, 1935-10-24
Behind the
Scenes in
Washington
By RODNEY BUTCHER
Brownsville HeraId's Washington
Correspondent

Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct rs. - There
are two Journalistic theories about
Mr.. Hoover.
One Is that he seeks renomina-
ton by the republicans.
The other Is that he has neither
thought not expectation Of renom-
nation, but seeks only an influen-
tial voice in party policy and selec-
ton Of the candidate.
The answer Is this.
Hoover IN recent months has sum-
moned 10 him certain old frienus.
usually ex-officials here, who stiu
exert some influence in their home
states. He has asked them point
blank whether he could obtain
their state delegations for the nexB
q. o. r. convention.
Frequently, one hears. the con-
sultees have expressed polite doubts
Whereupon Mr.. Hoover has been
known 20 pull out q list Of possible
nominees and then, carefully ut
lining the disqualifications OF eacn.
cross the names off one by one until
there was left only that Of good old
Herbert himself.
WIN II Be Same Story?
Reminded that party politicians
Overwhelmingly oppose his nominal
ton, Mr.. Hoover replies that the
professional politicians also opposed
him In 1923. In that he Is to q large
degree correct Where he may DC
wrong IN In his belief that the D
lar demand for him In 1928. eSpe-
ctally conspicuous among business
men, will be repeated in 1886 as u
result Of general disillusionment with
the glittertng Roosevelt.
Confidants say Hoover SUCCESS
himself as another Grover Cleveland.
who was voted out OF office In 1883
and reelected four years later. "a
possible sidelight ON that idea Is the
fact that Cleveland had q popular
majority Of 10000 votes in 1899
despite his electoral college defeat,
whereas Hoover was defeated by q
majority Of more than 7.000.O00)
Some or Hooveris friends believe
his best chance would come In n
deadlocked convention. Reports In
dicate an intention TO achieve sucn
a deadlock.
Vandenberg Looks Best
When political correspondents no
into q huddle these dun days, they
often arise agreeing that Senator
Arthur VandenherR or Michigan
looks. az this admittedly early date,
like the most probable nominee for
the republicans.
This comes through q process Of
elimination. after the premise that
the Outstanding possibilities now are
Vandenberg, Col. Frank Knox OF
Chicago and Gov. ALI Landon OF
Kansas.
Wrong as they may or may not
be. most people here are unable 70
take the Knox candidacy very Sc
riOuSly. Faced with IN obvious
paucity Of available" material, poll
ticians seek primarily a vote-gettrr
or demonstrated ability. Colonel
Knox has never had a chance 70
demonstrate his popular appeal nc
the polls.
AU@AF WI GA0NANA GMAh4Wm
Landon, according TO shrewd men
who have been out to look him
over. lives up TO much OF the cur
rent ballyhoo for him While his
stature scarcely overtops the WASH
tngton monument. Il appears 70 be
at least equal to that Of Coolidge or
Harding.
He Is described as q man who
would accept much OF the liberal
program Roosevelt has advanced %
date-such as AAA. the power poll
few. banking reform. iva and the
labor dispute act--but would fight
for q New Deal nc bargain rates"
But II "a this liberalism OF Ian
don's which already causes eastern
leaders 70 look askance at him and
it's said to be very doubtful whether
Iandon would make the concessions
10 them which they would demand
IN return for support.
Also. the boast that Kansas state
and local taxes under the personally
and publicly pardmonious Landon
have been cut from sl2700O.OO 70
SCI. 100000 can Be riddied by cita-