As the Home State went, so went the country, in the good old days when men shouldered torchlights and platforms were beer barrels. And among the indicative Home States the name of Ohio was for the political boss like to that of Abou Ben Adhem. Till Sunday.

Sunday Herbert Hoover, Secretary of Commerce, dictated a letter to the leading Ohio booster, giving him permission to toss a nominatory monkey-wrench into the works. Since Ohio's plans, and particularly those of its favorite son. Senator Frank B. Willis, had not included the Secretary of Commerce, the official entrance of the interloper made a good deal of hubbub on the second floor of Masonic Hall. Hoover has flouted the old Ohio tradition of unanimous nomination of the favorite son. No wonder Secretary Willis accuses the Secretary of "violating the decencies of politics." And by mail, too.

One may join in the regret of Senator Willis that Hoover has spoiled the unanimity of the Ohio delegates, whose unfaltering adherence to Willis might have gone down into history with Alabama's famous 39 votes for Underwood. Senator Willis is the only one to raise his voice against an opponent who holds favorite-son tradition in contempt; whatever the other planks in his platform, he is at least a gentleman of the old school, a lone surviving guardian of courteous politics. Even if, bravely fighting, he should go down, Herber Hoover has still to meet the national convention. In Kansas City, then, where in her curved palm woman holds the aesthetic vote.