Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-06
Hiram johnson, Candidate

THE Republican Old Guard that body of
l stalwaris who have gained and held con-
troll OF the House and Senate organizations
and now dominate the national councils OF
the party, are up against it, They are face
to face with crisis. They have arrived at
the fork In the road. and they must fix their
course. They must decide whether or not
Hiram johnson is to be allowed TO enter the
lists serious candidate for the pres-
dency or whether he must be put under the
bar al once. sent to back seat and told
where he belongs in the scheme of things.
This issue has been forced by the decision
of an imposing group of Senate Republicans
to make Johnson the progressive" candidate
for the Republican presidential nomination
This group. once known as the liberal ele-
ment' in the party but which surrendered to
the Old Guard when the Senate was organized
Is attempting TO come back. 1t is making
another demonstration of force. 1t is acQuir-
ing fresh courage and seeking to give the
country the impression that its subordination
to the big league was only temporary, This
it is doing III championing the candidacy of
tho Senator from California.
The challenge which has now been issued
creates an interesting situation 1t raises
many difficult questions for the old liners
Can they, in the very nature of things allow
the radical element in the party to take con
troll of its leadership? Are there any con-
ceirable circumstances under which they
would be able TO support party boter for
tho presidency? Is the West important
enough in present-day politics TO enttle il TO
produce the party nominee? Would not the
reactionary crowd commit political suicide If
they permitted a man like Hiram johnson to
capture the nomination?
Ii is no wonder. when these things are con-
sidered, that the Republican leaders are per-
turbed. 1t is no wonder that they wear
worried looks and are saying sighting things.
In private. about the Californian. 1t is not
surprising that they are ntimating signit-
cantly that Johnson's head has been turned
by recent newspaper poll showing that more
soldiers returning on certain ship voted for
Johnson for the presidential nomination than
voted for all the other Republican candidates
combined
But the johnson boom cannot he crushed
by sneers If he is to be put out of the run
ming, ii must be by good hard blows lie
is dynamic sort of person He has energy
and resourcefulness and courage. He has be-
hind him State that plunged the knife into
the candidacy of Charles T. Hughes and
denied that eminent jurst term in the White
House. He has Middle West support He is
the heir-apparcnt of the late Theodore Roose-
welt, having been candidate for the vice
presidency on the same ticket with Roosevelt
in 1912. He is now a Republican. having
rushed hcadlonS into the old ranks when the
collapse of the social justice" party was
imminent.
All these things point to degree of
strength on Johnson's part. and the Republi-
can leaders dare not m!scalculate upon that
strength. II they are to kill him off. they
must be up and about. They must not allow
nm more and more prominence on the floor
OF the senate. They must not allow him TO
an, to- l.;
OF the session. They must not appear to fall
IN behind him and to accept him as their
faithful spokesman. That is the way to pro-
mote his boom. not 10 puncture it,