The Detroit times., 1911-01-31
IT'S Bis JOB SAYS
GOV. JOHNSON.
Progressive Executive Says He Ex-
pected It's Pushing Fight for
Political Reforms.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Jan. 81
Hiram Johnson. insurgent. the first
free-souled governor OF California. In
80 years. has been In office one month.
SITS big job" he said today, look
ing back over 80 days in the ONCE OF
chief executive. But it's no bigger
than I thought IL was"
Johnson was sizing up the month
Ia the light OF his ante-election prom
Use to kick the Southern Pacific rail-
way out OF California government.
why, this state is honey-combed!"
he continued. Its corporation rid
died"
Amy more so than you thought on
Jan. II" he was asked.
mo. | knew the condition. The
d!fficulty has been to determine where
To Begin
Johnson re-lit his pipe. The re-
cording OF this fact Is not unimport-
ant. II Is characteristic OF Califor-
MAS new progressive government,
that you, no matter who you are, can
smoke a pipe, no matter what kind
OF a pipe, In the Office OF the chief
executive without giving offense-and
the chief executive will join you. With
the advent of Hi" JohnDn's pipe In
the governors Office, passed the politi-
cal cigar: and with Its passing went
the crooked morals. the false tradt-
tons, the unhealthful atmosphere OF
the professional politician. There's
nothing pretentious about the govern
or's pipe. It's just an everyday black
Eriar. But it's real pipe. That's
characteristic, too.
SO, an unpretentious, real man, re-
lighted an unpretentious, real pipe
that marked a new era-and contin.
led what he was saying.
"Of course, we made a beginning.
he said. THE past month has seen
great accomplishment Most Inn
portant and far-reaching OF all was
the election OF Works TO the United
States senate.
"Overstopping all else awaiting ac-
complishment, as I see the work
ahead, Is the enactment of new laws
governing railroads and giving to Cal
ifornia the initiative. the referendum
and the recall.
THE difficulties We shall meet will
he great. But we are we'll equipped.
We have splendid legislature, one in
which the dominating spirit is toward
progress and justice.
Naturally" in answer TO a ques-
ton, there Is some divergence OF
opinion relative to proposed progress.
sive measures. Some excellent men,
sincere progressives, are strongly OPP
posed, for example, TO including the
judiciary In the recall. Their argu-
Inent Is this:
THAT judges, regardless OF person
al beliefs and inclinations, have no
choice but to render decisions within
the certain defined limits OF the law
as Is exists.
Second, that these limits, so clear
70 minds trained In the laws, are fire.
quently not observable to the person
not so trained; that, therefore, public
indignation might, with q recall law
applying to the judiciary, be so fan
ned as TO result In the removing from
office or a thoroughly worthy judge
who had acted IN a manner not pleas
iEg to the public, not from personal
cloice, but because the law allowed
him no choice.
ITO this argument there Is an an
swer. 1t means fundamental to me.
1t Is this:
ITO the people Is given the right
TO discriminate In the selection OF
Judges. Then they should be given
the right to determine whether a
Judge whom they have elected shall
continue In office.
"You spoke of difficulties" was sug-
gested.
Eyes! And among the greatest to