New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-15
JOHNSON IN DISGUST
WOULD QUIT POLITICS
Progressives Who Bask in State
Prestige He Won All Look
for Rewards Now.

San Francisco. May H-Governor John
sons telegram 10 Secretary Bryan. assert
Ing that his approval OF the anti-allen
land bill was duty he owed the people
Of California. was only characteristic Of
the whole political manruyre conducted
by the Progressives in this state at the
expense OF the Democrats. The dearest
headed political friends Of Governor John
son believe that his handling OF the alien
land law situation is the best bit Of Cali
fornia politics ever accomplished by the
Governor H. tie name OF the Progress
sive party. They are frank enough to ad-
nit that his manipulation of the situation
may have worked him injury away from
home. may even have initiated against
him as the Presidential nominee OF the
National Progressive party, but that lie
has gained an advantage at home. which
may or may not be temporary, cannot be
denied.
I II must be understood that while the
Democrats put Az anti-alion land law
plank in their state platform. nine out Of
every ten Republican and Progressive
candidates for legislative Office definitely
pledged themselves 10 such legislation
+! from tho stump After the converting OF
, tho Legislature the first partisan move
made by the Progressiyes disclosed their
, intention to take the anti-alien land law
away from the Democrats. The Demo-
I Gratis. notably Senator John Il. Sanford,
national committeeman from this state,
| emitted loud walls of anguish. They In
sisted that they were the original and
/ Of -t,~f.l
| den laboring man and the japanese pes
tered prune orchardist.
! Then President Wilson stacked the
| cards for Governor johnson and the Pro-
gressives by inviting his Secretary of
Sta t. 10 80 to California to stop leaisla-
ton 10 which his own partisans were
irrevocably pledged.
Political capitalization of the antl-Jap-
aneso sentiment By the Progressives was
made ridicuouSly easy by the attitude Of
President Wilson and the tact displayed
by Governor Johnson.
While Governor johnson was temporiz-
ing with the Secretary of State. Arizona
a Democratic state. passed an ant-land
law more drastic than the California law
The fact that the federal administration
and the Eastern politicians paid no at
tention 10 Arizona. but continued tn coax
or belabor California. served to stir the
resentment Of CalifOrniaDs and TO
Strengthen Johnson's glory.
If the Governor remains in his present
frame of mind that will make but little
difference to him. Just now he wants To
quit the political game. lie Is Disguised
with the attitude of many OF the men he
has gathered around him Many OF them
seem TO believe that they are big enough
to be Governor. Every ono OF them who
wants TO be Governor wants johnson TO
run for the Senate. All the Progressive
patriots who want TO be Senators insist
that Johnson be candidate 20 succeed
himself
| In either case they are interested in
Johnson only as the vote getting factor
for their ticket. Johnson is intensely hu-
man. In fact he is extremely thin
skinned. He knows that he Is the only
! Progressive in California with an outside
chance of carrying the state. and natu-
rally he resents the Willingness OF men
| he has made To throw him over for their
| own advantage. None ~ them figured
even remotely IN the dnti-alleu land stu
alton, and whatever of political advantage
has flown from IL is Governor Johnsons
and his alone. Whatever disadvantage
may flow from reaction VIII be his. and
his alone
Meanwhile California is not especially
excited over the bill, and at no time have
the people of tits state showed such
heated interest In II as have the Eastern
public and politicians.