Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-10
CALIFORNIA LOOMS
AS PIVOTAL STATE
FOR SECOND TINE
North and South Counties
Hold Opposite Views on
League.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Los ANGELES. July lO.-History
has an annoying way of repeating It
self. especially in politics. And II
Cox alertly scoops" his rival pub
Usher on the situation in southern
California, the eastern world may be
tensely hanging over telegraph tick
ers again on election night and
watching the returns from Los An
geles county to tell whether Cali
fornia has gone republican or demo-
cratic.
For. while eastern republicans may
profess joy over Senator Johnson
republican ticket, they do not know
as yet what the joker is in that state
ment.
The truth is, Senator Johnson con-
fidently expects Senator Harding to
interpret the republican platform a
population of the treaty OF Yer
sailles, which contains the covenant
of the league of nations, and if the
republican candidate agrees with
Johnson or if the California senator
acts as spokesman out here for Hard
ing on the league of nations issue the
republican managers back east may
just as well put California in the
doubtful column.
Hoover Carried South.
1t must not be forgotten that Los
Angeles county is ordinarily republi-
can. but that in the recent Hoover
Johnson primaries the former food ad-
ninistrator carried the southern sec
tion of the state with a campaign in
favor of the league of nations. Mr..
Hoover's recent announcement sup
porting the candidacy of Senator
Harding, with statement interpret
ing the republican platform as look
ing toward the ratification of the
peace treaty and covenant of the
league with reservations. helped to
draw republicans toward Harding.
But they are wondering now whether
the Interpretation of Hoover or John
intentions of the republican candidate
for the presidency.
They don't hesitate a moment here
to vote the democratic ticket If it ap-
pears that a progresxfNe heads that
ticket. or if the mora18ide of tran
scendent issue is witH4he democrats.
The women of California helped to
turn the last election.ean they will
figure largely in this contest, and
such votes as they did not turn were
diverted by Hiram Johhson's known
lack of interest in the success of the
republican presidential nominee.
Is Somewhat Automatic.
ANo" JOhAoOH udS d Ulk IOtlOW Il
especially in northern California, and
he has but to issue a statement re-
cordings as he did the other day his
support OF the ticket. and then II the
candidate doesn't express similar
views in speeches the people who fol-
low johnson know what to do when
election day comes around. Yet, II
Senator Harding were to follow John
son and come out against the league
of nations. which today embraces the
of the United States, Turkey and
Russia. he would ALLEVIATE the people
in southern California who are strong
for a league such as is already IL.
existence, and who DO not favor
new gathering at s4aie distant date.
as some persons have Interpreted the
meaning of the republican plank
Unqusstlonably, in northern Cali
fornia, where the Irish voters in San
Francisco and that vicinity have been
persuaded to believe that the league
somehow retards Irish freedom, SEN
ator Harding's approval of the beliefs
of Hiram Johnson would be welcomed
with joy. But should Senator Hard
ing cater to some currents of thought
in northern California which have
been stirred up by Senator Johnson,
he will run the risk of losing the pro-
league vote in all parts of the state,
including the north.
COx's Attitude Mystery.
People here are watching Gov. Cox,
too. They have heard that he Is luke
warm on the league of nations, and
they suspect that his friendship for
the idea is perfunctory obedience to
platform dictated by Wilson Hav-
ing been nominated by Tammany and
other democratic organizations known
to contain large proportions OF Irish
voters opposed TO the league, there is
considerable doubt here as to what
will be Cox's real attitude
Or course, northern California is
wet and is already inclined to Cox
for that reason. If the Ohio governor
makes campaign which leaves the
broad inference that he is for the
wet side of the argument, he may re-
cruit voters in the northern section
of the state irrespective of his views
on the league of nations. But If
Harding or Cox wishes to make sure
OF southern California, which can
easily be the pivotal factor in win
ming the states electoral vote, and
possibly the whole election, a clear
cut statement of the league issue
would clarity matters considerably
And II Senator Harding doesn't in
terpret the republican platform. he
may rest assured Hiram Johnson will
do II for him in just such a statement as
he has already issued. A few more
such interpretations and Harding NAV
Wen begin to worry about California
repeating what she did in 1915