The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-09-22
like father like SON UNTRUE
SO FAR AS CALIFORNIA SEES
Recent Republican Primary Nom.
mates FiIius Hiram ". John.
son For Governor and Defeats
Pater Grove |. For Legislature.
By j. A. EDCERTON.

Fdle' u[OVe |. Tor Legislature.
BY J. A. EDcERroN.
"dE lnsurgent movement has d.
v1ded at least one family. In
CalnOrnla Grove L. Johnson,
who has been in congress and
tne legislature for eighteen or twenty
years, is known as standpatter of
standpatters, yet this year he was de-
feated in the Republican primaries for
denomination to the legislature In the
same election Hiram w. johnson, his
son, running as an insurgent, carried
the Republican primaries for governor
by a plurality so large the election
boards are hardly through counting it
yet
Insurgency has been known to divide
fathers-in-law and sons-in-law, but
this is the first conspicuous instance
in which it has estranged father and
son. In Massachusetts no one would
accuse Senator Henry Cabot Lodge Of
insurgency. They would as soon
charge political heterodoxy against Eu-
gene Hale or Nelson W. Aldrich. Yet
the husband Of Lodges daughter, the
Hon Gussie Gardner, is one Of the
representatives that have been making
life uneasy for Uncle Joe.
Anent the Hon. Nicholas Longworth,
another representative who married
the daughter of a great man, Theodore
Roosevelt once remarked to Gardner,
your father-in-law and my son-in-
law do not approve Of our radicalism."
Pinchot Claims Victory.
Roosevelt refused to mix in John
sons fight for governor of California,
but sent Clifford Pinchot, who joyously
made insurgent speeches all over the
state and seemingly regards the VIC
tory as personal triumph. Well, it
was big enough victory to be divided
up and still leave "glory enough for
ALL" So if Pinchot wants a slice Of it
Johnson probably has no objections.
Rudolph Spreckels, Francis ]. He
ney and the Lincoln-Roosevelt league
also claim some small share Of the
credit, since they first selected John
son for the graft prosecutions and
afterward made him the candidate.
Pretty much everybody is happy over
the result. so far as 1 can judge, ex-
cept Grove L. Johnson, the Southern
Pacific railroad and some Of the people
who wanted Heney removed from Of
fee because he ate with his knife.
It must be admitted that ''sword
swallowing" is a heinous offense, but
the penalty should fit the crime. Fir
ing man out of good paying Office
is going too far. That should be class
ed under the head of cruel and un-
usual punishment The worst that
can be hoped for man who eats with
his knife is that he should cut his
mouth or swallow the knife by mis-
take. AS matter of fact, those San
Francisco people did not care a hang
whether Heney ate with his knife or
with his fingers. What they really OBJ
jected to was that he prosecuted the
grafters. And right there is where
Hiram Johnson came into the game.
Johnson an Orator.
Johnson had been practicing law in
San Francisco and had arrived at the
point where he was called a Heading
lawyer" He was effective before a
jury, especially in the line of pathos.
When it came to getting the jury all
worked up Hiram johnson was there
with the oratory. AS for politics, he
voted any way he pleased. His enc
mics said he registered at the primaries
as Republican, but usually voted the
Democratic ticket Anyway, he was
independent and did not try to conceal
it. Likewise he was against his father
in politics and did not try to conceal
that either. Then he was made deputy
district attorney to help in the prosecu-
ton of Schmitz and Ruef, and it was
the reputation there made that sug-
gested him as the proper insurgent
leader
Again his foes say-what will foes
not say in politics ?-that he defended
Dalzell Brown, the bank wrecker. at
about the same time that he was prose-
cutting graft. They also aver that he
never really broke with his father at
all. It might be difficult to convince
Grove L. Johnson of that.
Where he is known the elder John
son is called foxy old Grove" In
the legislature he has generally been
regarded as friend Of the Southern
Pacific. When he was in congress-he
served but one term-his most con-
spicuous act was an attack on W. r.
Hearst. The editor came back with a
two or three page broadside in which
he charged that Grove L. had once
been indicted for forgery in New York
state. That would have foored the
average statesman, but it never feazed
Johnson.
Beaten For denomination.
He arose to a question Of personal
privilege, admitted the charge, said he
had never tried to conceal it. but haf