Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-06-27
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~ ~ CoNpocTED By YRS. INHIBITION.
MHY Nor H1RAM JoHNsoN BOB
CoNpucrED BIZ MRS. MHFEITON

WHY NOT HIRAM JOHNSON FOR
PRESIDENT?
OF course I can estimate the favorit-
Ism OF partizans for their candidates,
but I see an article in Hampton's Mag
a=sHe for July that pleases me very
mucn.
Mr. Johnson won the governorship in
boss-ridden California by plain, straight
forward common sense as applied TO pol
Itics.
Everybody understands that California
was in the absolute and venal control OF
the Contra. and Southern Pacific rail-
roads for a long term Of years. They
secured this control By nominating their
own men for every office in the state.
ara the people seemed to be absolutely
helpless before their money and author
ity They used their money without
limit In the city OF Washington 70 con-
troll national legislation. They put their
men on the bench. and II is charged that
they corrupted even the jurors Every
governor bowed the knee TO these money
despots- They placed Mr.. Leland Stan
ford. one OF the owners Of the Pacific
roads. on the governorship. they then
placed him in the United States senate
tor six years. After this venality and
corruption were fully exposed and every
man In Washington understood that Mr..
Stanford sat in the senate 10 look after
the interests OF these railroads. he still
sat there. a living monument to the
greed and rapacity OF this mammoth
corporation. He was there to watch the
senators who were owned by his rail-
road company. When the Thurman ind
ing was before congress he paid out
$4,000 during the preceding six months
10 corrupt men n the congress OF the
United States
II was a long period Of Southern Pa
rific oppression and misrule. But Cali
Fornia became tired Of being in servf-
h5de to a great bloated corporation. In
ISIS, even the Republican party began 10
revolt and a league was formed called
the r.Lincoln- Roosevelt league" pledg-
Cd 20 secure primary elections for the
selection OF candidates The railroad
politicians callem them -Link-Roosters.'
But the Boosters crowed loud enough
TO stir up the political party. These
BOOSTERS went after a man TO lead the
revolt and they picked out Hiram John
son. a successful lawyer. He was a
busy attorney. and declined the honor.
But they went after him again. ana
l.nally he said TO his wlIe: We are
both young enough TO take a year out
OF our lives ana dedicate IL to the good
OF the state" He accepted the nomina-
ton OF the plain people. got in an auto
mobile. with his young son. Jack, 10
drive IL. anu he eanvassed the state or
California. speaking oftentimes ten to
- times day. standing up in the auto
mobile and addressing every gathering
he met on his travels.
The railroad people sneered at him
when he started. but their eyes were
opened when he was elected by an over
Nhelming majority He then begun to
do what he said he would do. There
was first no inaugural ball. Life was
too serious TO begin in dance hall for
him ne did not make any staff APP
pointments. 10 please the youngsters
who like TO wear gold lace on their
uniforms and ride prancing horses just 10
look az. Governor Johnson did not have
any trfumphaI procession as he went to
the capitol TO deliver his inaugural He
walked into the assembly chamber and
told the people in plain words what he
had promised 10 do. and what he intend
I'd TO do.
Then he begun a house cleaning. and
he applied the. rod 10 the railroad mo-
hopoly which had filled ali the public
offices in California. He drove those
money changers from the Democratic
temple.
This is the man that I would like TO
zee nominated BY the Democrats next
year He has made good. He did what
he said he would do.
There Is no need for any platform
except the word Honesty" He can be
felied upon 10 clean Up the dark. dirty
places in and around Washington city.
We want to know that the people OF this
eountry have a person in the White
House who is unafraid and can call q
spade a spade I am going to say right
here that ] thank Mr.. Roosevelt for the
help he gave those ~Link-Roosters" out