The Washington herald., 1920-04-24
PRIMARYLAW
AIDS JOHNSON
IN CALIFORNIA

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
deny, the delegation will be a unit
for johnson.
Law Provides Unit Rule.
The law is a bad one, subversive
Of the principle of local representa-
ton. 1t embodies in a statute the
system of unit rule in the conven-
tions which the Democrats have
been trying to get rid of as a party
practice. True. it might be circum-
vented if a large Independent vote
should be cast for or against indi-
viduals on either ticket. and for this
both factions are preparing. But in
the main the contest will probably
be settled by straight ballots, and
either Hoover or johnson will have
the entire delegation.
1t is quite obvious that in such
| event, defeat here would put an
end TO the Johnson candidacy. On
the other hand, while it seemed
wholly probable that enthusiasm
for Hoover in certain sections of
the State might win for him a
large minority of the delegates, it
seems to old line politicians al
most incredible that all the en-
thusiasm In the world can over
come the disciplined Johnson ma
chine. the skill of the Johnson
practical politicians. and the food
of Johnson money.
Hoover Gains Advantage.
The reading of the law has cast
a certain gloom over Hoover sup
porters who had not given the sub
ject attention before. But on the
other hand they have a legal ad
vantage scored in the decision of
the attorney general that voters
may demand the ballot of any
party they desire without reference
to the party affiliations they may
have declared at the time of regis
tration.
1t is expected that numbers of
Democrats, particularly women,
will vote for Hoover on the Re-
publican ticket. So great is the
apprehension among the Johnson
ties that their papers are keeping
the people in ignorance of the at
torney generals opinion. No ref
erence to it can be gotten into
either Hearsts Examiner or De
Young's Chronicle with a jimmy.
Naturally the Hoover managers are
making every effort to give it the
widest currency.
This extreme devotion to tho
Johnson interests did not always
characterize De Young's virile news
paper. Little cards are being cir
quotation from that palladium of
pure politics, dated August %, 1916:
De Young scores johnson.
There never was a ranker po-
litical humbug than Hiram john
son: hateful in spirit. coarse in his
nature, vii. in his language. tricky
in his politics. he has for years de-
voted himself through subservient
legislators to his manipulation of
our election laws as might enable
him with the aid of the machine he
has created to perpetuate the fraud
he $ now attempting"
Naturally. johnson. while COVER
nor. did not rest silent under this
attack. but in view of present-day
conditions the manner of his retort
was at least unfortunate. He said:
IF I ever find William H. Crocker
Cnd Mike De Young supporting me,
then I will know 1 am wrong"
Both are today on his list of del
egates.
Eastern Victories Help.
The notable success scored by
Johnson in Nebraska has beyond
doubt greatly heartened his sup
porters here, and his press is de-
picting him as already assured OF
the nomination. The activities of
the Thompscn-Lundin machine in
Chicag" in knitting Lowden by max
ing its adherents write in john
sons name are ignored in present.
ing the Chicago vote as a great in
dependent tribute to the California
Senator.
The vote in Michigan which was
cast by practically the same ele-
ments that four years ago amazed
the country by naking Henry Ford
the States candidate for the Re-
publican nomination is set forth as