The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-03-02
PARTY SPLIT
IS AVOIDED
BY HARDING
Weighing of Political Aspects
of Cabinet Selections to
Politicians that Schism Is
Impossible.
JOHNSON IS INSURCENT
BY MARK SULLIVAN .

litical aspects of Mr.. Harding's cabi-
net selections brings the conclusion
that Mr.. Harding, by the inclusion of
three men-Hughes, Hoover and Theo-
dore Roosevelt, Jr. as assistant secre-
tary) has made party schism during
the next four years almost impossible.
When the public thinks of possible
Republican schism, it thinks of the
leadership of it in terms of Senator
Hiram Johnson of California. Obvious
ly, Johnson personally is not in the
least placated by the inclusion of
Hoover, whom he has fought bitterly.
nor Hughes, with whose name he has
been associated in strong enmity ever
since the spectacular episode of the
campaign of 1916, in which Johnson
carried California by 100000, but
Hughes lost it by 5000; nor is John
son reconciled by the inclusion of
Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., who last year
supported General Wood as against
Johnson for the Republican presiden-
tial nomination
Following PIacated.
But while Johnson personally is not
placated. his following largely is. 1T
is true that the portion of Johnson's
following which is bitter against the
league of nations, is also bitter against
Hoover.
But the position of California as re-
spects Hoover and Johnson is illus
trated by an episode. known to few
politicians, in the recent controversy
over Hoover's inclusion in the cabi-
net. When it became known in Cal
ifornia that Johnson was opposed to
the selection of Hoover, and when it
was rumored with whatever degree of
truth only the two men themselves
can know, that Johnson had said to
Mr.. Harding that he would regard the
naming of Hoover as an affront, Cali
foEnia took notice. The California
leaders found ways and means of lay
ing before Mr.. Harding a degree of
approval of Hoover which made it
safe for him to resist Johnson's oppo-
sition.
III Support Hoover.
1t is said that of the 26 leading Cali
fornia Republicans who were dele
gates to the convention last June, and
who supported Johnson to the last
ballot, % recently united in support
of Mr.. Hoover as a cabinet selection.
The political bearings of such a dis
sent on the part of California from
Johnson's opposition to Hoover are
obvious.
1t is on the league of nations and
on foreign subjects generally that
Johnson and Hoover have been in
antipathy. On that body of domestic
issues which are commonly spoken of
as progressive the position of Hoover
and Johnson is more or less IDENTICAL
and the personal following of each
overlaps. In short a considerable de-
gree of Johnson's following on
domestic progressive issues will be
carried to Hardings cabinet by the
inclusion of Hoover.
Following Overlap.
In the same way, in spite of the
California episode Of 1916, the fact is
that outside of California on domestic
progressive issues the following of
Hughes and the following of johnson
largely overlap Johnson's identity with
the direct primary. for example does
not exceed the fight which Hughes. as
governor of New York, fought almost
to his political death for the direct
primary in that state. For this and
other reasons a large portion of the
old progressive party regards Hughes
as one of them.
Finally, the strength that johnson
undeniably has as being the partner
and heir of Roosevelt senior, in the
leadership of the old Progressive
party will be placated by Mr.. Hard
ing's choice Of Roosevelt. Jr, to the
post of assistant secretary of the navy
in which his father made his political
start.
Ties Groups Together.
From the point of view of party and
personal politics, Mr.. Harding in his
cabinet selections has tied together so
many groups and factions that any in
surgent movement along the lines Of
the defections of the past eight or 10
years in the near future is almost inn
possible. To be sure, host of new
issues are coming up.
With equal certainty. Johnson has
personal qualities Of dynamic leader
ship not eXcelled by any man in public
life Moreover. he has his position in
the senate. and it will be in the con-
sideration of legislation in that body
that arv insurgency against Mr. Hard
i"e's leadership is likely to develop.
While all that is said here is convinc-
ing, it would still be a reckless
rronhet who would put on black
clothes in the expectation of attending
the political funeral of Hiram.
Hoover Out of Race.
Next to Johnson and possibly even
in excess Of Johnson. the man who
personally contains most possibilities
Of a successful insurgent movement is
Hoover The politicians, with the turn
of mind characteristic Of them, point
out that Hoover has made it substan-
TALLY impossible for him or his friends
to cut any figure in the presidential
campaign of three years from now
either as a candidate himself or in any
other way inimical to what Mr.. Hard
ing may want to do about renomina-
tion. or whatever else the organization
NAV determine.
This of course is quite true. For a
cabinet member to cut any figure, in a
presidential nomination in opposition
to his chief would be practically I'M
precedented and imDossible. This
statement may be modified by the pos
sibility that there may be a country
wide presidential primary in 1924.
fCont;nued on PAGE Threel