The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1920-02-19
HIRAM JOHNSON
REPUDIATES JOB
BRlNT0N'S HELP
Californian Denies Even Know
ing Townleyite Who Linked
Up With Him
DECLARES STORY is FALSE
Asserts He Never Has Had I'm.
derstanding With Any
Clique in Dakota

Washington, Feb. 19.-Despite the
request of the North Dakota, repub-
lican convention Tuesday that re-
publican presidential candidates file
no primary petitions there Senator
Johnson of California announced to-
day that he desired to have the peo-
pie of the state pass directly on his
candidacy and that he mad no pres
cnt intention of withdrawing the Pc
tition he has filed.
In a telegram to r.. S. WILCOX,
Johnson manager at Bismarck, Sen
ator Johnson said: y
Il am not willing to have my can
lidacy abide the ultimate. determin-
alton of delegates who say they arc
unpledged. ! want the people them
selves to pass on my candidacy
The telegram denied that there
had been, any agreement between
Senator Johnson and North Dakota
politicians for control Of the state.
II have been astonished to read
this morning in the Washington
Herald that at some gathering yestcr-
lay in Bismarck Il letter was read
from parties Of whom l have never
heard asserting there was an agree
ment between me. McCumbcr. McKcn-
zie and Townley to control North Da-
kota.'' Senator Hiram w. Johnson
Of California yesterday wired his
North Dakota state manager, Richard
Seldelf Wilcox.
"Of course there is not a word Of
truth in any such statement. l have
had no communication with anybody
in North Dakota except yourself, ami
those you represent. l am in receipt
this morning Of long telegram sign
cd by Frame and Gallagher quoting Il
resolution adopted yesterday asking
that presidential candidates keep out
Of your state. do not understand
the politics IF your state nor the
Actuating motive Of the various gath
crimgs recently held. l would greatly
appreciate If you would wire me- in
detail just the situation exactly what
is transpiring. VIII.
''As you know, l have filed my petit
tion as candidate under your law.
HASS Iluu ohC pul lOoC Ill VIZ"
10 present to the good people of North
Dakota the principles for which have
stood III my state ana the nation for
more than a decade and to appeal for
their support upon these principles.
My candidacy in North Dakota as
elsewhere has been open and above
board. dependent upon the people
themselves and the friends who be-
lieve as I do.
Il resent such a false charge as
according to the Washington Herald
was made in your gathering yester-
day. I am not willing to have my
candidacy abide the ultimate determi-
nation of delegates who say they are
,lnpledgcd. l want the people them,
selves to pass upon my candidacy. L
insist that the people yof North Da-
kota decide how their delegates shall
vote. Please wire me at once and
tell me also who BrintOn is and what
his past political affiliations or ac-
tivities have been.
"-HIKAM W. JOHNSON
P. V. Collins, former, publisher of
the Northwestern Agriculturist and
Bull Moose candidate for governor OF
Minnesota in 1916. is held responsible
for the Washington Herald story. Col
Inns is here representing The Herald.
and he apparently failed to grasp the
tenor Of BrintOn's letter to William
1.emke which was read by Treadwcll
Twichcll of the republican state cen
trail comittee at Tuesdays convention.
This letter clearly declared that the
McCumber-Shea faction of the rcpub'
lican party in North Dakota was COM
nlitted to Wood. suggested that as Il
result the Young Bacon faction. active
in Tuesdays convention. would es'
,uusc I4Owdcn's candidacy and that
this would make Johnson a good man
for Brint"n to tie to. Brinton care.
fully avoided endorsing Johnson. but
declared the Californian the strongest
republican presidential candidate in
North Dakota aside from Governor
Frazier. and intimatetl that BrintOn.
by endorsin. Johnsol's policies, could
lin the event of split in the republi'
can ranks be elected national com
mitteeman by the NMlpartisan vote in
the March primaries.
"CLIAIBING BAND-WAGON
"ThiS is either a clear attempt TO
frame on Senator johnson or all effort
upon Brinton's part to Chamber onto
the Johnson band-wagOn." said Il. 5.
Wilcox. JOhnsOn's state manager. TO-
day.. ''As Senator Johnson says. he
does not even know Brinton; there
has never been any suspicion of dn
understanding between Johnson an'!
BrintOn or any Of the element which
RrintOn represents. Brinton has lost
face even with the leayne. and doubt
very much that he could be elected
national committeeman. even should
there be split in the republican
ranks. and should BrintOn succeed in
availing himself of Johnson's popular
ity.'
JOHNSON COMING
Johnson. has announced that he will
come to North Dakota next Week tC
personally defend himself from the
charges made 1t is expected that lie