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. . .I have noted frequently, statements regarding an incident occurring in California in 1916, in which it was claimed that through some failure of Governor Hiram W. Johnson and Charles Evans Hughes to get together, Candidate Hughes lost California and the election, in November 1916. Each statement that you have made regarding this incident has been different and each one that I have read has been incorrect. It happens that I am quite familiar with the facts concerning the relations of these two men. . . .
In your issue of Oct. 29 at page 9, the following statement appears: "Of pique in politics the historic example is Senator Hiram Johnson's rage at Charles Evans Hughes in 1916 for not handshaking "him in San Francisco. The 1916 election was so close that Mr. Hughes has always been said to have lost it by that one handshake."
This is the first time I have ever heard it stated that there was any failure on the part of Hughes to handshake Johnson or that such an incident ever occurred or was given the slightest consideration at any time.
The facts are that when Mr. Hughes came into California, Governor Hiram W. Johnson was then Governor of the state and the republican candidate for U. S. Senator. He had previously issued a political statement urging the election of Mr. Hughes and the giving of support to him by progressives of California. Unfortunately, Mr. Hughes permitted himself to be entirely surrounded upon his arrival in California, by political enemies of Governor Johnson, who would not permit Mr. Hughes to meet Governor Johnson, and who did not and would not invite him to preside or speak at any of the big meetings held by Mr. Hughes in California. These politicians used Mr. Hughes in an effort to belittle Governor Johnson and to make it appear that Governor Johnson was not recognized as a republican. In other words, in an attempt to defeat Johnson, these scheming men defeated the misguided Mr. Hughes. . . .
In spite of this unfortunate state of affairs, Governor Johnson continued to speak throughout the state in favor of the candidacy of Mr. Hughes and to ardently and vigorously urge his election. Governor Johnson's speeches were widely quoted by the Republican press and were used in every way to further Mr. Hughes' election. . . . However, the progressive element in the State of California, which was then in the majority, rightly or wrongly became convinced that Mr. Hughes intended to align himself with the reactionary element of the party and to ignore progressive men and principles in his administration, if he were elected. . . . Consequently, in their anger, they voted for President Wilson, even against the urgings of Governor Johnson.
. . .The rage over the result on the part of the reactionary element of the party in California knew no bounds. They realized that in their efforts to defeat Governor Johnson for the senatorship, and to use Mr. Hughes against him, they had only defeated Mr. Hughes, for Governor Johnson was elected U. S. Senator by a large majority, while Hughes failed to carry the state. . . .
EDGAR A. LUCE
San Diego, Calif.