politics they would unquestionably
pick him as eminently qualified.
4 But politics nowadays is all power
ful and especially organization work.
Mr.. Hoover has maintained his Re-
publican regularity ever since his
first announcement in the Spring of
1920, but it. Is unquestioned that he
still retains considerable support In
the Democratic party. What 1882
may bring is one thing, but SO far
- 1928 Is concerned he is Tor Calvin
Coolidge.
tcopyright. 1s26l