The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-25
PRESS ON HIRAM JOHNSON

To say that a candidate has thrown his hat into the ring nowadays is co dignify too languid a gesture by too vigorous figure of speech. When Roosevelt said that his hat was in the ring, he meant that he was ready and even anxious to fight. Now there is not so much a fight going on as an orderly debate. Per haps it is just as we'll, for otherwise people might let their excitement over- whelm their better judgment, and this is time, if ever, when the people need to decide intelligently and so- berly upon political questions. Even the erstwhile fiery Hiram Johnson very quietly has arisen to remark that he offers himself as a candidate for the Republican nomination, doubtless sensing that it is very solemn oc- casion.
 Regarding Ohio's position the Cleve- land Plain Dealer remarks: President Coolidge inherited the executive of flee, but he did not inherit his pre- decessor's title to the 1924 nomination. For that he must wage a state-to-state contest, much like any other candi- date. Even Ohio, Mir. Harding's own state, which would have led the van for his renomination, will refuse to be bundled into the Coolidge band wagon without struggle. Three years ago Senator Johnson received compara- lively small vote in the Ohio primary, but out of courtesy to his senatorial colleague he made no personal cam paign and the 16,000 votes could not be taken as measure of his natural strength here. No such compunction will keep him out of the state this time. If his former supporters remain steadfast and the policies which he now espouses are as popular as for merly, the senator's entrance in the Ohio contest presages a real fight"
 The rockribbed Republican Chi cago Tribune, from the prospective seat of the national convention, de- clares: Senator Johnson's chief claim to the nations consideration, in our opinion, is the part he played in saving our country from the Versailles trap. AS one of the so-called irrecon- cilables of the senate, he fought man. fully against adoption of the treaty and thus helped to keep us out of the league and the intolerable obligations of the treaties which have brought so much misfortune to Europe since 1919. In his announcement of candidacy he emphatically reaffirms the position then taken and declares against any political entanglement with Europe, whether through the league, the world court, or other device. His stalwart devotion to the great American tradi- ton of independence will bring him the opposition of many who wish us to offers a secure guaranty to the mil lions who oppose any such involve ment." Of course, if one feels that way about it. But more fundamen- | affected by the debacle in Europe and are doing nothing to defend ourselves against it's evil consequences to us, to say nothing of the more idealistic view which the Tribune affects to hold in scorn.
 The same catalog of Johnson's opinions with a different attitude to- wards them is shown by the inde- 1 pendent Springfield Republican: "Sen- ator Hiram Johnson's solemn speech of warning at Oakland, Cal, confirms recent reports that he was under pressure from his political friends to take advantage of the first opportr,-( nity to announce his presidential can- didacy. He saw nothing but the most dreadful political entanglements in European affairs in case Secretary Hughes plan of participation in an advisory conference of economic ex- perts on German separations were carried into effect. He even miscon- strued remarks by Lloyd George con- corning Germany's possible recalci- trancy after the advisory committees report as showing that the United States would be obliged to become a debt-collector for France and the al- lies. Lloyd George was the pacticular imp of darkness who has come here with the deliberate purpose to intrigue for Ap,arica,c antanUlarnent TS if mt high time for Hiram Johnson to step forward and save the country from the perilous adventures contemplated by Secretary Hughes and the presi- dent?" asks the Republican with biting irony. a
 Speaking of Johnson's demand for freedom from foreign entanglements and protest against Republican ultra