Evening star., 1923-08-24
HIS LETTER STOLEN,
JOHNSON DECLARES
Senator Says Foes in Cali
fornia Reveal Own Char
acters by Theft.

Senator Hiram Johnson hit back
at his political enemies in California
last night because of the publication
of excerpts of Il letter written by
Senator Johnson to a personal friend
discussing the political outlook for
1924 Senator Johnson asserted that
the letter now published had been
stolen. He said that he hoped the
incident would be taken by the oppo-
sition an Invitation to contest
In California
The letter to whose publication the
senator referred was written from
Europe in May. and was addressed
10 Charles X. McClatchy of Sacra-
mento. In it Mr. Johnson said he
would like to be President, but saw
no prospect that President Harding
could be defeated for denomination.
I3e added that he was convinced the
johnson element could not rally its
old time strength in California. and
doubted whether he could carry the
state against Harding, Hoover CT
any other candidate.
Senator Johnson's statement last
night said that the progressive re-
publicans' of California are deter
mined that the states delegation to
the republican national convention
next year must represent "a truly
progressive republican state"
Excerpts from Letter.
The excerpts from the senator's
letter to McClatchy as published in a
California newspaper and reprinted
in the east. are as follows:
Il feel that Harding Will be able
TO renominate himself, though some
very good people, like senator Moses
and George Henry Payne. believe 9th
erwiSc and want to commence AN aC-
tive campaign. As | have said to you
often. | would like to hc President. I
think any American in political life
who preteuds otherwise is wholly
hypocritical. ] realize. however. po-
litical realities. and cannot see sue
cess in an active candidacy. y sort
of passive attitude never brought me
anywhere. and my natural inclination
is to fight This. though. is kind
of valor of Ignorance, or finding ones
self TO actualitieS. and hardly wise.
The next few months possibly will
clarity the political atmosphere. and any
personal declaration | am leaving en-
tirely to the future.
Must Make Fight.
The delegation from California.
however. is a different matter 1t
ought to be composed of our friends
not compromise of some OF our
rrienuS and some of our enemies. and
this whether We have a candidate
or not. If progressives are going to
continue III politics in California; it
Ready to redeem themselves and the
state. Ii they permit Chandler Dick
son. Andy Lawrence and the Hoover
crowd to control the national delega-
ton and again elect a national COM
mitteeman, they might just as we'll
resign themselves to the roles OF
outsiders.
since last year ! have enLeavor'ed
TO impress this Oh all our friends.
We lost California principally be
- he haN
feared We would whip them and re-
manned aS conservative and reaction
AIRY as ever, but bided their time to
strike. We destroyed the morale of
progresSiVeS and convinced the ordi-
nary Individual are no different
than our opponents that sought po-
liticdl success only.
Old Crew in saddle.
My strength while l was governor
was in never yielding for an instant
to the old rotten crew, standing always
the same. My weakness today is that
have yielded and given power. posi-
tion and political strength to the very
men ! so often formerly denounced.
The past is past, and have only re-
ferred to ii as instructive for the fu-
ture. | am under no illusions now
about California Really. g. X. 1 doubt
II ! could carry il against Harding.
Hoover or any other candidate. The
old crew are in the saddle. For the
llISl llIllt since ltlN tneE nave the
state, all its offices and an active mill
tant organizat ton. both in publicity and
otherwise.
Chandler has been in Washington
IateIy; He is to have charge of the
Presidents itinerary in California He
boaSted, so my letters say. after the
the city'S election and Frederick'S VIC
tory in Los Angeles, that he now has
Calfornia in his vest pocket. He spoke
OF national delegates next year with a
ticket to be led by Hoover and Rich
ardson, and made all arrangements to
bring a Harding delegation from Cali
fornia.
Now, singularly enough, though my
stock Is low in my own state it has
very great possibilities in other states.
II were candidate ] would fear
California more than New York. This
Is no idle statement. and please do not
ascrlbe 1t TO my peSsimism."
Senator's Comeback.
Senator Johnson's statement issued
last night was as follows:
The only Importance of the pub
itcation of this letter is as illustra-
tive of the kind of political opposi-
tion we have in California-an oppo-
sition without limitations of honor or
decency.
Last May, while l was in Europe.
| wrote to friend of mine, Charles
X. McClatchy of Sacramento. an in
innate. personal letter. Mr.. Nc
alSilS Seiil eAcerptS. ana excerpts
only, of this letter in a letter of his
own to Albert l.. Boyntun of San
francisco, chairman of the republican
state central committee of California.
Andy Lawrence, formerly of Chi
cago, is publishing a small paper in
San Francisco called the Journal
Lawrence is the chief supporter in
northern California Of Herbert
Hoover and devotes himself to men,
dacious abuse of me. Lawrence sur
reptitIously obtained letters from the
hles and private office of MIR. Boynton