The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1935-01-04
TheCherry
|" Where with our
roo Little Hatchet
We tell the truth
about many things, sometimes pro-
foundly, sometimes Aippantly,
sometimes recklessly.

And 50 Donald Richberg and Gen.
Johnson are at it again. Richberg
tells the Saturday Evening Post he
will hold the Satevepost esponsible
for any libelous matter it may print
about him from the flashing pen of
the militant Johnson.
1t will be hoped by great many
persons-several more than would
have so hoped year ago--that John
son will say what is on his mind and
that the Satevepost will print it as
written.
This probably is not because there
are any more friends in Johnson's
corner, but that because there are
fewer in Richberg's corner.
There is none in Washington more
affable than Richberg, in his public
appearances. Also there is none more
skilled in the insertion of word that
extracts the meaning from it's prede-
cessor. That's part of the story.
Another part of the story is that
Donald Richberg seems to have gone
bit high hat, up-stage, or whatever
it may be called.
But at any rate, whatever may be
the reason, the circulation of the Post
probably will go up several copies
when the Johnson chapters make their
debut.
| If it be thought queer that two men
who seem to dislike each other cor
daily have warm friendship in the
White House, that must be put down
merely as one of the peculiarities of
present-day Washington.
Of course the difference is that there
is friendship for Richberg and he has
immense power There is friendship
for Johnson and he has little or no
power.
And that is quite a difference
when you come to think of it.
Johnson says that when all the
dead cats were coming his way he put
up no squawk, he didn't tell publishers
to beware what they printed about
him. He just let them sling all there
/ was in the basket. Which happens tc
be true.
| That isn't to say Johnson liked al
that was said or that he took it al
with a grin There are those who
say he kept fairly close track of what
the critics said and, while he let then
say it, he stored up the memories
Perhaps that was human enough.
But Johnson was, in the vernacu
lar, the better sport and plenty wht
didn't like his policies admired hi!
nerve.
The inner secret of the Johnson
Richberg row seems never to hav
come to light. Perhaps now we shall
know at least one side of it. 1t viii
be interesting, even if it isn't impor
tant.
: The whole thing would have muc
! more Importance if it were row be
: tween a clear-cut conservative and
clear-cut liberal, or progressive.
But it isn't. Neither one is clear
cut either way. Both had and hav
inclinations both ways.
: But of johnson it must be said tina
when he said something he said wit
directness. He didn't load his ser
tences with qualifying words whic
Ecould take the meaning out of wha
he seemed to say. If he meant to sa
: "Oh, hell!' he said ooh, hell!' Q
S words to that effect.
These things being as they are, tn
final wonder of it all is that if Ricf
berg really hoped to snare the ger
eral into his net he didn't keep sti
t until the general wrote reall
d scorching libel, then drag him int
9 court and sock him with good sti
! judgment.
Perhaps Gen. Johnson wonder
about that, too, and grins.