The real Hiram Johnson

By:Allan H. Clark - Commentary | Monday, September 29, 2003 10:55 PM PDT ∞

The governor who gave California the recall, initiative and referendum is being recalled more often these days. Hiram Johnson's reforms rescued the state from the tentacles of the Southern Pacific Railroad, which effectively owned California's government from 1880 to 1910. Arnold Schwarzenegger made a pilgrimage to the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento this month to compare himself to Johnson.

Before Johnson came to power, Southern Pacific owned the state Senate, Supreme Court, the Republican and Democratic parties and most state offices. Organized in 1865 by Crocker, Hopkins, Huntington and Stanford ---- four very rich and powerful men ---- by the end of the 19th century Southern Pacific could do as it pleased in California to maintain the profits of its monopoly.

The railroad machine chose Republican candidates for governor. The public dutifully elected them. Democratic Gov. James Budd (1895-1899)Ýattempted to curtail the power of Southern Pacific, but was blocked by a Republican Legislature. The railroad saw to it that Budd did not get re-elected. His replacement was a machine candidate, Henry Gage. California did not have a Democratic governor again for 40 years.

California's only hope was a reform-minded Republican. It found one in Johnson, a successful San Francisco lawyer. In his six years as governor, he reformed government and restored democratic processes by giving voters the right to recall state officers and place initiatives on the ballot.

Hiram's father, Grove Johnson, was a railroad spokesman in the California Senate, and his son's anti-railroad politics soured their relationship. In 1912, Hiram Johnson helped form the Progressive or Bull Moose Party and became Teddy Roosevelt's running mate. In 1916 he opposed Republican Party nominee Charles Evans Hughes and helped elect Woodrow Wilson. When he entered the U.S. Senate in 1917, he opposed everything President Wilson did. He even voted against entering World War I. In 1920 Johnson refused to run as vice president because he opposed Warren Harding. In 1932 he opposed Herbert Hoover and favored Roosevelt, but when Roosevelt was elected he opposed all his policies. After Pearl Harbor, he reluctantly supported World War II, but in 1945 he opposed creation of the United Nations.

Johnson died in 1945, leaving behind a lifelong record of bitter opposition to men and policies. His opposition was always personal. It was never just difference of opinion with Johnson: He was right and the others were evil.

Johnson once said he only trusted three men in the world, but he trusted the people to use their new political powers judiciously. He was right up to now. Despite many attempts, in 92 years only four state officers have been recalled ---- all for corruption.

Recall was never intended for voter remorse. It's a safety valve in case of corruption. Today a governor, re-elected less than a year ago, and not charged with corruption, is forced to defend himself at great cost to taxpayers, against 135 opponents, any one of whom could be put in office with less support than Gray Davis.

Nearly a century ago Hiram Johnson put California back on the right track, but with this absurd recall election, we've come to the end of the line.

Arnold is no Hiram Johnson.

Allan H. Clark of Carlsbad is a former university administrator.