The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-25
HIRAM ALSO BELONGS.

Hiram Johnson, governor of California and
vice-presidential candidate on the Progressive
ticket. seldom fails to take advantage of an
opportunity to demonstrate that he is a fit assoc
ciate for his leader On several occasions he
has shown that he possesses his masters pow
ers of vtuperation, his masters contempt for
Law, his masters reckless disregard of the
truth The possession of each and every one
OF these qualities has been proven, and there
is none who is not convinced but Hiram also
possesses his masters fondness for reiteration
and continues to villify, to violate the laws Of
his State and to take liberties with the truth.
1t is in the latter field that he has recently
shone with the most eFulgence. In New Jer-
sey, the home State of Governor Wilson, he
has repeated the statement first enuncia.ed by
Senator Beveridge, after being instructed by
his master. who had received the tip from
hotel waiter" with considerable knowledge of
law ard fttfe' knowledge or Fairness, Justice
and the eternal verities, that while governor
MI. Wilson made no attempt to prosecute the
TRUSTS whose origin in New Jersey There
was some excuse for Mr.. Beverdge at first the
universally pleaded excuse of ignorance Mr.
Johnson has not that excuse. for he has been
told repeatedly that the laws of New Jersey
40 not give power to any State Official to prose-
cute trusts propose their dissolution for
| violation OF federal statutes. That is why
Governor Wilson did not proceed against the
trusts which had been convicted in the federal
courts OF breach of federal statutes AS If
conscious of the unfairness Of This charea Mr.
Johnson falls back upon Misrepresentation, de-
ciaring that Governor Wilson never lifted a
finger to secure amendment of the State
! law so as to secure the power To prosecute
, In spite of Governor Johnson Governor Wilson
did make such efforts and was defeated only
by combination of progressive and reaction
airy Republicans who controlled the legislature
Tor 1912. III his inaugural address Governor
Wilson called attention to the necessity of re-
v1sing the law. In the Democratic platform
OF 1911 appeared plank drawn by his own
hand pledging the Democratic party to an
amendment of the laws, but the Democratic
party did not control the Legislature About
month ago the Democratic party platform was
drawn and similar plank Incorporated in it.
and Roosevelt Republicans. were too busily
engaged in attempting to destroy Governor
wilson's progressive legislation of the previous
year to take any action the trust laws On
one day Governor Wilson was forced to veto
forty measures, many of them reactionary and
all of them passed with the assistance of pro-
gressive Republicans Governor Wilson and
his friends in the legislature were forced to
defend what had been done and could not take
the offensive in effort 70 other need
ed legislation. For this condition of affairs
many of those who are supporting Colonel
Roosevelt and who heard and applauded Gov
ernor Johnson were responsible.
II Governor Johnson would return to Cali
fornia, as the law of his State demands that
he do under pain OF impeachment he would
have less time in which to misrepresent the
record Of his brother governor. ,4....,se- !.