Evening star., 1920-02-08
Who's Who for President

The Hiram Of today. howe.er. has
been one OF the most bitter oplo-
ncnts of the league of nations cove
nant. and if he makes Il campaign
it will be with the league covenant
as an issue
The johnson temperament in Cali
fornia is a byword. 1t permits no
obstacle. it is said. If there is to
he 4 fight, then look out for fur fly
ing. They tell story of a ruction
between Senator Johnson and his
brother. on the one side. and his
father, on III" other. over some mu-
nicIpal affairs. when the senator and
his brother were young m2n- 1t
was /. finish fight with Eo let-up on
either side asked a Californian.
Il rnemb.r of Congress. what was
the outstanding characteristic OF
Hiram johnson as he saw II. and
he answered without hesitation.
Courage. Not all Californians
think alike about Senator johnson,
however. ana some of them dislike
liim intensely But that they are in
the minority is easy to see whom it
is recalled that he was elected to the
Senate by a ma jo-ity of 296, coo votes.
the greatest majority any senator
has ever received in n cont sted state
since the senators have been elected
by popular vote.
While Senator johnson was being
elected by this huge majority. the
republican candidatH for President.
Mr.. Hughes, was running behind
Woodrow Wilson, his democratic op-
ponent. in California, by about $500.
Johnson's enemies were not slow in
declaring that he had thrown down"
Hughes. But this has been vehe-
mently denied by the republican
state committee.
They tell story of Hiram John
has been in the Johnson employ for
many years. When the earthquake
tore everything loose in San Fran
cisco and actual cash was scarce
the cook tossed a bag of money nc
had stored away into the family
pool. Later Senator johnson was a
candidate for governor. A represen-
tative of labor union suggested to
him that j would be as well to get
rid of the Chinese cook, the feeling
being strong against Asatic labor.
"My dear man. replied Senator
Johnson. "if 1 must give up either
the governorship or my cook. / pre-
fer to give up the governorship"
The cook is at Calvert mansion
with the Johnsons today He may
be the first Chinese cook in the White
House.
X X X X
AS general proposition. bosses
are not much in Senator Johnson's
line. But there is one boss he yields
to-hiS wife. He almost always
refers to Mrs. Johnson. when talk
ing with friends. as "the boss"
Few men have been so happy in
their married life-perhaps many
of them haven't the good sense to
recognize their boss" Mrs. john
son takes a keen interest in meas
ures before the Senate, and spends
almost as much time in the cham
ber as her husband.
Senator Johnson is fastidious in
his dress. and is a stickler for the
proper kind Of clothes. He stands
about five feet nine inches tall and
weighs in the neighborhood of 100
pounds. There is no doubt ABOUT
his bay window" But. despite his
weight, the senator gives no impress
sion of being soft. He has clear,
blue, inquiring eyes; thick hair.
turning iron gray, closely cropped.
His voice is low and pleasant in
conversation. and he has a genial
smile. When addressing the SEN
ate Senator Johnson speaks in a
clear. ringing voice. that rises at
times with staccato note reminis-
cent Of Roosevelt. He uses forceful
gestures. one in particular the fore
finger Of each hand extended as
though he were holding pistol,
his hands held low as though he
had just drawn a gun. So he punc-
tuates his rapId-fire utterances.
In the Senate he is listened to
with attention by his colleagues.
His most notable speeches have
been those in opposition to the
league of nations.
Copyright. 1920, by The Washington Star.
Next Sund.-y-A. Mitchell Palmer.