The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-06-12
JOHNS0N'S RISE
 HAS BEEN RAPID
Career Marked By Trail of
 Pitched Battles.

' 4VSA41A o1VOlVOs
 Few men in public life made such a rapid climb to prominence as Hir- am Warren Johnson. His political career began in 1910, when he was elected Governor of California. He was nominated in 1912 for Vice pres ident on the Progressive ticket head ed by former President Roosevelt, re- elected Governor in 1914 of sCalifor- mia and elected to the United States Senate in 1916.
 Born at Sacramento-a native year brought Senator Johnson to the son"-on September 2. 1866,, his 64th forefront of candidates for the Re- publican presidential nomination.
 A dramatic baptism into public affairs was Senator Johnson's. It was the shot fired at Francis J. Heney during the closing hours of Heney's prosecution of Abe" Ruef Johnson, who had attained statewide for municipal graft in San Francisco. prominence as an attorney, was call ed upon to take Heney's place and the conviction of Ruef followed. Soon afterward Johnson was chosen Gov ernor and then Senator.
 Johnson's career has been marked by trail of pitched battles. He has been characterized as a progressive or ''liberaP' by his friends and by his foes, radical. His first cam paign for governor was principally on the platform that he would "kick the Southern Pacific Railroad out of politics" His friends say he was en- tirely successful. During his terms as governor, he championed meas ures which put on the California sta- tutes many new measure es, including woman suffrage, the initiative and referendum, eight hour day for women, a budget system, workmen's compensation and regulation of pub lie utilities.
 The national career of Senator Johnson began when ne 'tstood at Armageddon'' with Colonel Roose- welt in the 1912 Republican conven- tion at Chicago. He was Colonel Rooseve1ts chief advisor in the Re- publican party schism which result ed in birth of the Progressive party. Senator Johnson's name was virtual ly the only one considered for MT. Rooseve1ts running mate.
 | Entering the Senate in April. 1917. just before the United States entered the world war, Senator Johnson championed measures for it's vigorous prosecution with an influential voice | as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Military committees. He was one of the most uncompro- | missing foes of the treaty of Versai1- | les, especially attacking the League | of Nations covenant, the Shantung | clause and the Leagues voting priv | ileges, which he contended would give l Great Britain six votes to Amerfca,s ! one.
 | His Senate career also was marked l by his opposition to employment of l American troops in Russia and his proposals of heavy taxes on war prof | it's and incomes of the wealthy He 1 has advocated universal training for 1 American youths and also, while
 Governor of California, urged gov | ernment ownership of railroads and l other utilities. He opposed the war | espionage act.
 MT. Johnson was elected to the
 Senate by majority of about 296.- 900 votes, while the Republican can
 didate for president, Charles E.
 Hughes, lost California by about B.
 500 votes. The Senator's enemies i have charged that he did not prop
 erly support MT. Hughes, but MT.
 Johnson's friends have denied the
 charge which followed failure of MT I Hughes to meet MT. Johnson while l the former was touring California, in
 1916.
 Senator Johnson traces his ancestry | back to colonial and revolutionary | days. His family went to Sacramen- | to from New York year before his fbirth- His father, Grove L. Johnson,
 still lives. Senator Johnson was ed
 ucated in the Sacramento public | schools and later studied law in the
 University of California.
 II MT. Johnson was married at Sacra-
 mento to Miss Minnie McNeal, daugh-
 ter of Archibald McNea1 They have
 two grown sons, Hiram W. Johnson
 Jr., and Major Archibald McNeal
 Johnson, who saw active service al
 the German front Since 1902 Sen
 ator and Mrs. Johnson have had i their home at San Francisco. His
 wife is his close companion and he
 says, his ''boss." Mrs. Johnson ac-
 companies him Of all possible occa-
 sions, being an almost daily visitor
 in the Senate galleries and at the
 Senator's office.
 Senator Johnson is not wealthy
 but has enjoyed lucrative law prac- | tice. He lives modest1y without law
 ish entertaining, at suburban home near Washington. Baseball is | his favorite outdoor recreation and
 he is a moving picture enthusiast. His Aireda1e dog and pipe are companions | at home, where he does much of his
 congressional work.
 Senator Johnson is not tall, only | about five feet nine inches, but when
 speaking gives the impression of greater height. He speaks in a l ringing, high pitched monotone with l staccato infection and with great | speed and vigorous gestures His
 eyes are a clear "inqiuisitive" blue and i his hair short cropped and tinged | with gray.