The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-12
COX CAN SCOOP"
c. D. P. CANDIDATE,
WRITER DECLARES
Republicans by No Means Sure
Johnson Can Swing South
ern California to Harding,
Saws David Lawrence.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent OF The news
Srimitar0

Scimitar)
LOS ANGLES. Cal. July 12.-tIistoyy
has an annoying way Of repeating II
self. especially i'm politics. And II SEN
ator Harding isn't wary and Governor
Cox alertlv scoops" his rival publisher
on the situation In Southern Cajtor-
MIA, the Eastern world may be tenseS
hanging over telegraph ttckers again
on election night and Watching me re-
turns from Los Angles county TO yen
whether California has gone Repubh-
can or Democrats.
For while Eastern Republicans may
profess Joy over senator johnson DEC
iaratiou that he will support the lie.
publican ticket. they do not know yet
what the Joker Is in that statement
The truth is, Senator Johnson conf
IDENTIFY expects Of Senator Harding TO
interpret the Republican platform as
Reputation Of the treaty OF Nersallles'
which contains the covenant OF me
lican candidate agrees with Johnson or
N the California senator acts as
spokesman out here for Harding on
the league OF nations issue the ne
publican managers back East may lust
as well put California in the doubtful
column.
II must not he forgotten that Los
Angles county is ordinarily Repuhi-
can but that in the recent Hoover
johnson primaries, the former food ah-
ministrator carried the southern sec
ton of the state with campaign IN
favor Of the league OF nations, MI
Hooyer's recent announcement sup
porting the candidacy of Senator
Harding with "A statement interpret
ing the Republican platform as looking
toward the ratification of the peace
treaty and covenant of the league with
reservations helped to draw Repuh-
leans toward Harding but they are
wondering now whether the interpre-
tation Of Hoover or Johnson Ia re-
Election OF the views and intentions
OF the Republican candidate for the
presidency.
Women to Figure.
They don't hesitate a moment here
to vote the Democratic ticket II II
appears that Progressive heads that
ticket or II the moral side OF trans
cendent issue is with the Democrats.
The women of California helped to turn
the last election and they will figure
largely In this contest and such votes
Hiram Johnsons known lack of interest
In the success Of the Republican pres
idential nominee,
Now johnson has big following es-
pecially in Northern California and he
has but to issue a statement record
ing, as he did the other day. his sup
port of the ticket and then II the
candidate dosen't express similar views
in speeches the people who follow
Johnson know what to do when eiec-
tion day comes around. Yet II Senator
Harding were to follow johnson and
come out against the league Of ma
lions. which TODAY embraces the prin-
cipal nations with the exception OF
the United States. Turkey and Russia.
he would ALLEVIATE the people In South
ern California who are strong Tor n
league such as is already in existence,
In n VathE ring
nj some distant date as some persons
have Interpreted the meaning Of the
Republican, plank.
Unquestionably, In Northern Califor-
mia. where the Irish voters in san
Francisco and that vicinity have been
persuaded TO believe that the league
somehow retards Irish freedom, Soma .
tor TfardinG's approval of the heltets o.
Hiram Johnson would be welcomed
with Joy but should Senator Harding
NGater TO some currents Of thought In
SSfthern California, which have been
stirred up by Senator Johnson, he VIII
run the risk Of losing the pro-leagut
vote In all parts OF the state including
the North,
Cox's Attitude in Doubt.
People here are watching Governor
Cox, too. They have heard that he
Is mnkewarm on the league or nations
and they suspect that his friendship
for the IDEA Is neFtunCtpfy pDeulehtt
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 IL
considerable doubt here as TO what
viii be CoYs real attitude. OF course
Northern California is wet and is al
ready inclined to Cox for that reason
IL the Ohio governor makes a campaign
which leaves the broad inference that
he Ia for the wet side Of the argument
he may recruit voters in the Northern
section Of the state irrespective of lis
views on the league OF nations. But
II Harding or Cox wishes 10 make sure
OF Southern California, which can cas-
ily be the pivotal factor in winning the
states electoral vote and possibly the
whole election. clear-cut statement
on the league issue would clarity mat
tiers considerably.
And II Senator Harding dosen't in
terpret the Republican platform, h,
may rest assured Hiram Johnson viii
do IL for him in tust such a state
ment as he has already issued. 4
few more such interpretations anC
Harding may well begin to WORRY
about California repeating what she
Copyright. 1920, by David Lawrence,