The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-11-06
JohnsonHat
Into Ring
This Week
Senator Is Seen as Foe of Gov
-ernor Pinchot for G.. O. P.
Choice for
President.
Both to Seek Midwest
BY MARK SULLIVAN.

to presidential politics came in the
shane of statement from one of
Senator Hiram Johnson's hackers that
the Californi senator will have his hat
formally in the ring in opposition to
G3olidge before the week ends. That
event may happen on schedule time,
or it may be deferred. Most Of us
believe johnson is being gradually
and increasingly worked up to the
point where he will cast the die. \
At the same time we are aware
that johnson himself has not yet
made as much progress toward final
decision as have some OF his political
managers, past, present, future, and
would-be A good deal of the public
ity emating from these ambitious
Warwicks is designed as much for its
effect on Johnson himself as on the
political reporters and the public gem
orally.
Johnson has the type Of mind that
is less in the keeping of his managers
IMAM SO1Ilt past pi toi1CiAAo' dof'iA 80 -
IF. and when he gets around TO the
mood where his temperament gives
him peace no longer he will announce
himself. The common belief is he
will do it sooner or later.
Plank OH Reparatie'ns.
~ Unquestionably. the nature Of each
days developments about our rela'
fions to Europe tends no give johnson
The opening his hackers have longed
sfor. Ever since Coolidge entered the
;'vvlhitn House, Johnson's hackers
SYRUP ssgonizing because Hard
never spoi took away, for the time
81 ~ international court issue, and be-
cause Coolidge's silence was apparent
Iv going to make it necessary for
johnson to wait until Coolidge's adj
dress to congress Decembers3 before
he could find an occasion on whlch
a difference OF opinion
and an issue with Coolidge.
December is just a little bit late
for starting a presidential boom uh
der the most advantageous circum
stances; and the recent discussion
about America being represented on
renarations committee of experts has
come as gift from the gods to John
CONS hackers. most of whom are
either sincere isolationistA by their
own convictions, or have come 10 DC
isolationists through their identity
with Johnson and with the isolaIion
as the Johnson issue.
The particular Johnson backer wno
announced Johnsons immediate I'M
pending entry was Ralph Il. Strass'
berger Of Pennsylvania. He gave Out
a rather long statement OF when
norton seemed designed to make the
point that it was he and not Albert
Iasker. recently chairman of the ship
ming board, who contributed most 10
the johnson campaign in lszo. rms
is quite true; but those who are
more interested in the future than
in the past can take 1t for certain that
1f Johnson runs again, Lasker is the
man who will provide most OF the
energy and resources.
Pennsylvania Divided.
Another portion of Mr.. Strassburg
er's statement seemed to intimate
that johnson could be and would be
a powerful contender against Pinchoi
for the delegates from Pennsylvania
There isn't much in that. The Penn
sylvana fight is between Pinchot on
one side and on the other side those
= Pennsylvania leaders including Sen
v-r Pepper, Senator Reed and Secre-
tary Mellon who will fight for an un'
instructed delegation. but presumably
in the interest of Coolidge.
In a Pennsylvania fight between
Pinchot and Coolidge, Johnson would
not have a look in, and presumably
would not waste his time In trying
This Pennsylvania fight is the most
important development so far in re
publican presidential politics, and the
Pinchot candidacy has gone farther
than even the national politicians
have realized. Pinchot is to address a
national farm organization in Pitts
burgh during the next few days and
a little later will address another farm
meeting in Omaha.
The Pinchot movement Is based on
prohibition and law enforcement. In
cidentally when Pinchot and johnson
contend for the middlewest republican
vote, 1t Will be interesting to see
which OF the two is able to estab
lish himself az the true heir OF Roose
welt and get the old Roosevelt follow
ing. A few months ago political lead
ers, both republican and democratic
expected that the economic discon
tent among western farmers would
express itself IN political action de
manding that America help stabilize
Europe. and thus improve the Amer
ican farmers market.
For the moment that Is less talked
about in Washington at least. Demo
cratic leaders, however. are complete
ly confident that this issue win re
turn; and one OF the foremost con
tenders for the democratic presiden
tial nomination expects to base his
! I2ae. Of success on the appeal that
lne American farmer can only be
made prosperous by affirmative ae
tion on the part Of the American gov
ernment toward the restoration ol
Europe