The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-04
HOOVER TO Be
ASKED TO SAY
'N0'--PUBLICLY
G. o. P. Wants Definite
Commitment Not to
Run in 1886.
BY LYLE c. WILSON
Unite5 Press stan Correspondent.

Copyright. 1888. by United Press
WASHINGTON. Sept. A plan
to obtain from Herbert Hoover pub
lie and definite withdrawal of his
name from consideration for presi-
dental nomination By the Republi-
can National Committee was re-
vealed today BY an influential men,
Der Of the c. o. p. high command.
Prediction was made to the United
Press that Mr.. Hoover would re-
move himself from presidential con-
sideration during the autumn. IN
quiry developed. however. that the
prediction was not based on any
expression Of intention by the
former President.
II represents the judgment OF GER
tain party leaders aware Of the plan
to approach Mr.. Hoover.
Strategy to Corner" Hoover
AS outlined here the direct ques-
ton is 10 be put privately 70 Mr..
Hoover in such a way that he must
either renounce all further politi-
cal aspirations or. by silence. ack-
nowledge that he is at least willing
10 run again.
Promoters Of this strategy TO cor
ner Mr.. Hoover with regard to his
1886 intentions feel that something
viii have been accomplished if the
former President IS placed in a po-
sition in which he must reveal TO
them whether he still aspires to
the White House.
The Hoover mystery is developing
a popular interest that is compar-
able TO that attaching in 1927 TO
former President COolidge's cryptic
I do not choose to run in 1928"
"Reles ed to Literature"
No one ever discovered whether
Mr.. Coolidge intended that gem Of
colloquial obscurantism as a refusal
to accept the 1923 nomination or
merely a gesture in expectation that
a grateful party would not sign
waivers on the prophet of economy
in government.
Whatever it meant, the Republi-
cans in Kansas City proceeded di-
rectly to the nomination of Mr..
Hoover and Mr.. Coolidge was re-
leased to the insurance business and
literature.
When Mr. Hoover left Washington
n 1888 he appeared reconciled to
political oblivion. If his mind was
in doubt it must have been set right
early in the Roosevelt special ses-
sion of 1888 when a group of
stanch Hoover men in Congress
passed word to PalO Alto that the
party must look elsewhere in 1886.
Tactics Point to Platform Making
Simon Fess. of Ohio. then a Sena-
tor and formerly chairman of the
Republican National Committee, in
formed the United Press in 1888
that Mr.. Hoover sincerely desired to
be passed over when the time came
again to choose a Republican
nominee.
GIr. Fess explained that Mr..
Hoover's ambition was to help pick
the man to beat President Roosevelt
in 1886 and that he wanted TO say
a large and final word on the Re-
publican platform.
That may still be the limit of Mr..
Hoover's ambition. His tactics in
recent months might be directed
either at obtaining a nominal party
leadership pointing toward active
participation in the platform max
ing and strategy of the 1886 presi-
Dental year.
In any event. Mr. Hoover was
long silent until last February. Then
he startled the country with a tele-
gram to the United Press demand
ing that the Administration resume
the gold standard
RegainS Sense of Humor
Since then the former President
has been heard from frequently. He
has travelled often across the CONT
nent talking with party leaders from
coast to coast. Moreover, he has
regained the peace Of mind and
sense of humor which deserted him
in the last two bitter years of White
House tenure.
This correspondent had a little
chat with Mr.. Hoover last June in
Chicago. The former President is
changed man, inclined to laugh
now at things which would have
brought a scowl in 1882.
If he is nominated for President
again. the people who listened to
his speeches in 1882 will remark the
difference in his bearing and voice
next year.