The Republican journal., 1916-12-28
The California Election
As Viewed from the Johnson Standpoint.

Callf,, correspondent gives his views
as to why the State was found in the
Wilson column. A large portion of those
residing south of the Tehachapi think
that they hold the larger portion of the
wealth, about all the culture, temper
ance and morality, and all the political
acumen there is in the State, loosing
sight of the great valleys of the Joaquin
and Sacramento, the mining counties,
the innumerable towns and cities peopled
largely by the descendants of the early
pioneers, an Industrious and productive
population, attending to the development
of this great and glorious State. Witness
the farming development, the oil fields,
the lumber interest, the manufactures.
the schools and colleges. The people of
that portion of the State are men and
women attending strictly to business, not
relying upon any one industry, but de-
veloping all that makes this great Com
monWealth prosperous, while south of
the Tehachapi they have enc industry
crop of tourists That is, of course,
wonderful crop, costing nothing to plant
and less to harvest, and with their citrus
fruits and sunshine it is most assuredly a
wonderful country. The writer yields
to no one loyalty to his adopted State.
having been resident since 1851, and
of the whole State | am proud. Our
friends of the southland lose sight of
the busy, industrious men and women
who while attending strictly to their
business read, reason and conclude for
themselves. They do not follow any
man or set of men, and take their pro-
gram from none.
/ will turn back short period and
view the political situation as it existed
two years ago, when Hiram johnson
was candidate to succeed himself as
Governor of this State and the effort to
1efeat him by the so-called Republican
party from the south end of the State.
They nominated their man from Los An
gees and the Los Angeles Times, the
San Francisco Chronicle and many
papers of lesser note did all possible to de-
feat johnson. the result was something
that surprised them. While south of
Tehachap' gave Johnson only small
majority, the valleys, cities and mining
counties gave him an unprecedented ma
ioritv. Governor Johnson was dele
gate to the Progressive convention at
Chicago and when the leader of that
party deserted them, the Governor re-
turned to this State, met the leading
men of the Progressive party in this city
and Informed them that he would sup
port Hughes and told his friends they
mus, Judge for themselves; and further
that he would be candidate for the U.
S. Senate before the primaries as Re
publican and Progressive did they so
wish. In due time he so announced him
self. The Republican party, or those
who claimed they were the simon pure,
none others having any right to the
brand, put up howl that was backed by
the Los Angeles Times, the San Francis
co Chronicle, that the south end of the
State was entitled to the Senator, that
the Governor Was no Republican and was
sailing under false colors, and they put
up man from Los Angeles city as the
Governors opponent. When the returns
came in their candidate was hardly
aware that he had been in the running.
We will anaIyze the situation, see if pos
sible, lust the condition and why such a
result In the registration prior to the
conventions held in Chicago many had
. declared their affiliations to be Progress
sive, while many had declined to state
theirs, causing them to be deprived of
their vote at the primary. When the
Governor announced himself hundreds,
if not thousands, registered as Republi-
cans and hundreds of those who had not
declared their affiliations FASTENED to so
declare themselves. The registration
was published from day to day IN the
newspapers, showing large majority of
the voters to be Republican.
When it was announced that Mr..
Hughes was to visit this State the State
general committee of the Republican
party, so-called, took the initiative to
prepare for his entertainment, which
they had a perfect right to do. The
committee for the Progressives made
overtures to them to divide the honors,
but the standpatters claimed that the
registration showed that the Republican
party was Overwhelmingly in the ma
jority and would have none of it. They
completely ignored the Governor and bis
friends and made all arrangements to suit
their views. When the distinguished
guest arrived the mayor of this city met
him at the ferry and welcomed him, and
the governor was not invited or present
at any of the functions held. The re-
ception of Mr.. Hughes was certainly the
worst frost ever beheld in this city, and
had the election been held ten days after
that event Mr.. Hughes would have re-
ceived many less votes than he obtained
finally Mr.. Hughes was not permitted