Evening star., 1916-08-22
CALIFORNIA MIDDLE
PER|LOUS TO c. 0. P.
Democrats, United on Senate
rial Candidate, Look on
CompIacently.
BULL MOOSE ATTEMPT
TO DOMINATE SITUATION
Demand for Recognition of Gov.
johnson When Hughes Came to
San Francisco Failed.
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

BY N. o. MESSENGER.
SAN FRANCISCO, August 22.
Democratic complaceny, pro-
gressive peevishness and republi-
can resentment are features of the
situation in this, at present, the
most politically perturbed of all
states in the Union. Let's leave
the democrats sitting iii the sun
of their satisfaction and go watch
the republican belligerents over
the way maui each other.
The democrats can afford to be COM
placent. The row in the other camp
forwards their chances Of gaining
United States senator in a republican
vacancy and encourages them to expect
a '1ook-in" for the presidency In a
state which normally should be good
for a hundred thousand republican plu-
rality.
Bull Moose Provokes Trouble.
This is not fight in the republican
party. 1t is contest between the reg
ular republican party and live and
kicking bull moose for control of the
party organization in California and
the election of a United States senator
who shall be republican according 10
form. In way, it is an echo of similar
contests waged in the national organ
ization and in other states. although it
is hardly correct to call this state OF
affairs an echo. 1t is the big noise
itself in this regard.
However, this present row is notably
local. as it is intensely personal and
dreadfully bitter on both SIDES. Inc
storm centers about Hiram Johnson.
bull moose governor of the state ana
candidate before the coming primaries
for the combined progressive and regu- :
lar republican nomination Tor uhiteo
States senator. The democrats have nut
one candidate for the senatorial noml-
nation. George S. Patton.
The regular republicans. claiming
that Gov. Johnson is not republican,
although he indorsed Hughes, after
charging that if elected to the Senate
he will not vote for republican poll
cies nor support the republican plat
form, have put forward as their candi-
date for the senatorial nomination
willis Booth, a protectionist and regu-
lar through and through.
Republicans Against johnson.
Gov. Johnson is anathema to the reg
ular republicans. He is responsible for
preventing Taft's name being voted for
in 1912, and in the past has stood for
everything objectionable to the regu-
lars. He is radicalism, personified to
them.
So intense is their feeling against
him that some republicans make no
concealment of their intention to vote
for the democratic candidate for United
States senator in November if johnson
receives the nomination. How many of
the rank and file would actually carry
out that threat no one can estimate.
Immediately there is counter threat
from the progressives. who say that
| if Booth beats Johnson in the pri-
maries they will vote for democrat
| in November. Inferentiaily it is taken
that they would in the same circum-
! stances support President Wilson
| against Mr.. Hughes.
! In the hope Of placating the progress
| sives of the state, the republican ma
I tionaI organization placed Chester Ro-
we'll. progressive leader, on their ma
tional campaign committee. This was
| a bitter dose to the regular republicans
| seekiAg to control the organization of
| the republicans in California
How Rowell Went About It.
| The first thing Mr.. Rowell did was
| what in effect. at least. would be to
capitalize the republican state and ma
| tional organization as an asset or GOV
Johnson's senatorial boom. Using the
visit of Mr.. Hughes to California as
proposed means to this end. he insist
! ed that Mr. Hughes should recognize
| Gov. johnson conspicuously, and that
the progressive candidate for senator
should publicly share in tne CeIe-
monies attending the reception OF lhe
republican candidate for president
whom he indorses.
controlled by the regular repuphcans
refused to allow Gov. Johnson TO hltch
/ his senatorial chariot 10 the pr esioeH1
itial star. They gave recognition 10 tne
progressives by naming prominent men
among their number as wee presidents
of the reception committee But the
regulars were adamant In thelr oeclsloI
that Gov. Johnson should not forWaro
his senatorial hAA"0eA' ~
cial RECOGNITION while there was another
"a andidate in the field for the senatorial
nomination.
Hughes Turns Down Rowell.
Mr.. Rowell was furious. lnterceptins
Mr. Hughes on his way. he told him tina,
tb,r moose resentment over the ignor.
ing of Johnson would threaten the ma.
itional ticket in California. Mr.. Hughes
declined to go behind the returns of tht
local committees arrangements.
| In his speech here he said he wa.
,be snok esman of the national republi.
can party and had no concern with the
local differences. The national aim, hi
declared, transcribed all local differ
ences. and he invoked harmony.
| " After Mr.. Hughes made his speech
| Mr. RoweIl denounced Mr.. Hughes
| conciiiatory remarks as feeding the
people baby pap" He characterized
the Hughes meeting as a frost ant
intimated broadly that progressive.
throughout the state.
Mr.. Rowell. mind you, Is a member
of the republican national campaign
committee. the executive organization
that has countrywide supervision oveI
the republican party's campaign fol
the presidency. He will still support
Mr.. Hughes, however, as will Gov
Johnson. BY inference, Mr.. Rowell l.
only afraid that the progressives will
SO resent Mr.. Hughes failure to es
mouse Gov Johnson's senatorial can