The Washington herald., 1920-04-30
FlRMgR FOES
BACK JOHNSON
Reactionary Forces Make
Deal With Senator to
Support Him.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

The first step was a conference of
the old line Republicans early last
winter. and a message from the
gathering that those concerned were
ready. to throw their influence to
johnson IL he would work within
party lines, and show good faith by
giving them a suitable representa-
tion on the delegate ticket. The
"get-together" plea was used effec-
lively and the Senator was adjured
to reflect upon the great standing he
would have in the Republican ma
tional convention with a solid Cali
fornia delegation behind him.
MiIliOnaIres on Ticket.
Whether that was precisely the
way il was effected 1 do not pre-
sumo to state. but the fact is that
most of the men present at that
meeting are on the Johnson ticket,
which is a singular roster of mil
lionaires. reactionary politicians and
former political henchmen of the
Southern Pacific.
The story is that at the time this
deal was put through there was no
sign of opposition i'm California.
Hoover was not even mentioned. 1t
was NhC OtlACl VI the SNneIneES IndL
johnson would get the delegation
without difficulty, and that he would
be turned down with equal ease by
the forces controlling the national
convention. If necessary the Cali
fornia .reactionaries would let their
Eastern colleague know that such
was their desire. As a beaten can
didate for the Presidency johnson
wonId piya than IoSv
as a Senator.
Hoover Complexities Contest.
Many people think that was. and
still is. the plan of the reaction
aries on the johnson ticket. 1t has
been made more difficult by the ap-
pearance of Hoover in the contest.
for that has forced upon the un-
willing Johnsonites a degree of ac-
tivity. and of personal commitment
to the Senator's cause that they had
not fOreseen. But should they win
the California delegation. which is
daily becoming less likely. they can
still carry out the strategy as
planned.
By some it is believed that Sena-
tor johnson is cognizant of this plan
for his undOing and is ready to re-
sent it il accomplished by becoming
candidate on a third ticket. His
own managers deride this idea, and
are fond of saying that their man
has had all the third ticket expe-
rience he can stand. But signs mul-
tiply that his foremost journalistic
champion, W. r. Hearst, is prepar-
ing to find reasons to launch the
Californian on a personally conduct
ed third party expedition. Mr..
Hearst has the habit and his news
papers are full of covert hints that
only from such a party can Senator
johnson hope to get justice.
johnson Detects Plot.
There are other observers, less
complimentary to johnson, who
agree that he has detected the plot
against him but has robbed it of
reason by going over to the reac-
tionaries whose presence on his
ticket has caused so much comment.
1t Is alleged that his course in the
Senate has rot aroused the antagon-
ism Of the Eastern old guard, and
that they have accepted his assur-
ances that he will play the game in
their way. 1t is pretty generally
believed that unless he has made ma
tionally, in secret, d deal of the sort
that his delegate ticket gives evil
dence of in California a victory here
Will only be the prelude to defeat
at Chicago. Meantime the primary
contest is growing even fiercer.
Despite lack of veteran political
organizers the Hoover forces here
have this part of the State visibly
stirred up. 1t is, as its foes charge,
a high brow" movement, at least
in its inception.
Many Favor Hoover.
Ralph Arnold. who started off
months ago by taking a copy of
Who's Who? and mailing notes to
each person mentioned in that pal
ladium of prominence. told me that
of the first 1000 answers received
$50 were favorable to Hoover.
Now, while that volume is not
precisely a temple of fame. those
whose names are enrolled in it have
done something out of the ordinary,
and the result of Mr.. Arnold's can
vass shows the nature of the forces
that launched the Hoover candidacy.
But to them now are added the null
titude. Here in Los Angeles even
the casual observer has, forced upon
him the overpowering force of the
Hoover sentiment. 1t must needs
be overpowering here to accomplish
victory in the State for even the
Hoover managers admit that n ma
jCrity of $4,000 south of the Tehac-
hapi will be needed to overcome the
hostility of the northern end of the
State. But Los Angeles County has
the votes if they can be brought
out.
Heavy Vote Expected.
4 former Representative in Con-
gress who has been making Hoover
speeches tells me that he believes
that the vote will come out. Active
as he has been in all recent cam
pakgns he declares that his audiences
this year arc made up of people
whom he never saw at political
meetings before.
They drive miles in automobiles,
from the ranches and orange groves.
to listen to the arguments for the
former Food Controller. The work
ing class in the towns is classed as
anti-Hooyer. even at his own head
quarters, but l have talked with a
dozen working men who deny this.
As for the women voters an enor-
nous majority is conceded to
Hoover.
Nevertheless the issue is still
much in doubt. The masses either
have not heard or refuse to under
stand that in a national convention
Johnson will be but a forlorn hope,
even if he has his own State behind
him.
GABY DESLYS LEAVES
LIED ECTATE T0D0ND