AMERICAN PRESIDENCY

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 190, 14 May 1928, Page 9

AMERICAN PRESIDENCY

HOOVER’S HEAVY EXPENSES

REFUTING OPPONENTS’ CHARGES

CANDIDACY APPROVED BY MELLON (United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) Washington, Maj’ 11. Mr. James Good, campaign director for Mr. Hoover, told the Senate Committee that his organisation had accepted contributions amounting to 49,150 dollars, and had spent 42.032. The largest contributor was Edsel Ford, who gave 5000 dollars. A message from Dayton Beach (Florida) says that the State Republicans instructed four delegates for Mr. Hoover at the National Republican Convention. News from Nashville states that Tennessee’s twenty-four delegates to the National Democratic Convention were instructed to vote for Representative Cordell Hull, a Tennesseean, “until his chances of nomination cease to be hopeful.’ Hull’s victory was onty won after a bitter fight with Smith supporters, and is regarded as having little significance, since bis chances of nomination are nil(Rec. May 13, 5.5 p.m.) Washington, May 11.

While at first it was thought that Mi'. Hoover’s total campaign expenses to date amounted to 40,000 dollars, further questioning of James Good rem tiled that this was Rr Ohio alone, and the total outlay at present probably exceeds a quarter of a million dollars, or considerably more than twice Smith’s expenditure. Good declared that a large proportion of the money was expended in refuting untrue and unwarranted statements” regarding Hoover’s career, circulated by partisans of the other candidates, including a statement that he was not an American citizen, that he was not a Republican, that he had defrauded China, that he had made a fortune from the Boxer uprising, that he fixed the price of wheat during the world war, and finalty that he had not accounted for millions of dollars entrusted to him in his capacity of administrator of the great relief uuthe United States and other countries.

MELLON’S RECOMMENDATION (Australian Press Association.) (Rec. May 13, 11 p.m.) New York, May 12. News from Philadelphia states that Mr. Mellon ( Secretarj’ of the Treasury) to-dav approved the candidaej' of Hoover, 'in a statement’, before Pennsylvanian delegates to the Republican National Convention, stating: “Mr. Hoover seems to come closest to the standard that we set for this high office. However, between now and the convention I recommend that we hold ourselves pledged and uncommitted to any particular candidate, so that when we meet in Kansas City before the convention we will have the fullest liberty of choice to do as is best for the nation.”

This statement is taken by Hoover’s friends as virtually naming Hoover as the logical successor to President Coolidge, and that Mr. Mellon, who is a figure of vast political influence, is now convinced that neither Mr. Coolidge nor the ex-Secretary of State, Mr. Hughes, is in the nonlination race. The claim is even made that this assures Hoover’s nomination on the first ballot, but while it is a distinct gain for Hoover, the Indiana primaries have apparently lessened the possibility of Hoover’s choice by acclaim at Kansas City. ,

SUPPORT FOR SMITH (Rec. May 13, '*5.5 p.m.)

Washington, May 11.

Further support for Smith’s candidature has come from Senator Wheeler, of Montana, who bolted from the Democratic Party in 1924 after Davis and Bryan had been nominated, and ran for Vice-President on the third party ticket headed by the late Senator La Follette. Wheeler has published a letter urging the nation to make Smith’s nomination by acclamation, a feature of which was a reference to prohibition. Wheeler declared that the Republican policy was “Theoretical enforcement and actual nullification,” and indicated that with Smith in favour of law enforcement there would be improvement in the enforcement conditions if he were elected as President. DECLARATION AGAINST THIRD TERMS (Australian Press Association.). (Rec. May 13, 11 p.m.) Washington, May 12. Representative Celler has introduced a resolution into the House of Representatives declaring against a third term for any President. Celler said the failure of the present incumbent of the White House to state unequivocally b.is position, and that he would not even be a "drafter” is an occasion that compels the passage of the resolution.