The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-05-27
JOHNSON IS HAVING
Time OF HIS LIFE
By DAVID LAw1ETCR,
tcopyrtEhe by The IatsIliTsnesr.)

WASHINGTON. c. May Ex-senator
Hiram Johnson may or may not be the
Republican nom tnee at Chicago but ne
can rejoice in the fact right now that
tho so-called Old Guard OF the Republ-
tan party. WrigSling uncomtortably.
protesting Indignantly, yet controlling
their impulses sufficiently TO smother
their feelings, the majority OF the Re
publican senator's are distressed over
the way the committee headed by Sem
ator Kenyon. pal OF Senator Johnson, IS
investigating the campaign expenditures
OF the various presidential nominees.
Tho Republican senator's who have
been through many campaign ana
many an exposure OF campaign expendi-
lures snook their heads doubtfully when
tho plan was hrst proposed and finally
decided to smother II all together. But
Senator Johnson came back TO Wash
tngton and things happened. Although
members OF the investigating commit
pose except to let white light Of public
ity shed its pointed rays on the "slush
funds" real or imaginary. of the diff
erent Democratic as we'll as Republican
power OF political penetration to see
that the whole thing Is part OF the skill
ful manoeuver of Hiram johnson to
fight his Republican opponents by con-
ttnuous smoke screens about their cam
paign expenditures and the supposed ef,
fort Of plutocracy to capture political
control OF our government.
Btstsr RSAllnS.
Already the investigation has produc-
ed bitter feeling inside the Republican
nominee at Chicago? Is It politically
good sense to hand the Democrats all
the data and details OF the Wood flnan-
cial campaign? Usually II there Is on
investigation Of money spent. it is one
political party investigating the other
u-haf Sha Pannhlican laadAra ia
that certain Republicans are really in
vestigatinE the Republican party.
They want II stopped. But the poten-
tisl power OF Hiram Johnson to come
out and denounce the old Guard" as
backing Leonard Wood impels the lead
ers TO let well enough alone. So they
are content to let the investigation 10
run It's course with this exception: II
on tho various Republican candidates
and nobody makes 8 move to inquire
Into the financing OF Hiram Johnson's
campaign. and the direct and indirect
support he is getting. some effort VIII
he made TO bring that phase OF the
question into the ltmelight. Indeed. the
word is going the rounds that Republi-
can senator's who are not especially
friendly to Herbert Hoover but who be-
leve his friends in California can fur
nish information about the expenditures
for johnson in California are thinking
seriously OF insisting that tho whole
California primary be aired before the
Senate c0mmissss 1ssr A BOLT.
From the frst the peculiar power
which Hiram Johnson has held over
his colleagues in the Senate has been
attributed to the force OF Ms personal
Ity and his ability 10 pound out his
thoughts In debate with a biting effect
iveness and partly to tho fear that II
johnson Is not continuously placateo,
ne will bolt the convention at chicago
from tho vantage point OF certainty TO
tho uncomfortable stages OF real doubt.
No matter what the Democrats have
thought the Republicans have right
easy victory before them In November
The Johnson specter has raised many
Ifs and "outs"-also. there Is no tell
inK what tho ProgresslveB will do. Dis
content and murmurs are growing over
the famous conference here last week
piatrorm. viii Hays brought the re-
suits Of weeks and weeks OF research SsaitaI
Hill, thinking they would OF course ac-
cept the report as basis for recon-
mendations. The report was to have
been made public by this time. But
something has delayed It. And Everett
Colby, militant Progressive from New
Jersey, Is out with q statement that the
Old Guard Is really pigeon-holing the
big volume OF reports compiled by the
stead OF making. Recommendations
the elder statesmen on Capitol Hill are
reported to have said they did not feel
they should dictate to the committee on
resolutions Of the Republican national
convention. but that they would present
tho reports OF the advisory committee
appointed by viii Hays as "informa-
,ion." OF course. II Is too early to say
what the Chicago convention will do
with the advisory committees work.
II may adopt the whole thing, but just
now some OF those who worked on the
advisory committee feel that they have
been rudely relegated TO the ranks and
that Old Guard rule still prevails. Po-
ntically speaking. there Is indeed dan
ger in publishing anything in advance
OF the conventions that might appear
TO commit the party because II might
later be seized upon by a rival political
party as . basis for criticism. II tho
platform - o basis for criticism. II the
visory committee recommended. tho
10 point the finger OF Inconsistency at
the Republicans.
Democrats TOO
But while the Republicans are having
their troubles, something analogous TO
old Guard" rule Is going on in the
Democratic ranks. Democratic leaders
are insisting privately that IL Mr.. Will
ment OF the covenant he will wreck the
Democratic party and its chances for
victory. Here and there Insurgency Is
cropping out. especially In connection
with tho demand OF eastern Democrats
for q damp platform and the insistence
OF the western Democrats that they
could not hope to carry the west unless
Neither Republican nor Democrats are
VERY happy over the immediate future