Evening star., 1935-10-15
Hoouer's Mystery Role Helps
Him Crystalize G. o. P. Policy
Former President Becoming Effective
Spokesman Build Strength, but
OppOsitiOn Seems Insurn1OuntabIe.

organized. The result was inevitable.
So far no similar figure has arisen on
the Republican horizon. The field
against Mr.. Hoover, II he becomes q
candidate, Is widely scattered from
Borah in Idaho to Hamilton Fish
In New York.
Swing to Hoover Possible.
Nominations are made by delegates
elected to the Republican and Demo-
cratic national conventions. With Mr..
Hoover's present opposition In the
party. and with the belief that exists
In many quarters that he would be an
unpopular candidate. 1t Is dificult to
see how he could win the pledges Of
delegations to the national convention.
These State delegations win 60 pledged
to various candidates. or unpledged.
The more unpledged delegations, per.
haps the better for Mr.. Hoover. II he
should become an active candidate.
From present indications there are
likely to be large number OF "fa-
vorite son" candidates, candidates
with the support Of only their own
State delegations. and perhaps the
delegations Of one or two nearby
States. Here, too, would be a chance
Tor deadlock and a swing to Hoover,
If the demand should come.
All this may be changed. of course,
In the event one Of the Republican
possibilities shows up particularly
strong In the presidential preferential
primaries. Far more delegates are
chosen to the national convention
from States which have no preferential
primaries, 1t is true, but If Ohio,
Pennsylvania and other big States
which have some form of presidential
preferential primaries should swing
strongly to one Of the candidates the
psychological effect would be great.
Stalking Horses France.
1t has been reported that in some
Of the States which have primaries
and some which have not stalking
horses" are to be put forward by
Mr.. Hoover's friends, ready to throw
their strength to Hoover at the right
time In the national convention. So
far as Mr.. Hoover Is concerned, these
reports have had no confirmation.
The former President understands
that ne has strong opposition from
both wings Of the Republican party
the old guard representing the con-
servatives, and the progressives, who
fought him all during his admins
tration. It may be that he will never
TOSS his hat into the ring or permit
any OF his friends to do it for him.
Mr.. Hoover. however, would be more
than human If he would not welcome
an opportunity to seek vindication at
the hands of the voters and a chance
to carry on with the plans he had for
recovery.
Some of Hoover's friends want him
to get out into the open as a definite
candidate for the presidential nomi-
nation without delay.
They fear that other candidates
will pre-empt too many of the dele
gates to the national convention. But
the present strategy Of Withholding
any announcement by Mr.. Hoover has
It's advantages. Outside of the old
guard and outside of the progressives
Mr.. Hoover has many warm friends
and admirers. Even among them at
this time his candidacy might be aeld
to be mistake and an error on the
part OF the G. o. P. Six months from
now, depending upon the outcome OF
Mr.. Hoover's anti~New Deal campaign
and the issues then presented, they
might have a different opinion.