The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-25
CALIFORNIA STRONG.
FOR HIRAM JOHNSON
Governor the Only Man Who
Could Bcat Wilson. Lead
crS Say.
COL. KNIGHT TO BOOM HIM

SAN Francisco. Oct. 2i.-Thoy will
tell o in California that Woodrow
Wilson, "a matters now stand, can
carry the State for President over any
man tlat can be named with the single
exception OF Hiram johnson. The
Democrats believe IL, the Republicans
admit It and the Progressives shout 1t
from the very h%ousetOps.
That the young Governor is u force to
be reckoned with can easily be seen by
those who discuss politics and candi-
dates with dwellers along the Pacifc
coast. The voters, especially the
women. have an abiding faith in John
son and his record as "A public man.
Able. fearless and resolute. he has
forced one reform after another until,
the people OF his state have come to ooh
upon him as almost irresistible In any
fight that he engages in.
They point to his plurality of nearly
200. 900 when ne ran for reelection on
the Progressive ticket against two OF
the most popular men that IN" Demo-
Gratis and Republicans could Ind. and
tAAtN ANA NAf'N ~ ~ JUG 49, 49,
as ever.
Col. GEORGE A. knight, Republican
National Committeeman from California
for twelve years and "a power II the
! party organization on the coast. L.
openly for Johnson for the nomination
for President in 1916.
The Republicans OF California real
ize.'' he said to-day. that Johnson Is
their one best bet. They recognize his
great ability and his wonderful popu-
iarlty. For that reason the old party is
turning To him ~ rapidly that he II
more than likely TO he the choice of the
Republican delegation from this state
to the next national convention. In my
opinion he Is the only man who can
carry the state against Wilson. and for
that reason | shall do everything within
my power 10 push his candidacy.
~ would ne useless TO deny the
plain fact that President Wilson Is very
strong on the Pacific coast aud espe-
cially in California. The women are
bitterly opposed to war and they believe
Wilson has done more than any other
man TO keep US out Of the European
struggle. For that reason they are
largely for the President for reelection
If he keeps on as he has in the past.
! None OF the men who have been most
talked Of fpr President by the Eastern
Republicans could hope to carry this
State. assuming as we must that Will
sor will he enamed 10y the Democrats.
I'm spite OF the Wilson popularity. my
firm conviction IL that Hiram Johnson
could beat him. He would reunite the
old party as no other man could, ard
besides that he Is probably the best
campaigner in the country to-day. with
the possible exception Of Colonel i,"use-
welt"
Another thing THAT sticks Oh. in ne
California situation Is the fact that there
IL no none for the Republicans II the
next platform Is not distinctly progress
sive. There IS AN overwhelming sent
nsn;. apparently. for "A national child
labor law and for national control Of
great corporations. Thousands of Re
publicaus are advocating such measures
AMI openly declare that tho California
. delegation will insist upon their adop-
ton as Party policies. They Insist that
II such principles are set aside the
party Is doomed To- defeat. Johnson.
they hasten to explain, H. heart and
soul for such reforms, and he would
lie his own plltforn and could he de-
pended upon TO force the night for the
things the voters want.
ono of the greatest surprises ~ the
far West politically Is the almost ute,
absence OF sentiment for Senator IioiaA
Of Idano He is always spoken of with
respect. but when he is mentioned as f,
candidate for the Presidential nomlna-
ton there is little or no response. Cali
fornia cares nothing for him apparently
and strangely enough Roosevelt Is re-
garded az out Of the running. There is
some talk Of Cumnins of Iowa. but
when he is discussed the talk always
drifts back to Hiram johnson,