The Washington herald., 1920-04-26
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

facts VIII upset It. Whatever
Hoover's strength with California
Republicans may be, there has been
no question that he might have had
the Democratic delegation had he
SO chosen-there are those who
think he could still have 1t, II he
were so inclined.
Now. from the party n which he
has refused to be a candidate. there
has been a great drift of registered
voters over into the ranks of the
party in which he Is q candidate.
The only reasonable conclusion is
that they have gone ipto the field
that gives them a chance to vote
for the man of their choice,
johnson Ignores Democrats.
! Nothing in the Johnson campaign
seems to have, been calculated to win
ever support from Democrats.
Instead. he seems rather to have
exerted every effort to win the old
line, reactionary Republicans, whom
he has hitherto fought and always
beaten. He made his way to power
by lighting the Southern Pacific. and
Eow has former Senator Flint and
w. H. Crocker heading his list OF
delegates. He fought both Hearst
both supporting him. He attained
his political eminence as the champ
/ ion of labor. and now has such de-
termined opponents of its cause as
John H. Rosseter enrolled on his
delegate list. His earlier campaigns
were waged largely against the ag-
| gressions of money in politics. and
now there are nine millionaires
| among his delegates
| These considerations are strongly
urged against Johnson, and seem of
a nature that would probably pre-
vent his attracting any considerable
Independent or Democratic vote. al
though IL might well help in regain
ing the reactionary Republican vote
he has never had. But political ex-
| perience has demonstrated in the
last few years the grave menace to
Republican candidate who defers
too much to the reactionaries. No
one should understand this better
than Senator Johnson after his OBJ
servation of what happened to
Hughes in this State.
Some Democrats for johnson.
| 1t Is fair to state that many prom
inent Democrats have declared. for
Johnson. Among them / recall at
the moment John Perish and Judge
NJ. F. Tarpey, both men of a national
reputation in earlier campaigns.
| Most of these men declare them
selves animated by considerations
which add another element or un-
certainty to the campaign. They
are for California first, and are led
by the victories of Johnson in other
states to believe that he has an ex-
cellent chance of nomination. Some
of them have said to me that they
would be for Hoover had he shown
like elements of strength elsewhere.
This sentimen: Is likely to cut
some figure in thesprimaries. Few
well-equipped observers of national
politics look upon Senator johnson
as at all a probable nominee. His
qualities of antagonism to the DOM
inant forces in the Republican party
are too numerous and notorious But
the average Californian reads OF
Michigan, Chicago. Nebraska and
Montana without understanding the
local issues there involved, and
leaps to the conclusion that John
son needs only his home State to
win. This is a powerful factor in
the campaign, the extent of which
cannot yet be estimated.
Woman Vote Big Factor.
Third among the forces which
will have a strong influence on the
result is the woman vote. This is
fully forty per cent of the registered
vote, and, unless the weather on
election day Is unusually inclement,
will amount to nearly that propor-
tion of the vote cast. In this section
of the State the most casual OBJ
! server cannot fail to be impressed
with the fact that a great majority
of the women are actively for
Hoover. The fact Is confessed in
private Conversation by johnson
managers, although their press
stoutly denies 1t. But the evidences
observable on every hand are so
strongly fortified by the argume t
that Mr.. Hoover's public services
have been of a character to appeal
especially to women that the con-
clusion Is forced upon one that this
vote Is .anti-Johnson. ~ :
The labor vote. in the north at
least. 1 think, must be conceded. to
the Senator in the proportion of
| three. at least, to one. 1t is inf1u-
enced against him to some extent
by his alliance with DeYoung. and
with Rosseter, who was a bitter on
ponent of the LaFoilette seaman's
bill, which comes pretty near to be-
ing a labor shibboleth in seaport
towns. The astuteness with which
the Senator avoided committing HIM
self on the, railroad return bill
lodging vote though in Washing
ton at the time of its passages
being exposed by labor speakers, of
whom the Hoover camp has several
good ones.
! Machine Backs johnson.
But the strongest single factor is
| absolutely Johnson's, namely, the
State machine. Every State official
and laree proportion of the coun-
ty officials are actively engaged in
Johnson propaganda. Although Gov.
Stephens is reported to be not over
friendly to the Senator. he connived
at this abuse of official power when
he might by single executive order
correct II and win appreciation for
being in line with modern coucep-
4 tions Of the proper regulation of
4 civil service.
/ think this Is a fair summary of
tae forces which will dominate the
| primary election in the northern end
lof the State, and reasonable dis
-