Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-01-13
HOW DID JOHNSON GET HIS
STRENGTH?


The fact that Congressman johnson
has thirty-one republican votes in thu
caucus of the republicans-more thar
any other candidate, although consider
bly, less than a majority, is taken by the
frenzied fetch worshipers who are foot
ing the congressman's greatness to NEAR
that he is the logical candidate for the
senate-that this possession of more
votes than any one else means that the
people want him more than any one else
and that he is the great central figure
about which the republican party of the
state is permitted to revolve. In con.
sidering this matter, it is we'll to look
into Johnson's tactics in this campaign
for the senate. These votes did moi
come and present themselves to him in
the spontaneous and unanimous manner
the congressman's bellows-workers would
have us believe. johnson made a sys.
tcmatic campaign through the state at
the time county conventions were held
to secure them. His position as con
gresham at large from the state lent a
color of r~easonableness to his appearance
IN various legislative districts. No other
candidate for the senate would have pre-
sumed to go into districts outside his
own seeking for votes. But johnson
went everywhere through the state and
pulled every string at his command to
secure endorsements. He worked the
issue of nationality for all it was worth.
He had his Norwegian friends
nominated wherever possible. He
gave his c%ountrymen to understand that
they must be for him because he wa a
Norwegian, primarily. He threatened
independent nominations where he was
unable to control. He had his own self
prepared resolutions introduced and
forced them through wherever he was
able. He was the author of all the spon-
taneity there wa in his campaign. He
used the issne.of fir nationality as it has been
used by no other person or element in
the politics of the state. There has been
no disposition at any time by the repub-
licans of the state to inject the nationality
issue.
But Mr.. johnson has used it at every
turn. The republican party of the state
has extended to the..Norwegians every ad-
vantage, every honor and benefit of office
and representation in the spirit of true
Americanism. johnson has used the ma
tionality issue as a club to force his W
advancement. He assumes at present
that every Norwegian in the legislature
should be for him, and the two that are
not are sought to be coerced-American
citizens who are assumed to have no
right Of choice in a field of candidates
against n candidate who is a Norweg-
ian. If this is not the forcing of the is
she of nationality on the part of John
son, what is it?
Further light on the tactics of John
son in this respect is thrown on the stu
alton by a review of affairs by one of the
leading Scandinavians of the state, who
gives SOM history which is of interest
at this time. He says:
The Argus and other johnson papers
are complaining that the nationality cry
is raised against him. We have failed
yet to see any objection raised to NJ. N.
johnson as a senatorial candidate be-
cause he is of Scandinavian origin but
have seen and heard complaints that he
IS being supported by a certain class of
our citizens solely on this ground. If
it is true that the consideration of nation
atty is being introduced into this fight
by his supporters it is not only proper
but becomes a duty for every citizen of
the state of North Dakota who considers
this new issue improper, revolutionary
and dangerous to stand together and
rebuke it in such a way that it will
never show it's head in our politics in
the future. ] said if it is true that this
consideration of nationality is a factor in
this fight. Now let US look at the facts.
vi all the representatives and senators in
the auc with Scandinavian N
every one but two are for johnson.
These two have been pounded and
threatened by their countrymen since
their stand became known with the dire
calamity of losing caste with their coun-
trymen at home. If nationality is not
the sole consideration in determining
this stand how does it happen that no
matter from what part of the state these
names come-no matter what their
political affiliations otherwise-the re-
suit is invariably the same. OF the
other votes in the caucus voting for
johnson a large majority are pounded
and driven into supporting him by
Scandinavian constituents at home.
Every candidate for legislative honors in
the last campaign was met with the
same proposition,where he encountered
Scandinavian voters. "Pledgc to vote
for M. N. johnson for U. S. senator OF
we will vote the fusion ticket" and
have failed to find a candidate who was
driven to make such pledge where the
constituency was not Scandinavian. Is
this also then only an accident or does
it prove my proposition that M. N. John.
son is travelling on the nationality issue!
Six years ago when a republican caucus
had elected Lyman r. Casey their can.
didate for U. S. senator, several members
l ~ ILL., -. .