Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-20
Organization Has Been Set
Up in Every District,
Senator Says.
HOOVER'S REPLY TO DRY
QUESTIONABLE AWAITED
Ketcham, Farm Bloc Member, Ap'
proves Candidacy of Secre-
tary of Commerce.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

Both principals in the Ohio contest
for delegates to the Republican ma
tional convention are again in Wash
ington. Secretary Hoover Of the De-
partment Of Commerce. sunburned
after a weeks fishing in Florida. ar
rived today, as did Senator Frank B.
Willis, following q week end trip to
confer with his managers in Ohio.
The Ohio Senator expressed himself
as entirely satisfied with the situation
as he found it in the State.
Personally. I have no doubt OF the
outcome in Ohio" said Senator Willis.
He said that an excellent organization.
with splendid candidates for dele
gates" had been set up in every dis
trict He added that the delegate fight
was to be a good-natured contest, but
that the people OF Ohio would want to
know where the candidates for Presi-
dent stood on issues of national i'm
portance.
To Reveal His Stand.
"The people will know. so far as I
am concerned" said Mr.. Willis.
Senator Willis supporters have sug-
gested that Secretary Hoover is to be
QuizZed on his views relating to the
protective tariff, the fact that he was
voted for in the Democratic presidential
preferential primary in Michigan in
1920, the allegation he supported Presi-
dent wilson's demand for the election
of a Democratic Congress in 1918. the
League of Nations. and the eighteenth
amendment.
Mr.. Hoover's attitude toward the pro-
hibition amendment will be made clear.
1t was said today. within q short time
by his reply to Senator Borahs ques-
tionnairc on the amendment. There
is no doubt, 1t IS said. that the reply
will be dry" in character. Later today,
Mr.. Hoover will go to New York. where
he Is to receive a gold medal from the
American Institute Of Mining and
Metaliurgical Engineers. and to attend
a meeting OF the American Child Health
Association, of which he Is president
On Wednesday he again will be In
Washington.
Flood Views Awaited.
On Friday the Secretary Of Com
merce is TO appear before the Senate
commerce committee to answer ques-
tions relating to the food control prob
kttIl Ill LAC MiSoloSAPpl tdiCy. Itio ap~
pearance before the committee has been
given a political twist. and his answers
will be awaited with interest.
Neither Senator Willis nor Mr..
Hoover has made decision yet. 1t was
said today. in regard TO the presidential
preferential primary in Ohio. They
have until Friday TO file. Both are
contesting for delegates to the national
convention. and the contest for dele
gates at large will serve much the same
purpose as the preferential primary.
which Is little more than straw vote.
What the candidates are seeking are
delegates. What they fear is that II
the presidential preference Is on the
ballot, the voters may express their
preference and either forget or through
ignorance fall 70 vote their preference
for delegates. Mr.. Hoover undoubtedly
primary II Senator Willis does. Sem
ator Willis said on his arrival here the
matter had not been decided.
Denies Interview"
Mr.. Hoover has emphatically denied
published report from Florida saying
that he would go into no other States
having "favorite son" candidates, out
side OF Ohio. Mr.. Hoover character
tied the report as fake" Mark Sui
lfyan. widely known newspaper cor
respondent. with Mr.. Hoover on his trip
10 Florida, who was quoted along with
Mr.. Hoover as being responsible for this
report. has also denied the truth OF 1t.
Hearty Endorsement Of the Hoover
candidacy for Pres ssdent was given by
Representative Ketcham Of Michigan, q
former master Of the Grange and q
~ hn fa Nj f.
statement issued last night. Mr.
Ketcham's statement attracted much
attention. particularly as some other
members OF the farm bloc, including
Representative Dickinson OF Iowa, have
supported Frank O. Iowden OF Illinois
for President and attacked Mr.. Hoover
Mr. Ketcham said:
THE overwhelming sentiment for
Mr.. Hoover In Michigan is a fair In
dication OF the Nation wide demand for
his nomination. Our State has the
widest possible range OF interests and
occupations, and the call for Mr.. Hoover
Is 50 strong that present indications
are that no other candidate will file
for our presidential primary on April
2. and II he does. ! expect Mr.. Hoover's
vote 10 approach landslide proportions
Denies Opposition.
dispatches from Ohio and other Sec
| tions OF the Middle West stress the op-
position Mr.. Hoover Is 10 encounter
among the farmers. This opposition
| ~ To be based upon MIR. Hoover's al
| legged unfriendly attitude toward agri-
culture while serving AS food admins
TRAITOR during the war. and a continu-
ance Of that attitude as Secretary Of
| Commerce.
my own observation and experience
! lead me 10 believe that this opposition
has no foundation In fact. and that It
win have little effect, Indeed. the
actual facts are the other way
Right now the basic contention Of
all farm relief advocates is that farm
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