Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-01-29

to say to that.
The Chairman. Well, you said it
was honeycombed with them.
What did you mean by that?
Mr.. Johnson. Yes; but when 1t
comes to the direct employees Of the
department Of Justice, rs to Identify
Ing II particular man as doing a par
uculur stunt for his boss, l wouldn't
say anything about that.
The Chairman. Well, did you see
Government employees spending their
time IN that way?
Ny. Johnson. Well, l don't call to
mind just now.
The Chairman. But your impress
sion is that there We're many Of them?
Mr.. johnson. Yes, sir. Now, have
been in this thing ever since 1 left
school, Senator, and have been
delegate. and all these things and
THIS Is the most economical campaign
TINT we have ever wagcd. 1t was the
most economical campaign that we
! have ever been in, and so far as our
side OF this business Is concerned, my
| money wa more or less given to me;
the aeader was my selection as nat
ional committeeman, and Senator,
you can see how that thing manifest
cd itself. The thing was carried at
last TO the floor Of the Republican
convention, the first time in the his
tory OF the Republican Party, and It
was not so much against clecting a
man. but II is the race hate, and this
proposition Of race hate, the interim
Unable. the ungodly race hate. and
they forget God. and they forget
Chateau Thierry and they for
, wet no mans land.
they forget Chateau Thicrry and they
, forget no mans land.
| Senator Spencer. Is that true OH
both sides?
Mr.. johnson. No, sir; it was true
emily as to me.
Senator Spencer. Well, / mean now
race hate. Is there Il corresponding
race hate among the colorcd people,
as there is among the white?
Mr.. Johnson. None whatever. We
have the spirit, and I speak in that
spirit. Of Forgive them Lord, for
they known not what they do.
Senator Spencer. What did you
mean when you said that under rule
II when Il county would give a ma
jority for Senator Smith or Senator
hardwick the county delegates would
he counted against them, and for
Palmer?
Mr.. Johnson. Now, tho operation Of
rule IL among the Democrats, as
mar as ] can understand 1t, is this:
The Tom Watson and the Hoke
Smith crowd contended for what they
call the county unit plan; that II they
got the majority III number OF
county units, taking the county as
u amt, they really had the State. But
II you take a county like Fulton
County, Ga,. where the Democrats
would pola about $4,000 votes In that
one county fn the primary and that
would equal all the votes that
you would over poll In the entire
ninth district, for instance, because
there were some counties so sparsely
settled that even the Democrats could
not get a delegate down from there,
like the mountain counties, and TON
Watson had q majority OF those little
counties.
Senator Spencer. But that didn't
d. him any good, because the majori.
ty i'm the other counties
Mr.. Johnson. The majority In one
county would cover moro than Sena
tor Watson would get in the whole
district. They had several candidat-
cs for President down in Georgia,
but some didn't quite develop among
the Democrats.
Senator Spencer. Do you see any
practical way by which the Congress
of the United States could regulate
the expenditures OF money for presi.
dental candidates?
Mr.. Johnson. / do not do not
Senator. You take the primaries; the
primaries have been the most unsatis
factory means Of determining the
public will of any institution.
The Chairman. Did you say unsat
isfactory?
Mr.. Johnson. Unsatisfactory. 1t
was certainly unsatisfactory in the
State of Maryland, where less than
one-third Of the Republican vote in
that commonwealth came out.
The Chairman. Well. do YOU think
II Is less satisfactory than to have
some few men in the back room deter
mining nominations?
Mr.. Johnson. Well, personally, Sen
ator, / am Of tho opinion that the
people like leadership; that the pco.
pie like good, strong robust leader
ship.
The Chairman. They like to put it
in the bosses hands and take 1t away
from the people?
MIR. Johnson Yes sir; it Is my
personal opinion that where they
nave strong leader in whom they
have confidence, think they would
rather have that than anything else.
The Chairman. Well isn't that tho
very thing that you are complaining
OF about the white people in Georgia
taking it away from the hands of
the peoNe?
Mr.. Johnson. Nc; one is an appeal
to reason, md tho other Is appcs, 70
force.
The Chairman. Wei. prsn-a ries
need some changes, but am sorry
TO hear you advocating taking this
power away from the people.
Mr. YohnSo1 NCf .f on Ca~o.>~