The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-22
CALIFORNIA MAY
AGAIN SURPRISE
II Hiram Johnson Iniects the
League Issue, G. 0. P.
Fears Defeat.
1Bv DAVID LAwRENcE.)

i
Copyright, for The Chattanooga News)
Santa Barbara Cal. Sept 22.--Cali-
i fornla furnished surprise four years
ago. II may furnish another this yeaI
| II Senator Johnson chooses to upset Q
situation which today looks like a ma
Jority Of at least 100000 for Senator
Harding.
| To understand the mix-up II must
first be stated that normally southern
| California furnishes the heavy repub-
lican vote 10 overcome the democratic
strength in San Francisco and north
ern California.
But this year northern California,
especially with It's Irish vote In San
| Francisco. has listened 10 the argu-
ments of Hiram johnson and a press
friendly TO his viewpoint on the league
Of nations, while southern California
has been strongly In favor OF the league
and the majority OF the newspapers OF
influence have taken that attitude.
Thus Senator johnson, who has al
ways been popular In southern Callfor-
MIA, lost II decisively to Herbert Hoover
In the May primaries because southern
California is for the league.
They Wanted Hoover.
When Senator Harding was nomi-
mated southern California was disap-
pointed, II was Hoover. When Sena-
tor Harding first announced his views
on the league OF nations and men like
Taft and Hoover expressed themselves
as satisfied. the friends Of the league
OF nations In Los Angeles and vicinity
also were satisfied. When Senator
Harding began TO show signs Of accept
ing Senator Johnson's Ideas OF the
league question an undercurrent of dis
affection developed but the republican
newspapers accepted the situation with
evidence OF discomfort and restiveness.
They are for the time being sub
merging the issue, but are hopeful that
SENATOR Harding win yet take a more
sympa thatic attitude toward the league.
AL would be well II the situation ran
on without the raising OF new causes
for controversy inside the republican
party
But Senator johnson Is not disposed
to let Wen enough alone. Either he be-
lieves that southern California can be
converted to his viewpoint on the league
or he sincerely believes he should cam
paign throughout California and drive
home ths Interpretation Of Senator
Harding's position which he himself
holds.
Anyway, they say they do not want
Senator Johnson to speak in Southern
California. Somebody arranged a meet
ing for Los Angeles next Saturday night
to follow that OF Gov. Cox. Perhaps 1t
national committee or perhaps Senator
johnson was permitted to speak where
he pleased In California.
Republicans Send Appeal.
But the truth is the republicans In
this vicinity have appealed to the re-
johnson out Of southern California.
Elmer Dover, regional director on the
Pacific coast for the republican ma
tional committee. has been In Los An
geles the last few days checking up on
the situation, and II Is understood that
he has advised Win Hays 1t might be
more discreet to ask Senator Johnson
not to speak about the league in Los
Angeles. or better yet, not to come
into the section at all.
Mr.. Dover has been told that as
things now stand the situation from
republican viewpoint Is excellent. and
that II the league issue does not drive
republicans into war inside the party,
the majority in southern California will
be upwards OF 100000,
Many staunch league supporters re-
sent Johnson's coming and II he at
tacks the league there is almost certain
to be a mass meeting by friends of the
league as an answering demonstration.
Would Please Democrats.
This Is exactly what the Cox Roose-
welt supporters, would like to see hap
pen, for anything that dsturbs serene
situation, win benefit the democrats.
whose candidate Is outspokenly for the
league and has lately said he would ac-
might be agreed upon In the senate.
Some republicans Of prominence told
the writer they would not dare to pre-
dict what would happen In California II
Senator johnson aroused the voters of
the southern part of the state on the
league issue. 1t seems hardly possible
for Gov. Cox TO acquire enough
strength to carry southern California.
but II he cuts down the expected large
which Los Angeles might
otherwise give Harding and II the con-
tiuued effect of Cox's speeches in San
is to regain the democratic
vote In northern California. the state
might. vet turn another somersault.
tiiiohes Visit Recalled.
II was the Hughes visit to Los An
geles which started a feud and gave
the state to Wilson In 1916, The issue
then was progressivism. Southern
was solidly behind Johnson
and resented Hughes attitude toward
their hero. This time the issue Is the
league Of nations and southern Cali