Evening star., 1922-10-12
Business Men Squelching
War Scare to Improve
I Trade Opportunities.
FATES MIX UP POLITICS
Hiram Johnson, Sure to Win,
Finds Himself on Ticket With
Potential Foes.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

so characteristic of the Pacific coast
for a long time. has at last sub
sided
It's the most significant develop
ment of the last twelve months. and
although opinions differ as to whether
the conference on the limitation of
armament was the principal factor
or the quiet and effective work of
the business men of this region the
fact is the war scare is gone.
Race Problem Still Exists.
This is not to say that the Japanese
problem. the question of competition
in agriculture and the friction of
races has disappeared. But agitation
over that has diminished. The peo-
ple of California do not argue the
matter-they have had their say on
the question of leasing land. Japan
regulates the leasing of land to
aliens and so does California 1t
isn't subject of negotiation between
the United States and the japanese
considered as a past issue. Proof OF
this may be seen even in the attl-
tude of newspapers. which two or
three years ago would have dispiayed
with big headlines news of an ap-
peal of Japanese land case through
fhe courts-an item that was buried
In small space the other day in most
papers.
Cease to Use Prejudice.
Perhaps it is that the politicians
have ceased to use the Japanese
prejudice as vote getter Perhaps
il Is that the electorate has tired or
the issue. but witness the state OF
California in the midst o. Guberna-
torial and senatorial campaign and
the yellow peril" is not even men
toned.
Speaking of CALIFORNIA; political
affairs. this state has managed as
usual to get itself all tangled up with
respect to parties and candidates
The whole thing has Its amusing
son. republican candidate for re-
election to the United States Senate
His big fight was in the primaries
That's over and so far as California;
verdict is concerned. MI johnson
could Just as well travel back east
and forget about it. for he will win
hands down.
Replying to Attacks.
But Senator johnson is pausing
hereabouts for a reason. The can
didate for governor on the republican
ticket, Friend W. Richardson, who de-
feated Gov. Stephens in the primaries
has developed dislike for the re-
publican state central committee.
controlled by Senator Johnson. and
Mr.. Richardson has broken away and
is conducting his own campaign. He
makes speeches about the political
machine" in California, limiting plain
ly at Mr.. Johnson, to all of which the
eminent senator with characteristic
agility makes this kind of speech In
reply: He starts out by saying he is
the regular republican nominee for
the Senate and as such commends the
republican platform and the republican
nominees from top to bottom to the
of that unpleasant formality. Mr..
Johnson launches into a bitter attack
on all those who dare mention the
words political machine"
Fates Pick Ticket.
Poor Hiram Johnson, 1t seems to
be his fate to run for Office on the
same ticket with a lot of men whom
he would probably prefer to see on
the other side of the battle line. In
1916 Hiram johnson was out making
speeches for Charles Evans Hughes
because he was regular republican.
hut it's aid his sympathies were else
where and some regular republicans
conducted a protracted debate after
ward accusing Hiram of wearing his
heart on his sleeve.
Later on in the 1920 elections. Hi
ram Johnson again went out cam
paigning for the regular republican
nominee for the presidency. Mr.. Hard
huf ovarvhn6v ho he
wasn't altogether sure Mr.. Harding
believed with him on the league of
nations or with his future cabinet
colleague. Herbert Hoover.
Frowns of Disapproval.
Now Senator johnson finds himself
this year urging the people of Cali
fornia to approve the entire repub-
1ican ticket in the abstract, but to
visit frowns of disapproval. if moth
ing worse. on the concrete case of
the republican nominee for governor,
Mr.. Richardson.
On top of all this. the democrats
and not a few republicans who insist
they alone are the true progressives
call Mr.. Richardson a "reactionary."
Beside Mr.. Richardson. they declare
that the Hon. MIR. Crocker and Others
as "reactionaries" would be angels of
progressivism.
The newspapers owned by William
Randolph Hearst. which have been con-
spfcuous In their support of Hiram
Johnson in his various campaigns, are
lining up for Thomas Woolwine, the
democratic nominee for governor, on the
ground that he Is the real progressive
in the race This, 1t Is contended, must
be so for Mr.. Woolwine favors the plat
form OF principles advocated by none
other than Hiram Johnson.
How About somersaults.
Will California turn one CT its char
acteristic somersaults? 1t gave Hiram
Johnson a majority Of 25O,00e in 1915
and gave Woodrow Wilson a majority
of 5000 against Hughes chiefly because
the latter was alleged to have leaned
toward the regular republican wing in
this state.
Hiram johnson may not have the big
on the state Is still far from loose,
though many will be found who will
say it is slipping. He is still the die
tator extraordinary as to what Is or is
not a progressive, even though. strange
as it may seem. tho same Hiram John
son had the support two years ago of
ali kinds of republicans for the presi-
dental nomination.
California didn't feel the business de-
preston as did other parts of the coun-
try. There is some concern here at
present about car shortage and perish
ing crops But generally speaking con-
ditions are good. Trade with Japan is
increasing by leaps and bounds. The
business men here are squelching talk
with OCT q