Roanoke Rapids herald., 1923-11-30
NEWS review OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Senator Johnson Challenges
Coolidge and Others to d.
rect Primary Fight.
ENTENTE IS SAVED AGAIN
BY EDWARD W. PIckARD

CENATOR HIRAM JOHNSON of
~ California, avowed candidate for
the Republican presidential nomna-
ton. has started into make things
lively for his rivals, including Presi-
dent Coolidge. He has warned them
that he proposes to make a determined
fight in every state against hand
picked" delegations, and challenged
them to meet him in the primaries in
s:raight-out contest. His statement,
issued from Washington Is supposed
to have been the result of unwarrant-
ed intimatlons that Mr.. Coolidge
would not make direct campaign for
state delegations relying largely on
delegates from states that have no di-
rect primaries. and on those which
would turn to him after their favorte
sons have been eliminated from COM
petition.
al insist that the rank and file OF
the Republican party have right to
express themselves as to the candi-
date of the party for the presidency"
Senator johnson said. Il am seeking
to have that preference expressed, |
shall accept the determination of the
voters with eQuanimlty and philosophy.
do not fear to go before the people
upon that which believe, and no 9th
er man who Is candidate should
hesitate to have those whose support
he asks express themselves on his
candidacy.
THE members of the party, rather
than n few self-constituted bosses, are
entitled to select the candidate We
are going to put 1t up to the American
people. | insist that NIL candidates
should go before the people on the
same principle"
Senator Johnson Indicated that his
main fight would be made in such
states as Illinois, Indiana. Michi-
gan, Nebraska and New Jersey.
He is looked on with considerable IA
vor by many Illinois Republicans, hut
must contend with the strong follow
ings OF Coolidge and Lowden. In
Indiana Senator James f. Watson
says he may become a candidate "if
for no other reason than to keep the
states delegation from Hiram John
SON.
While he Is too radical for such men
as Watson, the Californian is too CON
servative to suit the other Senator
johnson, Magnus from Minnesota.
That loud-speaker arrived in the ma
tional capital and told the pop-eyed
world that Hiram was backslider
from the cause Of progressvism, that
the third party movement was grow
ing very strong, and that the farmers
must be given protection against their
enemies. the grain and dairy COM
panies. He seems to be right about
the third party movement. Indeed.
third party was formally organized in
Chicago by group under the leader
ship of j. A. Fl. Hopkins cf New York
and the call for its convention. to be
held May 80. was issued.
Another meeting of progressive
groups was held in Omaha and rep
resentatives of fifteen states indorsed
Ford for president and called con-
yention at Detroit December IL.
VX/HLIAM G. McADOO had his first
w test of strength among the DEM
ocrats last week In South Dakota,
where the county proposal conventions
were held. Ford supporters were his
chief opponents. and while results are
not yet quite definite, 1t appears that
McAdoo won throughout the state by
at least two to one. The Republicans
were fairly divided between Coolidge
and Hiram Johnson. Most OF the
Farmer-Labor conventions named un-
instru, ted delegations to the state
convention.