The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-04
BY LOWELL MELLLETT

BY LOWELL MELLLETT
HICAGO, Feb. 4.-"Everybody
IL has been heard from, except
S the voter"
That Is the official utterance Of
Hiram Johnson's campaign headquar-
ters. The politicians in the party
have presented the nomination to
President Coolidge, but they haven't
presented him with the votes to make
1t good and Johnson proposes to dis
primaries, whether the people or the
politicians cast the votes.
There, in a nutshell, is the Johnson
attitude and 1t viii be put to its first
tests March IS In North Dakota and
March 20 in South Dakota.
OF the two States, South Dakota
presents the most interesting stu
alton. 1t Is interesting to the point
of being weird. because of the pecu-
liar election laws Of the State and
the peculiar party politics being
played
Convention Endorsed Coolidge
Dec. there was held State pro-
posal convention, with delegates elect
ed from all counties. This convention
adopted a platform. named candidates
for delegatee to the national conven-
ton and Endorsed Coolidge for Presi-
dent.
Credit is given United States Indian
Commissioner Burke for bringing about
the Coolidge Endorsement. for there
was no other suggestion Of Coolidge
sentiment in the proceedings. The
platform came close to being a John
son platform-soldlers bonus, isola-
ton and condemnation of the Esch-
Cummins act.
The men named as candidates for
delegates are Governor McMasters,
Senator Norbeck and congressman
Christofferson and Royal Johnson.
These are all Hiram Johnson men. al
though all except the last named sup
ported Leonard Wood four years ago.
The convention also endorsed the
two Congressman for denomination
and endorsed McMasters instead OF
Senator Sterling for the latter's Job.
Sterling IS a Coolidge man.
This proceeding. under the State
law, made Coolidge the majority
candidate, so listed on the primary bal
lot, along with the delegates who are
opposed to him. The next place on
tho ballot goes to a minority" ticket.
This was expected to fall 20 Johnson.
but one Howard Fuller. a candidate for
Congress, filed a minority platform
with a list OF candidates for delegates
and with Senator Sterling for United
States Senator. The Johnson man
ayers carried the matter up TO the
Secretary Of State, but Fuller's right
to the minority" place on the ballot
was upheld
II then became necessary to file
Johnson's name as an independent"
candidate and this was done with Nor
beck and the rest as candidates for
delegates.
The law gives the Independent can
didate first place on the ballot. the
minority candidate second place and
the majority candidate last. First
place is the best place. Johnson's
name is the first the voter will sec.
Situation Favors Johnson
II you understand all this you are
Iaetty good. II the South Dakota
voters get through primary day and
retain their reason. they VIII be even
better. But the situation, seems to
favor Hiram Johnson. He plans TO
campaign the State and will have
McMasters, Norbeck, Royal Johnson
and Christoferson doing the same.
The quartet named are powerful and
should be able to win a majority Tor
Hiram, despite the mystic maze that
must be traced by the voters penci.t
TO bring this about.