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Show 01 M J WASHINGTON, May 11. It was just a littlo joke by Boies Penrose, his suggestion of Philander Knox as Republican candidate for president j He did it to tease Hiram Johnson.' This Is why It is a joke: j Johnson and Knox. are. strancely enough, close personal friends. When Johnson came to the senate three years ago, he happened to draw a seat next to Knox. He had always heard of Knox as one of the "old guard" and a dangerous danger-ous reactionary, and he was prepared to dislike him. But while some of the other senators were rather nasty to the new member from California, Knox was friendly and decent. Johnson found that Philander had a sense of humor and some redeeming political beliefs and when It came' to the treaty they were on all fours as to Americanism. So in time Johnson and Knox settled set-tled down to being good chums. Mrs. Knox gae a tea for Mrs. Johnson John-son and the bond of amity was sealed. Knox has been tipping Johnson on all the "Inside stuff" from the reactionary reaction-ary camp, while Johnson has been keeping Knox's progressive eye open. And that is how it happened that when Penr'ose say Johnson coming down the political pike in an 8-cylin-der,80-horsepower burst of primary popularity, headed straight for the garage, ga-rage, he quickly stfoved Philander into the right of way and yelled, "Halt!" |