Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1900-09-27
DR.. JOHN N O)llI IT S
THE FAMOUS KANDIYOHI POPULIsT
GETS ENOUGH OF FUSION,
LIND AND ROsING.

THE FAMOUS KANDIYOHI POPUIIST
GETS ENOUGH OF FUSION,
LIND AND ROsING.
.REDEEMs HIS 1896 PLEDGE
Says Mckinley Prosperity Suits Him
and Democratic Hypocrisy
E, Disgusts Him.
4 DR.. Christian Johnson Of Willmar,
who was one Of the brainiest and most
enthusiastic 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 experience as
a Populist, and while he considers,
these years wasted, in a political sense.
he values the experience as an eye
opener. He learned to his satisfaction
that Organism is a hollow delusion;
that Lind is a designing politician, who
obtained his election by false pre-
fences; that Rosing turns the machine
which grinds Democrats and Populists
into Democratic sausage, and that
Ringdahl and Bowler are SO per cent
Democrats but wear the garb of Popu-
lism in order to- round up the Populist
herd and drive them into Rosing's fold.
Dr.. johnson has practiced medicine
In Kandiyohi and adjoining counties
some sixteen years, and thus has an
extensive acquaintance with people and
conditions in that vicinity. In 1894 the
silver idea, as advocated by Bryan,
was waited through the air in the form
Of disease germs, and many of them
found Judgement in Kandiyohi county.
DR.. Johnson and few others thought
they saw relief from the panicky con-
ditions Of that time in the measures
championed by Bryan, and they found
ed the Peoples party of Kandiyohi,
The doctor is an aggressive courage
Gus, fiery fellow, and his first step was
to start Populist paper, the Tribune.
All who read that paper during his
supervision will never forget the sui
try effusions of its intrepid author.
The doctor-editor was nominated for
the legislature and he advocated the
election of Bryan, Lind and himself
in way that, was both original and
effective, he being defeated by only
twenty nine votes by Henry Feig. He
accepted defeat philosophically, and
with characteristic candor and hon
esty promised himself that If McKin-
ley's administration brought the pros
perity that his followers had predicted
he would acknowledge that Organism
was a nightmare and would join the
ranks of McKinley's supporters. That
promise to himself was redeemed so
far as the president was concerned.
He remained an active Populist, how
ever, and in 1893 not only supported
Lind with all the enthusiasm Of his
nature, but came within a few votes
of being nominated for congress by the
Populists, and then made another un-
successful race for the legislature.
\ His present position and his reasons
for assuming it are given in his own
words. i His logic Is commended to
every Populist: ".
Eyes, sir, guess I am Republican
this year, and am apt to be for some
time to come. I was originally Re
publican and worked and voted for
Harrison in 1892. But unfortunately
Cleveland was elected president, and
with him came the panic that struck JUS
all amidships soon after his Inaugural
ton. 5%s.j : -.s ;1
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, q burden of taxes
and expense. The well-to-do were
bankrupt and 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 lost their reason or had con-
spired to destroy civilization on this
con tinent. rt5- :@g. y.r35 III
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
scribed to the ultra radical tenets Of
LuS party, UuI we UcllcVSu fludL= lIl0
movement furnished the nucleus of
new political party that would in time
be able to satisfactorily solve the
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 stun
instead of officeseekers at
the helm-it would to-day have been
the second party in the nation and still
have had a mission to perform.
Now am no milk -and-water sort Of
a man. If the new party would succeed
work must be done, and was in It for
all was worth. a.S #sj
Tn Kandiyohi county we fought the
campaign of 1894 at q swinging gait.
We had no newspaper but led and
political friends stood by me, and the
Willmar Tribune was established. It
was a virile,l spirited Populist paper,
and was success from the start. l3s
THE campaign Of 1896, with Bryan at
the head Of the ticket, came on and I
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 condi tion, IN ividually ana
as nation, was all out of order. Our
financial structure, so to speak, was
the windows out, the shin
giles off, and we were atgthe mercy OF