The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-27
Opposition Against California Senator Develops Within the Ranks of His
 Own Party
By SAMUEL WHITE Special Dispatch to The Age-Herald fCOpyrixht, I92S. by The AEe-Herald)

fore in the history of the state. Flushed in the voice of the lute ot the days of romance; jarring, grind ing. grating noises and the sound of hampering and knocking are heard everywhere. They are premonitory symptoms of political eruption to take place on Tuesday.
 Many Register
 In round numbers close to a mill lion and a half voters have regis tered to take part In the primaries. More than nine hundred thousand have registered as republicans and about S50,000 as democrats, and close to 100000. chiefly in rural communi- ties, did not state party preference Socialists and prohibitionists make up tho remainder of the largest pri- mary registration ever known in the state. The republicans. with their overwhelming registration, are making the most noise and naturally would seem to offer a clear path to victory to party candidates who win their nomination on the republican ticket in the primaries, but this Is far from being the case. Thousands of democratis and Independents have registered as republicans in order to mix up in the primary quarrels of that party and with the large bloc that refused to state party prefer ence can only take part in tho pri- maries by writing In the names of independents, and perhaps another half million voters who will register for the general elections, will hold predominating balance of power If brought into the camp of success full candidate at the primaries, be he democrat or republican.
 Republicans Divided
 There is still another and more dy- mamie clement of uncertainty which gives even the powerful Senator Johnson, as a candidate for re-elec- tfon, pause in this unique campaign. The republicans of the state are d. vided into two great camps and en- gagged in a bitter war that knows no quarter. The task of bringing them together again after the primaries is bound fo be a difficult one and many of the leaders, willingly ana openly taking the lead at this time, have announced that if the man whom they are fighting in the primaries wins the nomination. they will work and vote for his democratic oppo- nent at the general election.
 It is just this phase of the cam paign that makes 1t unique in the political history of the state if not of the country. It Is almost entire ly a negative carhpaign-one of pro- test and expression through the bal lot of personal dislike and enmity. On tour of the state by automobile just completed, the writer met hun dreds of voters. The great majority were cautiously waiting primary day that they might vote against some- body, Few of them expressed de- sire to make an affirmative vote With the voters in such frame or mind, almost anything can happen at an election.
 Moore Brought Ont
 Some weeks ago the primary elec- tions in California gave little or no promise of any interesting contest. Then Charles c. Moore of San Fran cisco was brought out to make the race for nomination for United States senator against Hiram John son. MT. Moore, man of large af- fairs, who made many friends as president of the Panama-Pacffio ex- position, developed tremendous back ing. It soon became evident that no was well managed and financed, ana was in the race to win.
 Hiram Johnson, aroused and an- xered, hurried homo from Washing ton to enter the campaign He was pictured as returning in fighting mood, and tho photographers caught him with his fists doubled up and a glare in his eyes. He was out TOT a cIean-up, and declared that 1t was "the same old fight against the same old gang"
 Senator Johnson has put on big sampaign-a fight for his political 4xistence-and has had big meetings and met much enthusiasm where ever he goes but has also been hem pecked and harrassed to the point of losing his temper and saying ana doing things that have furnished po- litical capital to the Moore people. He has been pictured as tho tool and slave of William Randolph Hearst.
 Democrats Sail Easily As far as the United States sen atorial fight goes. the democrats are sailing easily. They have put for ward, William J. Pearson. a farmer, to oppose either Moore or Johnson. Pearson has strong backing. The farmers of tho state are going to stage non-partisan automobile farmers crusade In his behalf.
 In some quarters there is bitter ffRht against Gov. William Stephens. candidate for renomination by the TO- publicans, on the ground of extrave- gance and waste of state funds. It will be . very great surprise. how ever, if Governor Stephens Is not re- nominated. although his opponent within the party, Friend W. Richard son, is very popular and has fine record as a public printer and the support of the editors of many Of the smaller papers because he ia one of them when working at his regular trade.
 Thomas Lee woolwine, who has won fame as district attorney of Los Angeles county, and Madison B. Jones, prominent Los Angeles at- torney. are fighting for the dem ocratio nomination for governor.
 For all other offices. except Tn four congressional districts, the ,am- paign in California Is largely along non- partisan lines.