His is conservatism, none the less,
definite conservatism, if more enlightened than the obscurant
American variety.
His hesitation and indecision in the spring of 1920 thus did not
spring from doubt of the Republican party's progressiveness. He
always desired the Republican nomination; but his vanity would
suffer by the open seeking of it and the defeat which seemed
likely; and his sensitiveness would suffer from the attacks, like
that of Mr. Hearst, which an open candidacy would entail; for he is
at once vain and thin-skinned.
Springing thus from reluctance to make up his mind, the
announcement was received as the evidence of a very large mind.
Among the public, Mr. Hoover was taken for a man who cared more for
principle than for party or for politics. Among the politicians, he
assumed the proportions of a portent, with a genius for politics
second only to that of Roosevelt himself, who in a difficult
situation could take the one position and say the one thing that
might force his nomination.
The Democrats pricked up their ears. Mr. Wilson, sick and
discouraged, began to entertain hopes of a candidate who would save
the Democracy from ruin. Homer Cummings, National Chairman of Mr.
Wilson's party, began to regard Mr. Hoover's possible nomination
favorably. The Republican managers became alarmed. They knew from
Mr.
Pages:
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111