The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1900-10-03
Dr.. JOIN SON OUTS
EHE FAMOUS KANDlYOua POPUId11
GETS ENOUGH or FUsiOM,
LIND AND ROsaNG.
REDEExs HIS 1896 PLEDGE
Says HcKinlsy Prosperity suits Kim
and Democratic Hvpoerisy
Disgusts Rln.

who was one Of the brainiest and most
enthusiasttc supporters OF Bryan in the
Seventh district four years ago. has
seen the error of his ways and returned
to his first love. the Republican party
He had about six years sGDertencs a.
. Populist, and while he considers
these years wastsd. In political sense
he values the experience - m eye
opener. He learned to his sattsfaction
that Organism 10 hoalow delusion
that Lind II q designing politician. who
obtained his election ~ false pre-
fences: that Rosing turns the nachine
which grinds Democrats ana PoUulista
into Democratic sausage. and that
Rlngdahl and Bowler are % per cent
Democrats but wear the ga1b oe Popu-
lism In order to round up the Populist
herd and drive them into Roslng's fold.
DR.. Johnson has p1actlced medicine
In Kandiyohi and adjoinaog counties
some sixteen years. and thus has an
extensive acquaintance with people and
conditions in that vicinity. In 1894 the
silver idea, as advocated bv Bryan,
was waited through the air In the form
of disease germs and many of them
found Judgement in Kand1yoeh county.
DIR. johnson and q few others thought
they saw relief from the panicaky con-
ditions Of that time In the measures
championed by Bryan. and they found
ed the Peoples party Of Kandtyohi.
The doctor is an aggressive. courage
Gus, fiery fellow. and his drst step was
to start Populist paper. the Tribune
All who read that paper during his
supervision will never forget the sui
try illusions Of Its intrepid author.
The doctor-editor was nominated for
the legislature and he advocated the
election Of Bryan, Lind and himself
In a way that was both original and
effective. he being defeated By only
twenty nine votes by Henry Tetg. He
accepted defeat philosophtcaliy. and
with characteristic candor and hon
esty promised himself that u McKin-
ley's administration brought the pros
perity that his followers had predicted
he would acknowledge that Organism
was nightmare and would join the
ranks OF McKinley's supporters. That
promise to himself was redeemed 30
far as the president was Concerned.
He remained an active Sopulist. how
ever, and in 1898 not only supported
0A4hA4oe0Gtt1
nature, but came within q few votes
Populists. and then made another un-
successful race for the Legislature.
His present position and his reasons
for assuming 1t are given in his own
words His logic Is commeaded to
every Populist:
Yes. STR, guess ! am q Republican
nd q NJ 70 ~
time to come was originally a Re-
publican and worked and voted for
Harrison In 1861. But unfortunately
Cleveland was elected president. and
with him came the panic that struck US
all amidships soon after his inaugura-
ton.
AT first the ordinary people were
dazed and dumhfounded by the panic,
but by and by we found out that we
were beggared. that lands, houses and
goods, beyond what was needed for
immediate personal use, were utterly
worthless. or worse, burden Of taxes
and expense. The well-to-do were
bankrupt ana the poor trampled and
starved. The promised relief from the
repeal Of the Sherman law did not ma
terialize. and a good many Of US con-
cluded that both political parties had
either last their reason or had con-
spired to destroy civilization on this
ointment.
with this condition OF public senti-
ment Populism hove into view and
opened the only plausible avenue Of re-
lief. Thousands and thousands OF the
common people Joined it's ranks. and I
with them. Not that and others sub
scribed to the ultra radical tenets OF
the party but we believed that the
movement furnished the nucleus Of a
new political party that would in time
be able to satisfactorily solve tho
mighty social questions that then con-
fronted the nation. And let me say
right here that IL the Peoples party
had had leaders made Of the right stuff
statesmen instead Of oflceseekers at
the helm-it would to-day have been
the second party in the nation and still
have had a mission to perform.
Nov am no milk-and water sort of
a man. II the new party would succeed
work must be done. and was In it for
all was worth.
Tn Kandiyohi county we fought the
campaign of 1894 at swinging gait
We had no newspaper, but I led. and
political friends stood by me. and the
Willmar Tribune IVES established. It
was virile, spirited Populist paper
and was a success from the start.
The campaign Of 1896. with Bryan at
the head Of the ticket, came on and !
fought 1t with all the power at my COM
mand. The issue in 1896 was the res
toration OF prosperity. At that time
our financial condition. individually and
as a nation, was all out of order. Our
financial structure. SO to speak. was
dilapidated. the windows out. the shin
giles of. and we were at the mercy of
every squat or gust OF wind let loose
from the gambling money centers of
the world. Two remedies were pro-
posed:
"First-Tear out the old dilapidated
money system, root and branch. and
establish an entirely new structure on
q new plan-the free coinage OF both
money metals at ratio of Is to /.
Second-Restore the Republican party
to power and let It try to fix up the OH!
shack. as its leaders claimed they
could.
1.-THE majority Of voters decided ir
favor Of the latter. and I said in ar
editorial In the Willmar Tribune just