Omaha daily bee., 1920-02-01
POLITICAL TIPS
FROM COAST SAY
WILSON Beaten
Gossips Say Wood Has Good
Chance-Johnson's "Hot
Air Valve" Over.
worked.

Dan FRANCISCO, Sdl., Jan. ol.-
Senator Hiram Johnson threw his
hat into the republican ring at a
poor time, according to many of his
friends and foes alike in his home
state. That he has the whole-hearted
support of his admirers in Califor-
mia 10 beyond a question, but that
he is capable of carrying the nomi-
nation is altogether another mat
ter. some of them have admitted.
Granting his nomination, even, the
matter of being able to carry the
election also presents its difficulties
some of his followers on the west
ern coast admit.
His political enemies in Califor-
MIA are many and they are of the
most bitter type. John D. Spreck-
els. is among the foremost of the
latter class, and Spreckels is a
power in California regardless of
the fact that Johnson has defeated
the Hawaiian sugar boss time after
time. '..
East Will Beat Him.
THE east will beat him to death
even if he does get the nomina-
tion," said one of Johnson's ene-
mics. He'll do we'll to carry Cali
fornla in pinch if he goes up for
president.
Politics and political talk were
beginning to warm up little in ho-
tel lobbies of San Francisco before
Senator Johnson announced his
candidacy for nomination, but when
that announcement came they rose
to white heat Immediately. Today
the women especially are discuss
ing the presidential possibilities
Tor 1920" Johnson is mentioned
along with the others, but more
frequently than any other one can
d'date, with one exception.
California, according to gallery
politicians Of the state wants some
one who does things without talking
but talks in Language that people
can understand" This appears to be
stumbling block for the California
senator, who, popular as he is, is
charged with possessing hot air
valve which works too much now
and then"
General Pershing is not among
those mentioned. Woodrow Wilson
has placed Robert Lansing in the
eligible class by vetoing Lansing's
policy toward Mexico, but he has
cut off all possible hope for a third
Wilson term by making Lansing
eligible. As far as California is
concerned, Lansing appears to be
the lone hope for the democrat
party, and not even William G. Nc
Adoo gets more than honorable
mention occasionally when the pres
idency is mentioned by Californians.
A surprise of the first order came
TO the correspondent of the Indian
apolis Star just before Christmas
willie talking to a San Francisco
Examiner man in the St. Francis
hotel. Presidential possibilities"
were being discussed pro and con
by the San Francisco man and two
local politicians.
The republican party has three
good men for the place." said one of |
the politicians.
Major General Leonard Wood can
carry the country by storm because
he is man who has seen service
and who is level headed and
known enough to build up an or
ganization of big men.
+" Watson "Big Man"
~Janes E. Watson, Indiana's sen.
ator, is the best fitted for the place,
because he knows the United States
government and is big all the way
through. He doesn't~four- flush, but
he gets what he goes after.
Senator Harding of Ohio is fitted |
for. the job and has the backbone to
get what he goes after when he goes
nfter it.
Mexico is going to be one of the
big issues and that is what will cost |
the democratic party its head |
Watchfu1 waiting elected Wilson,
but it also appointed Burleson and
his crowd. That little old w. w.
meant more than even Mr.. Wilson
realized. He knew that it meant
Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and watch
full waiting in 1916, but he didn't hap
pen to think that it would also mean
wholly wrecked for the democratic
party in 1920"
Wood is the favorite in the vicin-
ity of San Francisco beyond any
reasonable doubt. Wilson'S photo.
graph on a motion picture theater
screen brings forth the faintest ap-
piause. Pershing goes a little bet
ter. Johnson gets a good hand, but
when Wood steps out in a news
weekly there is an encore every time.
Mayor Ole Hansen, who fought
the "reds" up in Seattle, would
carry California, but Henry Ford
wouldn't get as many votes as he
has hi~ers in the state. Democrats
admit that Ford and Wilson are
neither one popular in California.
Prohibition would hurt Senator Wat
son on the western coast some, be-
cause California does not care for
prohibition any more than it does for
the Japanese.