The Washington times., 1920-06-16
JOHNSON MUM
ON 3RD PARTY
Senator Still Silent on Plans De-
spite Petitions to Run
Independently.
COMMITTEE OF 48 A FACTOR
Nationwide Referendum Pro-
posed to Show Strength OF
Progressive Movement.

Senator Hiram w. johnson today
refused to be Smoked out" of his
home at Riverdale to make any dec
laration in reference to the nation
wide appeal that is being made to
him to become a candidate for the
Presidency on an independent ticket
Whatever Senator johnson plans
to do about third party movement.
he showed no inclination today to
reveal until he is good and ready.
While tho Californian continues to
keep silent on the question Of run
ming Independently. the Labor move
ment for a third ticket is spreading
like wiIdnre throughout the country.
More than 5000 signatures were
obtained to a petition circulated in
Oregon asking Senator Johnson to
repudiate the platform adopted by
the Republican National Convention
in Chicago and announce himself as
an independent candidate for the
Presidency, according to a telegram
sent today to Senator Johnson by w.
.
ACTIVE IN OTHER CITIES.
Adams said that he and the group
with which he Ia connected will con-
! tinue to circulate petitions until SEN
ator johnson declares positively that
he will not be a candidate for Presi-
dent on q third ticket.
Labor circles. from coast to coast,
are sounding the note struck at the
Montreal convention OF the American
Federation of Labor and similar
movements in support Of Johnson as
an independent are being inaugurated
in New York and other large cities,
according to advices reaching Wash
ington.
Senator Johnson today refused to
see newspapermen at his home in
Riverdale when they endeavored to
get him to state his views on the
nationwide movement in his behalf
NO COMMENT ON DEsERTERS.
Nor would the Senator make any
statement with reference to the de
sertion" OF Senator Kenyon of Iowa,
and Senator Lenroot of Wisconsin.
who have announced themselves as
supporters of Senator Harding. candi-
date of the"Old Guard" Republicans.
Strongest support for Senator John
| son as an independent candidate is
to be found in the West and the Pa
cif1c Coast, where the progressive ele-
ment Of voters are deeply stirred over
the machine rule at Chicago.
Another faction entering into the
campaign for a third party ticket that
bids fair TO make itself felt through
out the country is the Committee
OF Forty-eight" A movement was
initiated by the executive committee
loc In fn
results Of q nationwide referendum
on a third political party.
LA TOILETTE FAVORED so FAR.
More than $1,000 replies have been
1 received by the executive committee
from Questionaires sent out broadcast,
according to members of the commit
tee, all favoring the launching of a
third party. Senator Robert M. La
Toilette OF Wiscon ran far ahead in
the poll for the Presidential nominee,
while II was intimated that the Nom
| partisan League might lend the new
movement at least "individuar' sup
port. Senator Johnson showed his
greatest strength in the West and
from dissatisfied Republican voters
| who cannot with a clear conscience
support a reactionary Republican
| ticket
| ihc NotS on inc question OF league
| OF nations covenant with or with
out reservations-hadn not been tabu-
lated sufficiently for an announce
| ment to be made today, IL was said
Although 1t was pointed out that
the Labor Party planned a convention
In Chicago on July IL, the day after
the new part yassemblcs, committee
men shed no light on a report that
coalition of the two organizations
| was contemplated.
Supporters of Senator johnson who
intend to stand by him to the last
ditch. in following whatever course
he may decide to take with reference
to becoming an independent candi-
date, are anxiously awaiting some
| public statement from their leader