Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-20
HOOVER SPURNED
CHANCE FOR TITLE.
His Refusal of British Offer
Cited to Disprove "Whis-
pering Campaign" ~
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Political opponents Of Secretary
Herbert Hoover of the Department of
Commerce have undertaken a cam
paign-a whispering campaign so
far-designed to prevent his nomlna-
ton for President by the Republican
national convention next June.
This campaign takes several direc-
tions. Mr. Hoover is charged with
being too pro British and with having
sousi.t British citizenship. His eligi-
bilitv for the presidency is challenged
on the ground that long residence
abroad disqualifies him under that
clause of the Constitution which ca'ls
for IA years residence within the
United States" He is accused also Oh
having urged the election OF Demo
cratic Congress in war times or 1913
,,bep he was food administrator under
the Wilson administration.
Mr.. Hoover's boom for the fresi.
dency has grown apace. me fecene
statement of President Coolldge 10 tne
Republican national committee nds
been interpreted generally as tdnIs
hir,, finally out of the race. ms
rniiowed Immediately by the with.
drawaI of Charles Evans Hughes OF
New York. former Secretary of stare
has Given more and more impetus 10
tho movement to nominate the Secfe-
tarv of Commerce as the Repupilcah
standard nearer. Tt is not strange
therefore. that his opponents are seek
ing to check his advance.
Vermont Backers Stirred
The whispering campaign against
Mr.. Hoover is spreading over ths
country More recently it reached
Vermont and has worried some OF
the Republican leaders in that rock.
ribbed Republican State, In spite OF
tbe known sentiment there for Mr..
Hoover. if the President cannot De
induced TO run
The whisperers suggest. and some
of them repeat it as fact, that Mr..
Hoover applied for British citizenship
This is roundly denounced as a raise
hood by Mr. Hoover's friends. Inc
Secretary himself is in the MISSISSIPPI
Valley on food relief work. This story
made the rounds in similar Whisper
ing campaign in 1920, when Mr.. Hoov-
err was first brought forward by ms
friends as candidate for the RepuD-
II is said that the matter has been
Thoroughly investigates that there
are in this country authenticated and
official statements from British Off
Gals declaring that no one by the
name of Herbert G. Hoover ever made
anp,ication for British citizenship, and
further, that no one by the name OF
Hoover ever made such application.
Doubtless these documents will be
produced by Mr.. Hoover's supporters
of it is deemed advisable or necessary
to do so.
Pages Testimony Cited.
Mr.. Hoover's friends also rely upon
the testimony of the late Walter II.
Page, American Ambassador to Great
Britain at the time Of the World war;
to prove Mr.. Hoover's devotion to
America. Mr.. Page, in memoran-
dunn to President Wilson. declared
that Mr.. Hoover had been approached
on behalf of the British government
with a proposal that he become
British subject, take an important
executive post in that government ana
with a suggestion that he might ne
given a title. Mr.. Page said that MI.
Hoover's reply had been:
"I'n he damned if III give up my
American citizenship-not on your
life"
This momora ndum, written by NJ.
Page under date OF Decembec ~
1915, accompanied q letter 70 les
dert Wilson, and NJ. Page state
r,ert regarding It was: Write: Hot
for the sake Of tie gent!e.2a= H2e"-
toned, but for possible help 70 Ire
President ard the service. u 5
contained in the third volume OF me
Life and Letters of Waller y. rage,
by Burton j. Hendrick. The memoir
andum follows:
Favored for u. S. Post.
mfr. Herbert c. Hoover, chairman OF
the Commission for Relief in Belgium,
would, if opportunity should offer.
make a useful officer in the State
Department. He is probably the only
man living who has privately Qe.,
without holding office negotiated
understandings wit the British,
French, German, Dutch and Belgian
governments. He personally knows
and has had direct dealings with
these governments, and his trans
actions with them have involved
several hundred million dollars.
Gle is q man of very considerable
fortune-less than when the war be-
gan, for his relief work has cost him
much. He was approached on behalf
of the British government with the
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