Evening star., 1923-09-17
JOHNSON WARNED
TO QUIT 1924 RACE
Senator Moses Says His
Personal Ambitions May
Iniure Party.
III FREDERIC WILLIAMS VILE.

for the presidential nomination. In a
remarkable interview at San Fran
cisco, accounts of which have just
reached Washington, Moses declares
that Johnson's personal ambitions are
menacing republican solidarity IN
1924. The New Hampshire leader,
who is chairman of the republican
senatorial campaign committee, open
Iy taunts Johnson with political dou-
ble-dealing and charges him with
sadly overworking the entangltng-
alliance bugaboo" at the expense of
President Coolidge's chances for cleo
ton.
Moses has been in California as a
member of the. Senate special com
mittee on reforestation, consisting OF
Messrs. McNary (chairman), Couzens'
Harrison Fletcher and himself. Al
though the committee has been tax
ing its mission with great serious
ness the republican and democratic
politicians on it made no bones about
their intention TO study politics, along
with trees, in the course OF tnelr
nation wide inquiries. Senator Moses
prior to President Coolidge's acces-
Sion, probably would have been an
unofficial observer on Hiram John
sons behalf. Since the New ramp
shire man became the Original S1oi t,+
I
ne has kept his expert eyes and ears
open on behalf of the President.
Warning to Johnson.
Senator Moses chose the retoresta-
tiou committees presence in hiram
Johnson's home town Of San Fran
cisco to issue his clarion blast, which
obviously is designed to blow John-
son off the presidential track. Ac-
cording 10 the published version OF
Moses remarks, he said:
Hiram W. Johnson, United states
senator from California, regarded in
Washington as regular republican,,
should not, in the interests OF repuo-
ucan solidarity. inject himself INTO
The 1924 national campaign as a con-
tender for support that should be ac-
corded President Coolidge. Principles,
not personal ambitions, should take
precedence. The lines are Sharply
drawn between the republicanism of
President Coolidge and the radical
ism of Senator La Toilette. There is
no in-between ground other than that
artiflcially made from differently
phrased ideas. plus the animus of
political desires.
Johnson on TiEhtrope.
Senator Johnson is held in high
esteem by the more conservative
group of republican senators in
Washington. There was nothing ir-
regular about his attitude on major
issues including the Fordney-Mc-
Cumber tariff bill. With the benefits
Of prior campaigns and the prestige
which the word progressive coupled
with a semi Rooseveltian militancy
always lends, Senator Johnson is
playing between his conservative
brethren and his radical brethren. 1t
is a desperate game of political tight
rope walking, but there is nothing
particularly reprehensible about it,
and Senator Johnson does want to be
President.
THE sudden rise of radicalism in
the miGdle west. with Senator La
Follettf the natural leader. already
asSures the Wisconsin fighter 102
delegates in the republican conven-
tion out of l.036. Favorite sons will
claim their little quotas on the first
ballot. New Work will propose Sem
ato- wadsworth. Indiana is groom
ing Senator Watson, while former
Gov Lowden of Illinois, and either
Gov. Pinchot or Senator Pepper OF
Pennsylvania. will figure in the first
roll call with this dispersion. Sem
ator La Toilette for the first time in
his political career will hold a Key
position. He stands to control the
convention and Senator Johnson
doul +less draws quiet consolation,
horeful and speculative, from this.
Coolidge Logical Man.
president Coolidge is the logical
man TO carry the 1924 republican ban
ner. He is progressive, IN the gen
nine srnse, independent and resource
F,il. NJ one has as yet raised issues
differen. from those advocated either
bv President Coolidge or by the
farmer-labor group; l DO not Know
the world court. Personally am
opposed TO il, not because l am an
isolationist. but because l oelieVe our
present day passion for mere ma
n
the possfbiIfties Of the Hague tribunal
as ar instrument that will accomplish
all the world court proposes, without
compromising national indepenoehce.
''Wfthin the republican party there
NAV he difference of opinion as 70
procedure, but in these days or party
disIntegration there should be more
agreement on party principles ana
those who initiate the Importance OF
a few issues to gain an audience for
political preferment
Washington politicians who heard
of the Moses broadside during the
week end could recall no occasion on
which a party leader had so auda-
ciously read the riot act to a colleague.
They doubt whether Johnson Will pc
scared off the reservation. Wnlie
Johnson has preserved a mastery
silence since the episode of his stolen
lettes last month, he and his friends
are known to be watching develop
ments with eagle eyes. Authoritative
evidence that President Coolidge is
for the world court is expected to pc
.Tohnson's signal to tiing himself into
the fray. This writer learns from
tho state OF Washington that the
Johnson campaign here Is being
pushed There have been no less tnan
ihree recent meetings in Everett, all
with This object in View" The leading
coast business man who thus writes
adds; Public sentiment has swung
so strongly toward Coolidge ana IN
favor uf giving him chance tnat
mont will be soft-pedaled. One of the
Johnson leaders stated in CONVERSE
ton lhaSN they will have to proceed
slowly tut It is wise to nave the
happenA'" SIS, St ,,.5
Coolidge strength Grows.
yyord from southern California is
70 the effect that Coolidge has in 4
herited all of the Harding strength
and added thereto some support that
for one reason or another had been
alienated from Harding. Assuming
that Coolidge makes no serious
blunders between now and the con-
vention, he will have the very warm
friendship and support Of California.
Republicans here generally feel that
with Coolidge it cannot win with
anybody They would never
submit to the republican party being
headed by any of the La Toilette
lican. If for any reason Coolidge
should not be a candidate Califor-
MIA would demand a man who has
been in sympathy with the Harding
administration and could be depended
upon 20 carry forward the general
Harding policies. Next to Coolidge
the names most frequently mentioned
are those of Hoover, Hughes Low