Evening star., 1923-11-28
Politics at Large
BY N. 0. MESSENGER

Hiram w. johnson in his Chicago
speech last night which might in
d!cate sharp lines of party cleavage
upon which he will push his contest
Tor the republican presidential nomi-
nation were rather let down from
their high key upon reading the
speech. There was very little in it
differing from or supplementary to
his formal announcement of his can
dldacy, except treatment Of tax re-
duction, which he had been studying
in the meantime and had found re-
duced taxation entirely compatible
with the soldier bonus, to his salts
faction.
Senator Johnson took pains early
in the course Of his remarks to ex-
plain that what he would say was
in no sense a political platform" One
suggestion was made that he is
waiting for another occasion to fur
ther declare himself. after President
Coolidge has delivered his address to
Congress. 1t was recognized that
there would be strategy in this. as
up to the present time no attack upon
possible because he has not declared
them in detail.
Senator johnson devoted much of
his speech to expatiating upon his
implacable opposition to any Eu-
ropean ENHANCEMENT for America. but
1t was argued today by politicians
that he has no assurance that Pres
ident Coolidge is for such a policy
1t was commented upon in political
circles that his speech last night was
not nearly such an arraignment of
the government at Washington and
his own party and administration as
was contained in his speech de-
claring his candidacy.
X \ y X
The democratic national committee
gives squint from another angle
on the Johnson presidential candi-
dacy. In statement issued today
the committee says:
There Is strong belief among
politicians that Senator Hiram John
sons announcement of his candidacy
has been encouraged by a certain
faction of the republican national
and to the influence of Secretary
Hughes in the White House. 1t is
believed by these political observers
that this coterie has given aid and
comfort to Johnson, not with the pur-
pose of ultimately supporting him in
the convention, but with the object
or using his candidacy as a means of
forcing President Coolidge to aban-
don whatever idea he may have had
OF urging American cooperation in
a rYTf 49, lty y
ticularly of advocating this country's
adhesion to the world court
x + X
Word comes from New York that
Gov. Alfred E. Smith is under no il
lusions himself as to the possibility
of his receiving the democratic presi
Dental nomination. 1t is said he
knows he will not get it and that,
moreover, he knows why. He appre-
ciates that he would carry handicaps
on account of his religious af1lliation,
from the fact that he is against the
Kan and that he is a wet. But "AI"
has always played the game" in
politics and is playing 1t now.
He describes his candidacy, which,
is kept intact, as being a pretty good
monkey wrench" for the democratic
organization to throw into the ma
chinery Of some other candidate who
may be regarded as Objectionable 10
the New York democratic organiza-
tion. He is entirely willing to be used
as such a demolisher IL II is for the
good OF the party"
AL" his friends point out. always
was a good sport"
X X X x
Gov. Pinchot certainly is having
reform and political projects. He has
been getting just one bump after
another and does not seem to be able
to score bull's-eye anywhere. First,
there was his ''run-in" with President
Coolidge over his demand that the
United States enforce the national
prohibition law. Then the confer
ence of the governors at the White
House over prohibition enforcement.
which gave opportunity for clinch-
ing state enforcement on the COM
monwealths as we'll as the federal
government.
Now he is suffering disappointment
over the collapse of his plan for CO.
operation of the anthracite-coal-usi !
states among themselves and with !
the federal government to regulate |;
coal-price prof1teering and quality of !
coal Two governors and representa- |
responding to a call to, thirty one. met 1,
in Harrisburg.
Instead of accepting his plan they |
started in to Jump" the state of |;
Pennsylvania for its alleged derelic- |
ton and policy; Gov; silzer Of New +;
Jersey scornfully said it would take !
thirty-one states thirty-one years to |
draw up a plan, and then 1T would .
have to be sanctioned by Congress. ]
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode |
Island started In with Pennsylvania !
on the principle of treat 'em rough"
and surely did. 1t was charged |
that Pennsylvania would better start |
at home and clean up house, point
ing out that the state miners license |
law. passed by the Legislature. added |
coal at the mine, which all consumers
had to pay. Moreover, it was caus-
tically observed, the state laws made |
no attempt to deal with poor quality |
of coal. !:
After few further passages of |
this kind, the conference concluded |
to call 1t day and knock off"
X X x
There is probably not much love !
lost between the Governor of New |
Jersey and the Governor Of Pennsyl- !
vania. one being a pronounced wet |
and the other the EXTREMIST of ex-
treme drys. and it may be possible |
that Gov. Silzer enjoyed taking a |
falT' out of Gov. Pinchot.
\ X X X
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, woman |
laadpr dnao MT I;lra ba /