Evening star., 1923-08-11
JOHNS0N'S BOOM
GETS HARD KNOCK
Senator Moses Apparent
Flop to Coolidge Big Event
in National Politics.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

No political development since CAL
vim Coolidge became President Of the
United States equals in interest Sena-
tor George H. Moses announcement
that New England republicans will
line up for the Presidents nomination
in 1924. The Moses manifesto is
chiefly important for its Indication
that the New Hampshire senator has
apparently deserted the cause of Hi
ram Johnson.
Almost equally significant is the de-
duction politicians have been quick to
make-namely. that President Cool
idSe is "irreconcilable" on the world
court issue. 1t is considered impos-
sIble that so uncompromising an iso-
lationist as Senator Moses would iden-
tify himself with Calvin CooIidge's
fortunes if the New Hampshire bitter
ender had not found him safe" on in
ternational questions. Moses prom
1ses within a few hours to sound the
coolidge toCSin loudly and formally
from the New England ramparts He
proDaoly VIII give some illuminating
reasons for having ceased so suddenly
10 be one of the pillars of the Hiram
Johnson cult. 1t may be that PreSi-
dent Coolidge has selected his Moses
10 lead him out of the darkness in
which, to date, as far as the country
ls concerned. his foreign policy has
been enShrouded
Was Warm Johnson Man.
Hiram Johnson.s aspirations have
mad few warmer supporters than SEN
ator Moses. Ever since the republi-
ian disaster at the elections of
November, 1922. Moses friends have
represented him feeling that the
California irreconcilabIe was the only
man the republicans could elect Pres
ldtnt in 1924. Moses never eSpoused
the SunerSe Ssion of Mr. Harding, but
lie typified that considerable group
ol republicans who never ceased to
hope that the late President. in a
spirit or strong party loyalty. might
step aside. If the departed chieftain
mad been renominated, Moses would
have supported him.
What has happened to wean the
New Hampshire leader from the John
son Camp remains for the moment a
baftling mystery. Washington poll
ticians were stunned by the news.
They suspect that nobody was stag
gered more than Johnson himself
Preceding Johnson's recent return
from Europe and the demonstrative
welcome organized for him at New
York. IL was common talk there that
George Moses would shortly lead the
Johnson for President movement"
moses sent Johnson a cordial tele-
gram after the latters New York
speech. acclaiming the Californian'S S
unCompromising hostility to Ameri-
can cooperation with Europe
New England Movement.
Another angle of the Coolidge
Moses development is its plain i'm
plications that the Presidents 1924
candidacy will be frankly sectional
affair. 1t will be an essentially New
England movement. Evidently II is
10 be trade marked a progressive
movement, despite Coolidge's reputa-
ton for conservatism. else Moses
an orthodox. dyed-in- -the-wool pro-
gressive-would not be leading it,
New England is not likely to enact
the role of a shrinking violet during
fhe Coolidge administration. 1t
Knows what II wants and may not be
expected to be backward about COM
ing forward and asking for it. Mr..
Coolidge had not been President
many hours before the Boston Tran
script. authentic mouthpiece of New
England sentiment. through the me-
dium of its we'll informed Washing
ton correspondent. limited what New
England yearns for at the hands of
the ontMassachusetts Presi-
dent. 1t was indicated that New
EnglandS interests. manufacturing
and maritime, are such that she ex-
poets Coolidge to fight for a mer-
chant marine bill. Mr.. Coolidge, 1t is