Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-07-26
SENATOR Johnson
BACK FROM EUROPE,
MUM ON POLITICS

California, doomed by his friends Tor
the Republican presidential nomina-
ton in 1924, returned from a tour
of Europe today on the Leviathan
refusing to indicate to reporters or
the crowd who gathered to greet
him whether his hat was in the ring.
johnson enthusiasts protested to
see two good omens in the incidents
Of the homecoming. One was the
fact that in the little fleet OF craft
that went down the bay to meet him
was the Menominee. The other was
the fact that, while he didn't shy his
hat into the ring, a capricious wind
SHE'D 1t for him into the bay.
Statement Is Awaited
The senator only laughed, how
ever, when he was asked to COM
ment on the omens, and declared:
ct will not be interviewed on do
mestic politics at this time. Later
I may have a little to say"
Friends of the senator indicated
they expected an important state
ment from him Wednesday night,
when he addresses the testimonial
dinner being arranged in his honor.
Senator Johnson was taken aboard
the municipal steamer, Macomb,
down the bay and landed at the bat
terry. He was cheered there by a
crowd of more than 1000 persons as
he entered an automobile to take
him to the Waldorf.
To reporters who pressed him for
some indication of how he feels about
the johnson for President" move
ment he had ever the same answer,
though he phrased it differently
that he wasn't going to be inter-
viewed on that subject today.
At have been in Europe four and
a half months he said. During
that time I have been out of touch
with politics. I will talk about do
mestic politics only after have had
a chance to catch up with what hap
pened during my absence.
In Love With LevIathan
Senator Johnson said he planned
to go to Washington the latter part
Of this week and spend few days
clearing up affairs which have come
up during his absence. He expects
to go to California about September
l.
The senator, who had become wed
ded to the Leviathan on his trip
home, was greeted down the bay
early this morning by a committee or
about %, headed by Rhinelander
Waldo and George Henry Payne.
Most Of the greeters were men who
had been allied with the Bull Moose
party, men who have been warmly
pro- Johnson for long time.
AS he left the Leviathan Senator
Johnson gazed steadily back at her
for several minutes and then said:
Zone cannot leave ship like that
without some emotion"
He had found many passengers on
board, he said, who had never
thought much of the American mer-
chant marine before. Now, he said,
they were resolved that the Stars and
Stripes would be sufficient for them
on the seas. and some were resolved
that the Stars and Stripes would be
sufficient for them on land, too"
About his impressions of conditions
in Europe and what he thinks Amerl'
cas- attitude toward European af-
fairs should be, Senator Johnson was
as uncommunicative as he was about
his presidential aspirations. Europe
and Americas relation TO Europe will
be the subject Of his address Wed
nesday night and his friends said he
was saving all his thunder for that
address and the addresses which are
to follow in various parts of the
country.
Not to Trail Harding
The senator smiled and answered
in the negative when he was asked
if he proposed to follow the trail of
President Harding's recent swing
through the west in the delivery of
his message to America about for
eign affairs. 81 have no plan," he
said. II will deliver my message
where l can and how I can"
Reporters who tried to smoke him
out with some comment on the re-
cent election to the senate of Mag
nus Johnson. of Minnesota, had little
success. When some one told him
the senator lect had said that John.
son, of California, talks too little"
he replied: "There are a lot OF peo-
pie who talk too much"
Speaking in general terms of his
trip abroad, in which he visited
France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland
Holland. Belgium and ENGLAND and
talked to statesmen of many ma
tons, including Russia, Senator
Johnson said he had had ga glorious
trip" and that he had wandered
generally close to the ground"
He said he was not pessimistic
about world conditions, but left I'M
answered question as to whether
he was optimistic.