Evening star., 1936-05-19
LANDON'S FORCES
ENV|S|0N GAINS
IN HOOVER STAND
But Most Observers Feel
Denial of Candidacy Fails
to Clarity Race.
ROLE IN CONVENTION
MAY BE STRENGTHENED
Greater Prominence Believed
Likely at Session for
Former President.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

DA W. o0SAD AAASSoA~As
Politically minded washington was
puzzling its head today over the effect
former President Herbert Hoover's
announcement he is not a candidate
will have on the race for the Repub-
lican presidential nomination.
Despite the fact that Mr.. Hoover
will have warm personal friends
among the delegates attending the
Republican National Convention
friends who stand ready to vote for
his nomination-the opinion has been
strong that he would not be the NOM
lnee.
The question asked today, however,
is whether Mr.. Hoover had strength
ened his position by his announce
ment; whether he would have q
greater influence in the choice of the
presidential candidate and in the
drafting of the platform. 1t was urged
in some quarters that by removing
himself as possible contender from
the presidential race he had made it
easier for himself to take a prominent
part in the councils of the convention.
Chicago Statement.
In his Chicago statement to the
press, Mr.. Hoover laid stress on the
fact that a great majority of the
delegates to the national convention
will be "uninstructed" for any of the
candidates. For months 1t has been
the contention of the former Presi-
dent that the Republicans should pick
the finest type of delegates to the
convention and then let these dele
gates reach a decision as to the candi-
dates for President and Vice Presi-
dent. 1t has, in a measure. been his
fight. And this fight he has won
The demand for uninstructed dele
cations fitted in with the plans OF
some of the old guard Republican
leaders also
The Hoover statement denied the
former President was opposing any OF
the candidates. Recently reports have
been published that Hoover would
join a coalition in the convention to
prevent the nomination of Gov. ALT M
Landon of Kansas. His present state
ment is understood to have been an
answer to these reports. This is not
the first time that Mr.. Hoover has
felt it incumbent upon him to deny
a statement that he was either for
or against one of the presidential
possibilities. He denied some weeks
ago, for example, that his candidate
was Senator Vandenberg of Michigan.
Believed Cool to Landon.
There are reasons to believe. how
ever, that Mr.. Hoover has not been
impressed with the Landon candidacy;
that he has not considered Gov. Lam
don has had sufficiently wide expert
ence to grapple with the problems,
both national and international, which
confront the country.
The Landon people, however, are in
clined to derive some satisfaction from
the Hoover statement he is opposing
none Of the candidates. They believe
it may end the publication of reports
that Mr.. Hoover is ready to join q
stop Landon" movement. They in
sist that if the convention is left to
itself, and no effort Is made by small
group of leaders to form an anti-Lan-
don alliance, it will undoubtedly NOM
mate the Kansas Governor for Presi-
dent.
Although Mr.. Hoover has made nc
effort to have delegates elected favor
able to himself, a number of the dele
Z (See HOOVER, Page A-3.)