The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-26
Today,
CaIifornia's Decision. Railroads Ride Hard. Austria for Italy. Finding New Men.
 By ARTHUR BRISBANE

Austria for Italy.
 Finding New Men.
 By ARTHUR BRISBANE
 Next Tuesday California, voting at the primaries. will tell what she thinks of Hiram Johnson.
 To people living in the East, es- pecially at the national capital, the fact that Wall street newspapers predict Johnson's defeat is puzzling Usually such newspapers are well in- formed and they assert positively "Plans are complete to get rid Of Johnson"
 California must be consulted in that matter, however, and that Cali fornia men and women should vote to take Hiram Johnson out of the Senate seems about as probable as a vote to cut down all the redwood trees, or exchange the California climate for that of Novia Scotia.
 In the East Hiram Johnson has been criticised for his hard fight which he won--to get high protec- ton for California's products, fruit, almonds, etc. But in fighting for California, he fought for the whole country interested in the prosperity of the magnificent Pacific state. In any case, his tariff work surely will not hurt him with Californians.
 A state does not readily destroy what adds to its credit and stand- ing among all the states. Forty seven states outside of California l.now of Hiram Johnson, as well as californians knows of Niagara Falls Of ninety six men in the Senate how many are known to all the states? Not half a dozen. Ana Hiram Johnson is most widely known of them all A born Californian Hiram Johnson so impressed the na- ton before the last national cam paign that his nomination would have been certain had the people voted for the presidential nominee.
 The things that he undertook in California when he was governor went through. He proved himseil more powerful than the corporations but just to them and to all.
 Senator Johnson is a fighter, sin cere. courageous, democratic, loyal No man could better represent the spirit of California That his Tel low citizens should retire him In fa- yor of an estimable, handsome gentleman whom the rest of the country has never heard of, ana never would hear of, Is unthinkaole to anyone that mas travelled through California, thousand miles north and south, studying the people ana their intense loyalty to everything truly Californian.
 Next Tuesday will tell how much Wall street knows about California men and women and their loyaity to their own friends.
  favor of taking from the men thelr ei.ioritys rights, which seems depriy- ing them of their property. That IS foolish work for the railroad owneSs. whose status depends on the public will. If one day the workers should vote to take away their railroads they would not like it. But workers, as a class, are more honest than cor poration owners.
 
 In rejecting seniority the railroads flout President Harding, who has said truly that the men were entitled to seniority rights acquired. How will the President accept the snub from the railroads? They think they own the administration, and in their own language, "can ride it as hard as they like.'
 wen know about that when the dust settles. The President can, If he chooses, end both coal and rail road strikes. Roosevelt would do It and the railroads would not snuh him. He knew what power Pres ident has, and used it.
 There is talk of Italy annexing Austria. running the country under som esort of protectorate. It would not be a bad idea If Austria were willing, although a combination of Germany and what is left of Austria would seem the natural thing. Vi- enna stands like a COW with her pasture taken away--nothing to live on.
 The Italians, If Austria consented. would give her good government. And old hatrejs would soon be wiped out, with the Hapsburgs gone. In days past ancestors of todays Ital- lans owned, governed and built roads all through Austria.
 It Is not as easy as it seems to re- piace experienced workers, and be Independent of your employees" The New Jersey Central railroad, looking fer substitute workers, found s.4oo , candidates out of 10000 utterly worthless
 The fact that self-respecting work CTS Will not take the places of strik- CTS against lower wages has of course. something to do with the low, quality of men looking for other mems jobs.
 Senator Stirling of South Dakota introduced a bill that would make the crime murder when tamperine with railroad equipment results in the death of passengers or crew.
 The law should pass and any man, for any reason, interfering with rails, equipment or anything to wrec,, train should be punished as for murder when life is lost, and in any case punished with a long term at hard labor. But make sure your man is guilty. Sometimes the roads lie about it. to gain public sympathy for their side and to evade responsibility.
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