Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-08
Johnson FIGHTING
WOOD AND LOWDEN
Borah and "IrreconciIabIes'
Determined to Defeat Two
Leading Rivals.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

CHICAGO, June 8.-Senator Hiram
Johnson has begun to exercise his
veto power In the republican national
convention. Through his intimate
friend and colleague, Senator Borah
of Idaho, he served notice that the
people of the United States would, In
his Judgment, defeat the republican
party next November IL 1t nominated
either Leonard Wood or Gov. Lowden.
We are not going to sell the presi-
dency of the United States" ex-
Senator johnson had finished address,
ing a throng of delegates and con-
vention visitors, and the general i'm
preston left by the two senators was
that the republican party need not
expect the support of either one in
the coming campaign II Wood or
Lowden is named.
Hold Balance OF Power.
Hiram johnson may not be able to
get the presidency for himself, but he
and his group now are determined
that neither Wood nor Lowden shall
get it, and they have raised enough
fuss already to make it probable that
the new "old guard" will turn from
both Lowden and Wood to the dark
horses Hughes, Lenrott, Sproul and
Hoover are the four most prominent
candidates after the big three-Wood,
Lowden and johnson - have been
eliminated.
Senator Johnson hasn't given up the
fight. Senator Borah has announced
that he would fight on the convention
floor against the adoption OF any COM
promise on the league OF nations. No
threat of a bolt has been made. but
what is much worse. the two "irrecon-
cilable" senators have made it clear
that they cannot go out and stump
fora platform that favors the league
of nations with any reservations
whatsoever.
The endorsements Of the repub-
lican leaders multiply as they OBJ
serve the tactics Of Senators johnson
and Borah. For instance. here Is a
stenographic excerpt from Senator
Borah's speech delivered in the pres
ence of Senator johnson before a null
titude of noisy delegates and sup
porters.
'Presidency Not to BE Sold"
Let me tell you," he said. IAN an
cient story When Pertinax was slain
in Rome one gentleman thought he
money. about 100000 for 1t. and an
other gentleman bid $900,500, and
they auctioned and bid against one
another until they got it up to ST.
100000 in our money, and 1t was
hHOChSQ OIL 10 JuiIdHuS, anu tHcy &c
tually sold the emperorship Of Rome
for $2.500,000. Now, my friends, we
are not going to sell the presidency
Of the United States for $1,000, 900.
That is too cheap. Applause). You
think, perhaps, that 1 am a little
perfectly calm. and I am moderate in
my view compared with what the
American electorate will be when
they pass upon this question.
We will leave this convention in
three or four days and we will go
out to see the men on the farm and
in the factory and men and women
wherever they mingle their thought
with their labor. and we will deal
with those who believe that the
presidency of the United States should
be in it's securing above any possible
suspicion of corruption Of any kind.
I am not saying this because have
ton naming either one OF these gen.
tlemen CWood or Lowden). I am say
ing it because I think it utterly dis
creditable to the republican conven-
ton that it would permit their namas
to be considered after they had at
by the sheer use Of money.
Johnson's support Needed.
you may differ with me as to
dent. But you certainly as repub-
licans cannot differ with me as to the
fact that the man you nominate
should, like Caesars wife, be above
suspicion in these affairs
1t Is with such gentle thrusts that
Borah and johnson are trying to
rout the conservatives at this con-
vention. Gov. Lowden's lieutenants
stand firm, but they know as repub-
lican leaders that they must satisfy
johnson to get his active support on
the stump. So. in a nutshell, the
Wood and Lowden booms may be said
will not Immediately give up, but the
drift is already toward Hughes,
Sproul. Hoover. Lenroot and the
others who have figured less promi-
nently in the primary campaigns and
the struggle for delegates.
Copyright, 1a20)