Evening star., 1934-01-26
DEMOCRATS ASKED
TO BACK JOHNSON
Representative McGrath's
Plea Comedies With Victory
Forecast by Farley.

Plea Comedies With Victory
| Forecast by Farley.
tContinued From First Page.)
enough about the California people tc
believe that they will, of course, re-
elect Senator Hiram johnson to the
Senate"
Help Recognized.
The national chairman said he was
not trying to dictate to the Democrats
of California what they should do, but
at the same time he made 1t entirely
| clear that the reelection of Senator
johnson would be happy event from
his point of view
What to do about Senator johnson
has been problem to some of the
| Democratic leaders. They realize the
great service which the California
Senator did for the Democratic presi-
dental ticket in 1882 when he came out
openly in support Of President Roose-
welt and against former President
Hoover. However, in some Democratic
quarters In California it has been sug-
gested that Senator johnson should be-
party and seek reelection to the Senate
as a Democrat; that such would be the
logical course to pursue to win the sup
port Of the Democratic party in the
State.
The pronouncement by Mr.. McGrath
today may serve to clear the at
| mosphere. There seems to be no doubt
about the feeling of the administration
toward Senator johnson, and that il
would be delighted to see him re-
elected. 1t has been privately reported
that Senator McAdoo, Democratic
Senator from California, will support
Senator johnson for reelection.
McGrath's Statement
| Mr.. McGrath's statement issued to-
day, follows:
Since returning to Washington
have received flood of letters and tele.
grams from leading Democrats, inde.
pendent Republicans and Progressive!
asking that should state my position
with regard. to the senatorial campaign
in California this Fall.
Il have given much thought to all o.
the elements involved and I have CONF
to but one conclusion. In the Seconc
half Of the first administration and II
the second administration of Presiden
Roosevelt We will need In the Senat,
men who will cooperate with and 10y
ally help to carry out the progreSSiv,
policies of President Roosevelt.
We have such man in Hiram w
Johnson.
mo man did more than Senator
| johnson to insure the election Of PreSi
lnv,t II.
political future, he effectively cam
paigned the entire country He was the
rallying point for Progressives and inde
pendents everywhere.
I'm this Congress he has stood in th'
forefront of the fighters under th'
leadership Of Roosevelt. His dynamic
personality is always on the right side
He is feared and respected by ever!
reactionary influence. He Is tru,
champion Of human rights.
His record as Governor and as Sena
tor is unsurpassed for effective service
to the people He has earned the un
dying gratitude of every Californian.
This Is no time to carp about part.
labels. The Democratic party will b,
honoring itself by Offering him th'
unopposed nomination for reelection
The election will be mere formality.
| q
all times and under all circumstances
I feel that I am correctly expressing thu
sentiments of vast majority Of tht
citizens of my congressional district"
Primary Big Hurdle.
With the backing of the johnson Re.
publicans. of the Progressive inde-
pendents and of the Democrats, Sen.
ator Johnson's reelection next Novem-
Der seems to be assured. The firs'
hurdle, however. is to get his name or
the ballot for the election. To do that
he must win In the primary the nomi-
nation Of the party with which he Is
affiliated. He may at the same tint
enter the primaries of other politica
parties and win their Endorsement. But
he must win the Endorsement ane
nomination of the party to which HI
formally gives allegiance.
Because of his refusal to back the
Republican ticket in California in 1873.
and because of other contests he ha!
had with the regular" Republicans o.
the State, Senator johnson may not bt
able to win the nomination In the Re-
publican primary, although that Is BY
no means certain. However. many O.
his friends are so doubtful about th'
matter they are urging him to run q!
the candidate Of the Progressive party
a nomination which he could easil!
obtain, and at the same time, he coule
also 70 into the Republican and Demo
cratic primaries and seek their In
dorsement. Such a course would as.
sure him a place on the ballot in ths
general election.
Progressive Place Assured.
II would not urge Senator johnson
to register as Democrat" said MI
McGrath today. Il have been Demo
crat ever since ] was 81 years Of age
and I would hesitate to register as
Republican myself even If I disagree'
with some of the things that the Demo
cratic party was doing. But I woul
like to see him register as q Progress
sive. He could get that party's nomi
nation for the Senate on gold platter
He is q progressive and 1t would b
entirely proper for him to register q
one"
The regular Republicans friends an
supporters of Mr.. Hoover, are expecte
to do their utmost to prevent the nom
ination and election of Senator johnson
this Fall. Mr.. McGrath was elected t
the House from the home congressiona
district of Mr.. Hoover in the Demo
cratic landslide of 1882.
A reorganization Of the Progressiv
party in California, with Senator John
son as its leader, might be of consid
cradle aid to some of the Democrat
members of Congress who come up 70
reelection, provided they could receiv
the Endorsement Of the Progressiv
! party as well as Of their own.
NEARBY KIWANIANS HOLD