New-York tribune., 1920-01-14
Johnson Makes
League Issue
Of Candidacy
Senator Declares People
Must Decide if Constitu-
ton or League of Nations
Shall Rule Our Destiny
Pleads for Free Speec},
Opens Campaign i'll Brook
lyn and Attacks Legisla-
tlre for Ousting Socialists

ture for Ousting Socialists
Between three and four thousand
Republican men and women cheered
and applauded Senator Hiram W. John
son. of California, at the Kismet Tenn
pie in Brooklyn last night as he at
tackled President Wilson's league of
nations covenant and, referring to the
exclusion of the five New York Social
lst Assembllymen, made an impas-
stoned appeal for free speech, a free
press and the right of peaceable as
ssmhlage under the American Consti
tuition.
Quoting the declaration by President
Wilson in his Salt Lake City address
last September that the Lodge reserva-
tion "cut the heart out of tie treaty"
Senator Johnson with great vehemsnce
shouted, IF this is cutting the heart
out OF it. let's cut the heart out of # :"
III New York can expel Socialist
Assemblymen after they have been
elected under the Constitution, then
Mississippi can expe' Republicans. and
Pennsylvania can expe1 Democrats" he
declared
Backbone Won for United States
The California Senator gave the
audience some "inside" history when
he said that in 1912 in London at the
international radio telegraph conven-
ton Great Britain arranged that she
should I'VE votes to one for the
United States. W
They C. u,ocked on the question.
ana finally Britain conceded a vote to
tne United States, one to the Canal
zone, one to the Philippines. one to
Hawaii and one to Ala aska-and all be-
cause we had Americans with back
bones at that convention" said he.
Alfred f. Vass, chairman of the
Kings County. Republican Committee,
presided at the meeting. the attend
ance at VIII 'ch crowded the hall.
On the platform were Senator Will
lam NJ. Calder. Colonel William B.
thompson, the Rev. Edward ". Nc
Carly, Justice Charles H. Kelby, Jacob
a. Livingston. F. H. La Guardia. Pres
ident of the Board of Aldermen; Rich
ard W. Young and many of the Kings
district lenders.
Condemns New York Assembly
The .eague of nations and the
dangers the Ca ifornlan sees threat
ening the rights IF a free press
free speech and free assemb age
were the chief topics of his speech. In
connection with the latter he made
this direct reference to the action OF
the New York Assemb Y in exc udinc
the five Socialist members:
When men. within the Constitution
agisate for socia Or po itica change,
eject Represel fat.ves to legislative
body all Americans. though they may
be as far apart as the poles from the
poiltica ideas expressed, must demand
that tie Constitution be obeyed and .e-
speed and the Representatives rhus
elected by the minority, acting w.tnln
tie law and the Constitution, mus be
protected.
Tie kismas Temple meeting vas
he under the aus ptces of The Brook
lya kepub csn Clab and was praccded d
by 4 dinner IN honor Of Senator John
sos ven b. me Montaulz C.ub.
TIE Repub .icaa party" said sena-
tor Johnson. came into existence with
a definite higa purpose No other
parry performed so we'll SO great Il
M sioE. It's triumph for human fee
dom marks an epocn in the worlds
history.
No Time for Weddings
In this time of stress when we are
asked to wrench ourselves from old
traditions and to engage in, new and
untr-ed policies, there can be tolerated
in Americans neither tim.dity nor
. hating nor skulking. This is no time
for weak ings nor for that class of
politicians who pander to the hysteria
OF the moment. This is no time for
the politically anamic. 1t is the time
for d-blooded Americans"
The speaker expressed his belief il,
the right of capital to organize and his
mo less strong belief in the right of
labor to organic and to deal through
its chosen agents"
Il solemniy and earnestly protest."
he said, against the violation of the
Constitution in waging war in Russia
without the consent of the American
people G. Congress, and insist that full
information be given of the muddled
policy which. accomplishing nothing,
has won US the hostility of every Rus
Of every soldier who, without the
knowledge or consent Of the American
people or Congress and in defiance Of
saw, has been sent 70 foreign soil"
Attacks Article X
Senator John on used Article K as
tie theme of his criticism of the league
OF nations covenant.
Il will not guarantee with our nigh.
or man power" he asserted, "the ter
ritorial limits of the British and Jap
anese empires, nor by our decree con-
oeinn subject peoples to be forever
subject"
The "age-long policy Of the nation
and its very sovereignty" is menaced
by the covenant, Senator johnson de-
ciared.
''For more than 130 years." he went
on, we have travelled the straight path
OF Amcrican;sm. This course has
enabled US to become The greatest ma
ton On earth. plead with you to con
tinue in it. The challenge to the old
Americanism is now made.
Shall the Republican party, the
party OF human freedom, challenged
Dy its old Antagonist, turn and flee :?
FOR one accept the challenge. I am
get American. / want to continue to
De citizen Of the United States Of
America. do no. care to be a citizen
q the world.
The Republican party has ever won
IS success by franknegs and courage.
= the past It's Ieaders boldly pro-
claimed their stand upon any impor-
sant national se4e i. was never in
those days the party Of negation. II
isd IN announcing its principles, leay-
ing 70 its rival mere opposition.
To-day, upon tha question NJ 4he
league Of nations. with reservations
wnich protect our country, the issue
n@s been made by the President of the
United StAkeg ! am quite emar. nj;