The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-11-23
JohnsonHas
to Fight in
Own State
Candidate for President Must
Guard Laurels Against
Foes-No Contest Likely
by Coolidge.
Try to Line Up Bay State
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

Washington. Nov. 22.-The conf
dent expectation is that Hiram John
son will have the fight in his home
state of California which he has So
leited directly or by Implication in
his various statements. The fight will
not be made by Coolidge but win be
made by Johnson's opponents within
the state. Undoubtedly they will
want TO use Cooldge's name. because
p7hey must have somebody to put for
ward as their man against johnson.
When they begin TO use Coolidge's
name. that will put it up TO Coolidge
either to forbid the action, or TO be
silent The latter will probably be
Coolidge's course, for he can hardly
put himself in the position of forbid
ding any one in any state who wants
to nominate him from taking such
action.
johnson and Johnsons friends
couple their challenging invitation of
Coolidge to California with the asser-
tion that they propose to feel free to
contest in Coolidge's home state of
Massachusetts. All this is unusual
and is a campaign strategy dictated
by the situation in Johnson's own
state.
Insecure i'm Own State.
1t takes no great political acumen
to know that Johnsons friends would
infinitely prefer to get the California
delegation without contest, and that
they would be pleased if they could
get Coolidge's friends into a state of
mind where they would forbid the use
of coolidge's name in California. But
Johnsons friends fear that the fight
against him will be made In Cali
fernia anyhow. and feel insecure
about the results.
To forestall the disastrous psyche
logical result of making a poor show
ing in his own state of California,
Johnson's friends would like to mini
mize the effect of making a demon
stration in Ceolidge's home state of
Massachusetts.
In this situation Johnson is favored
by difference in the primary laws of
1La two states. In California, the en-.
dslegates will be instructed by dis
statewide vote. In Massachusetts the
delegates will be instructed by dis
tricts separately. That is to say. in
California Goplidge's friends or John
sons enemies, can only make a show
ing against johnson by carrying the
whole state, and can only get any
delegates by getting them all.
Easier in Bay State.
This obviously is a difficult thing to
do. In Massachusetts, on the other
hand Johnson's friends can pick out
one or two or three local districts
where the conditions are most favor.
able, can concentrate on these dis
tricts, and il they win can say to
the world that they got some delegates
I'm the presidents home state.
1t is the clearest possible fact that
Johnson is much weaker In his state
Of California than Coolidge Is in his
state of Massa chusetts. Indeed, the
writer has the best authority for say.
ing that Johnsons friends are acute.
" anxious about his capacity to carry
California. Johnson's enemies and
critics in The state include the pres
ent republican governor together with
his friends and his state organization.
They include the great bulk of the
press.
They include many old progress
sives who feel that Johnson ceased
some time ago to represent their
IDEAS. They include the friends and
supporters of Hoover. They include
also a majority of the republican vot
ers in the southern end of the state.
They include the regular Harding
Akep, and finally, for the present oc-
casion. they include that considerable
portion Of the California people who
are Of New England birth or anteced-
Coolidge.