Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-11-19
HIRAM JOHNSON
BOTH GAINS And
LOSES STRENGTH
National Reputation Increases,
but He Falls Behind in
His Own State
By ERNEST N. SMITH

SAN FRANCISCO. CAL, Nov. g. =
sits been a big victory for Governor
johnson even If the Bull Moose didn't
get TO the feed trough. said a wise
politician the other day after the eiec- !
.tion returns.
1t seemed so. Like many another
westerner, the fighting governor went
east and got reputation, which cam
not help but be OF personal benefit toi
him in the future, though ii is evident
from the election returns in Califor-
MIA that he lost much esteem in his
native state, yet he may have gained
d national reputation
While the johnson forces in the
past have won by thousands Of votes,
their lead was so cut down in the ma
tfonal election that at this writing
four days after the polls closed, no
one yet knows who carried California.
The fight in this state was bitter
more so than In the old-time stand
against the Southern Pacific The
Progressive move which disfranehis-
ed the Taft Republicans in the state
was bitterly resented by the Taft
supporters and by all who wanted TO-
see fair play, and this undoubtedly
cost johnson and Roosevelt many
votes. for these men combined with
the Democrats to give Wilson q tre-
mendous vote.
Bitter Fight on Johnson.
johnson has spent many weeks
away from the state, q situation rel-
ished by his supporters. who say Call
|ifornia can well afford to pay the sal
airy of its first citizen, the only one
ever in q national office race, and
who is giving the state great adyertis-
ling. His enemies say he Is q thief TO-
accept pay from the state and spend
weeks away in personal campaign
johnson, the man who threw down
lSan Francisco, Is q slogan beginning
to be used against him becAuse he de-
Inounced the exposition expenditures
and the expositions' officials in an eff
fort to tprevent them from doing pOli-
tiles. Undoubtedly that drew votes
from johnson In the north, but 1t
fought to add to his popularity in the
south, particularly in Los Angeles
where jealousy of San Francisco Is
Iquite apparent.
| This jealousy was never better
shown than in the recent election
lwhen vote was called upon an
amendment to the constitution, which
lif passed would have enabled San
Francisco to enlarge by taking IN.
communities, providing
the latter were willing. A statement
Twas mailed to every voter in Los AM
Igeles, according to report, demanding
THAT the vote be against the amend
Iment so that San Francisco would
mot be able to grow by extending It's
limits. No dirtier piece of politics
has been done in years in California,
but it Is not presumed that the better
business elements in either city would:
lcounfenance such tactics.
laSwelled Head Charged.
Johnson is on his way home now to
take up his work again. There is no.
Question but that he has fathered
Isome mighty good laws for the benefit
lof all the people, and should be given.
full credit, but as one man put 1t.
t.sWhiIc he was one of us he helped all
Of us, but since his head swelled he
lis using us as aAstepping-stone to adj
vance himself"
An appealing argument to be slIre.
hut there are very few who Lave
achieved great prominence who
haven't done that very thing, so John
lsor is not to be particularly blamed
for that
Being comparative newcomer m
The political game he lacks the sus-
tanned poise Of the older "wiseacres,
and as consequence has run away
with himself He has built up how.
ever as good a machine as the South
err: Pacific ever had, but with no tried
and seasoned hand at the tiller of the
Progressive ship Of state, the Califor.
ria organization is more than likely to
60 upon the rocks If the same pollti-
cal course is sailed.
Proqressives To Go Ahead.
Whether the final count shows VIII
son or Roosevelt in the lead the Pro.
gtessive forces will go right ahead
pcrfecting plans to get even a firmer
grip on the state legislature two
years hence. They have good chance
to do it, unless the Taft or old Repub-
lians continue to support the Demo-
cratic cause. which necessarily they
don't want to do indefinitely. But the
hatred Johnson has engendered in
many old friends by his high handed
tacties will lead to the forming OF
strong efficient and continued opposi.
ton. - ~
II is a notable fact that Johnson has
lost more friends from among the
capitalists than from the labor ranks.
Big Business doesn't care much what
man does so long as It has strings.
on him, but it is an unforgiyable thing
tc throw off all the strings, run some,
of your own, and then go to the plain
votes to be sustained.
There isn't politician in California.
any clever than Johnson and his sup
porters for the time being. and fhev
know what they want, and are going
sfter it.. Although the election IL over 4
its a fair surmise that there will be
things doing in California during the