Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-21
JOHNSON SPLITS
CALIFORNIA IN TALK
AGAINST COVENANT.
Southern Part Of State Wa
yers With 1oo1 900 Pros
peetive Lead for Harding.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE..

SANTA BARBARA, Calf, September
21.-California furnished q surprise four
years ago. It may furnish another this
year II Senator johnson chooses to upset
a situation which today looks like a ma
jority of at least 100000 for Senator
Harding.
To understand the mix-up. 1t must
first be stated that normally southern
California furnishes the heavy republi-
can vote to overcome the democratic
strength in San Francisco and northern
California. But this year northern Cali
fornia, especially with its Irish vote in
San Francisco. has listened to the argu-
ments of Hiram Johnson and a press
Of nations, while southern California has
been strongly in favor of the league and
the majority Of the newspapers Of in
huence have taken that attitude.
Thus Senator Johnson. who has al
ways been popular in southern CALI
Hoover in the May primaries because
southern California is for the league.
League Situation.
When Senator Harding was nomi-
mated southern California was disap-
pointed. 1t wanted Hoover. When
Senator Harding first announced his
views on the league. and men like
Ad1l anu mower 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 accepting Senator
Johnson's ideas on the league ques-
ton an undercurrent of disaffection
developed. but the republican news
papers accented the situation with
evidences of discomfort and restive-
ness. They are for the time being
submerging the issue, but are hope
full that Senator Harding will yet
take a more sympathetic attitude
toward the league. All would be well
If the situation ran on without the
raising of new causes for controversy
inside the republican party.
Senator's Position.
But Senator Johnson is not disposed
to let well enough alone. Either he
believes that southern California can
be converted to his viewpoint on the
league. or he. sincerely believes he
fornia and drive home the interpre-
tation of Senator Hardin's position
which he himself holds.
Anyway, they say they do not want
Senator johnson to speak in southern
California Somebody arranged a
day night to follow that of Gov. Cox.
Perhaps it. was the instruction of the
republican national committee or
perhaps Senator johnson was per-
mitted to speak where he pleased in
California.
But the truth is the republicans in
this vicinity have appealed to the
republican national committee to
keep Johnson out Of southern Cali
fornia. Elmer Dover, regional di-
rector on the Pacific coast for the re-
publican national committee, has
been in Los Angeles the last few days
checking up on the situation. and 1t
is understood that he has advised
to ask Senator johnson not to speak
about the league in Los Angeles. or
better yet. not to come into the Sec
tion at all.
Mr.. Dover has been told that az
things now stand the situation from
a republican viewpoint is excellent
and that If the league issue does not
drive republicans into a war inside
the party, the majority in southern
California will be upward Of 100000.
Many stanch league supporters re-
sent Johnson's coming and II he at
tacks the league, there is almost GER
tain to be mass meeting by friends
of the league as an answering DEM
onstration.
This is exactly what the Cox-Roose-
Welt supporters would like to see hap
pen, for anything that disturbs a
serene situation will benefit the demo
Gratis, whose candidate is outspokenly
| for the league and has lately said he
would accept any compromise reser-
! vations that might be agreed upon in
the Senate.
Copyright. 1901