The The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1920. REPUBLICAN DIFFICULTIES.

Southland Times, Issue 18850, 16 June 1920, Page 4

The The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 1920. REPUBLICAN DIFFICULTIES.

As we suggested yesterday the possibility of a split in the ranks of the Republican Party must not, be dismissed. Mr Hiram Johnson, who may be regarded as one of the leaders of the Progressive wing of the organisation seems, if the cabled news is to be relied on. to be bent, upon following ; n the steps that led Theodore Roosevelt and President Tuft to defeat and the Democrat' to vietory in 1012. When Roosevelt-broke away with his Hull Moose party as a protest, against the nomination of W. 11. Taft in 11)12, Mr Johnson was one of his most vigorous .supporters and actually appeared in the Progressive Party's nomination as the candidate for the Vice-Presi-dency. Four years later, when the two sections of the old party had drawn closer together, Mr Johnson continued as the implacable foe of the Conservative wing of the Republicans and it was due to his opposition to the Republican candidate, Mr Hughes, that California, the vital state in the contest, went to the Democrats and President Wilson. The voting shows that Mr Jr-hnson secured his return to Congress by tin enormous majority, but (ha.t in the Presidential contest the State's voting was in the opposite direction. Mr Johnson’s personal following in California is powerful. and he could have placed Mr Hughes in V. lute House if he had wanted to. This sear the Californian has made a strenuous effort to secure the party's nomination. His attacks upon the two chief candidates opposing him were extremely bitter and there ran be little doubt that his defeat, in th 3 convention came as a hard blow. Mr Johnson, if he breaks away, may take with him the support of Mr Ilearst and Mr tie Valera, hut he will not get the votes of the American labour organisation because of his bitter opposition to the League of Nations and to the Labour covenant, and he will

not attract many other Democrat voters to Ids banner. Tie will on the other hand mb the official Republican candidate of many votes, but. it is difficult to estimate what weight of opinion he will have behind him. ll must, be remembered that though he is now much better known than he was in 1012 or I'llfl, lie is not- a Roosevelt, and that he cannot hope to succeed where that great American failed. A split in the Republican ranks will hearten the Democrat forces considerably. hut the Democrats’ (roubles will be commencing shortly. They have before them the prospect of a bitter struggle between the supporters of the president and the section under the control of William Jennings Bryan. The Democrat candidates' in the field are widely spread and varied, and attention so far does not seem to have centred on any one more than another. There may he a demand from some sections for Mr Hoover, hut in the fart of that gentleman's failure at Chicago, the Democratic party is hardly likely to take him up. except as an extreme measure. Tt is impossible to detect where the weight of popular favour lies, but everybody in the United States seems to he looking forward to a strenuous battle in the party convention.