The sun., 1916-11-11
GEN. OTIS'S STATEMENT.
Publisher Tells Why Hughes was
Defeated In California.

Publisher Tells Why Hughes Was
Defeated In California.
The JoUotrinO mdry Of coudj-
fons ia California and lrhdt. in his
opinion. caused tho dcJcn, Of Huobcs
,rds felc0rdphcd 70 THE SrN last night
bp Gcn. Harrison cray otis, publisher
of the Los Angeles Times:
Los ANGELES. Cal. Nov. 1o.-The loss
of California by Republicans was a
shock and surprise wholly unexpected.
We had reason confidently to none for a
Republican victory. but the widely en-
tertained expectation that the so-called
reunion OF rcgulars and Progressnes
would secure the state to Mr.. Hughes
turned out to be a snare and Il delusiou.
Abundant evidence exists that the
compact WIS not carried out in g.,..
faith. hut was secretly and treacher-
ously violated The votes cas-, show
this TO he true. The enormous maiol ny
of 200. oo0 for Hiram ". johnson for
senator and the small vote FOR Hughes
for President canno; be rcconciled by
ny honest explanation.
johnson. as is notorious. is the recall
Citrant Progressive and pseudo Repub-
lican at whose door u%neuuivocal hlrges
OF bad faith are now laid In straigh;
Republican quarters. These CHARGES are
no. and cannot he explained away. Mr..
Hughes was entitled to the electoral vo;e
of the state 10y every political right and
condition which should have governed
in the campaign ard In the election.
In Control of PrORrcssivcs.
The reorganization Of the state Repub-
lican central committee unfortunately
left its control in the hands " the Pro-
gressives-the repentaut Trogressiyes-
so-"alled-and the power Of the Progress
sivc majority In the committee was. a.
there * ample reason to believe. used
largely 10 secure the election Of Wilson
FOR President and Hiram Johnson for
/ United States Senator. No explanation
Of the result can ne made Nhirh vii!
refute or lessen the force % this ,harge.
The Republican National Committee
made the mistake. In my opinion. of
sending campaign money To our un-
trustworthy state committec-s2j 900 so
e ~ Decentralization any guarantee
that I, would he honestly expended TO
promote the election of Mr.. Hughes
Some Of that money was raised right
here in California by true blue. old line
Republicans and sent 10 tn" treasurer
Of the national committee. who in turn
sent Il. or sone of it. back to cali
fornia To buy votes for Wilson and
weaken Hughes.
One evidence Of this charge is found
in the fact that the vote for Wilson
in Fresno county. the home of Rowell,
chairman of the State Republican COM
mittc', was exceptionally heavy. Other
evidence in abundance is being found
and can he shown upo Investigation.
,l.-,Iu .anSnr rGC
One Of the desperate attempts to ex-
plain away the damaging facts is here
stated, viz: The statement is being
spread. as I learned by wire, abroad in
the East that Mr.. Hughes lost Caltfornia
and the Presidency by result OF his visit
to this State during the campaign tha'
his visit wideucd instead OF closed th'
breach between the regulars and th'
progressives that he failed to placat'
Gov. Johnson that he was entertained
by "A former official of the Southern Pa
cifc impair against which johnson
had carried his famous feud. claimini
that he won by kicking the Southern
Pacific out Of politics that he made tn
deadly mistake of dining In IA n~on-unloi
eating house in san Francisco and tina
he had no communication with GOV
Johnson at Long Beach ton the seas'a'
near here) when the two happened II
the same town at the same time.
! AN these reports. criticisms and com.
,,.tn,s arc buncombe, So far from Mr.
IJnghes having declined TO meet GOV
,ohnson publicly or privately at any
? lime during his visit to California thu
. very reverse IL true. johnson wa'
! urijty of the grave dircourtesy Of refus'
, ing to comply when 1t was officially
. suggested to him by the attending com
,nIrtee at Long Beach that he make :
FORMAL cali uy,on Mr.. Hughes. Although
=, hotb men were at Ions Beach AZ th'
+ same time. Mr.. Hughes was not aware
hon he went to Long Beach that Mr.
Johnson was there. The statement Il
: made upon the authority Of one OF thu
committeeman present.
: says johnson Refused.
n Mr. rarpum. in charge ot the Hughe
tour acted with that committee whic1