South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-30

politics than Hiram Warren John
son. Reporters in California are like
ly 10 add that Johnson has been in
earnest from the day the then OBJ
scure lawyer opened his Office for
general practice in Sacramento.
The Johnson two-fisted attitude
has always made those who came in
contact with him either supporters
or opponents a man Of the hghting
type, ne is usually compared with
Roosevelt Yet those who expect
him 10 relate amusing anecdotes
from his life are usually disappoint-
ed. Although he has a keen sense
OF humOr. he refrains from exhibit
ing the lighter side OF life
When he tells a joke only those
who know him best and can catch
the twinkle IN his eye can tell he is
not in earnest.
Johnson is always at work That
is. when he is not sitting behind
third base watching a ball game.
Washington knows johnson as the
senate's widest fan. As soon as he
leaves his office i'm the senate office
building. on warm days he usually
heads for the Washington teams
park. where. with coat and hat in
his lap. he follows every play almost
religiOusly
in frame he is q giant His APP
pearance is that Of a short, heavy
man with a large, well-shaped head;
clear-cut jaw; clear, blue eyes,
and a straight mouth. When talk
ing he emphasizes his remarks by
Gestures of his two big, clinched
fists
Johnson. who has been conduct
ing his campaign for the republican
presidential nomination by appeal
ing direct 10 the people in preferen-
tial primary states. is 53 years old.
He was born in Sacramento. Calf.
where later he and a brother opened
law office. His youth was spent in
the California capital. He attended
the University OF California but was
never graduated. In 1856 he was
married to Miss Minnie L. Mcneil Of
Sacramento
Admitted to the bar in 1887, John
son was known as a fair lawyer. but
not one whose business occupied all
his time Even after he moved 10
San Francisco in 1902, he still was
an obscure attorney. 1t took the
famous "boodling" cases-in which
Abe Ruef and other city officials
were charged with graft resulting
from the rebuilding Of San Francis
co following the earthquake and fire
of 1906-tO bring Johnson TO public
notice.
Associated with Francis J. Heney
and William J. Burns in prosecuting
Ruef, he at first took minor part
I'm the trials. Later, however, when
Heney was shot. Johnson went into
court to take the place of the
wounded prosecutor, and made such
mastery presentation OF the state s
case against Ruef that the former
Official was convicted and sentenced
to IA years in the penitentiary.
Hiram johnson was made. Later
when a company of thinking men
decided TO form the Lincoln Roose-
welt league TO fight bossism in Cali
fornia, they picked Johnson TO head
their ticket in the gubernatorial
race. Taking advantage of the
states new direct primary laws, they
appealed TO the people. Dropping
his now large law practice Johnson
| bent TO the task Neither he nor
all were honest.
Winning the Republican nomina-
/ ton in the direct primaries, John
son began the first real band-waS-
on campaign. He and his two sons
drove an advance car from town to
town, announcing that in two hours
| the candidate would appear In that
town to ask the peoples vote for
governor. Then the announcer
would drive to the next town. John
son would appear as scheduled, his
chauffeur being his other son.
Il am going to win this election.
| Johnson would say, Il am going 10
| be governor And my first act will
! be to kick the bosses out Of politics
and TO turn the government OF this
state back into the hands Of the
people"
Johnson's little red automobile, -
/ became known in every hamlet in
the state, from the Oregon line to
I the Mexican border. Large crowds
! eagerly awaited his appearance. At
first ignored by the newspapers, his
unique campaign so reached the
people. that editors gradually be-
gan TO scent the trend OF public
\ opinion. Johnson was fast becom
, ing the most talked-of man in the
state. His race attracted attention
all over the United States, and rear
/ the end of his campaign his little
red automobile" became the head Of
/ a real encourage.
JohnsOn's majority was more than
/ 10000 votes. Once in the governor S
chair at Sacramento, Johnson dem
onstrated he was greater as an eX-
ecutive than he even had been as
| an orator and a campaigner. His
cleanup OF politics in California be-
gan almost instantaneOusly Within
\ a few weeks after he was elected he
\ had driven out of the states pay
every man who had any connection
I whatsoever with the Southern Pa
/ cific railroad. whose machine had
dominated the state for years.
Johnson was reelected 10 a sec
Ond term on his record as a fighting
\ progressive governor. His majority
\ in 1914 was more than 100000, or
I 10 times the majority ne had polled
when he was first a candidate.
J Shortly after his second Inaugural
/ ton ne had his first encounter with
the l. W w. then just becoming a
menace on the coast. A delegation
Of l. w VS. had persuaded the city
government Of Oakland TO pay its
way 10 Sacramento. Its leaders had
expected 10 be able 10 get enough
tlom johnson TO enable IL 10 move