The Savannah morning news., 1901-03-24
tom L. JOHNSoN'S BOOM.
HOPES TO WORK 1T UP BIG ENOUGH
TO MAKE HIM A CANDIDATE.

Laying Pipe for the Democratic
Nomination by the Next National
COnventiOn-EaOw OfHcinIs Mt WASH
ingtOn Are Guilty of Petty Pilfer-
ing From Uncle ,Sam-Addition. Di-
vision and silence Still the Rule.
Washington, March 2S,-No local cleo
ton of recent years has attracted so
Of national repute as that which is to
occur in the city OF Cleveland on the first
Monday in April Tom L. Johnson, single
taxer, street railway magnate, steel mill
owner and general exploiter Of the the
cries of the late Henry George, is the
Democratic candidate for Mayor. Speak
ing off-hand, a majority of the politicians
seem to be willing to obncede the cleo
ton of Mr.. johnson. Because of that
they are taking such a great interest in
what should ordinarily be considered
merely local contest. If Johnson wins,
it means that he viii be big factor in
the presidential contest in 1904 His
friends so understand it, and as they can
not figure out a defeat for him, they are
almost as well satisfied nav as if the Hon
Tom johnson were already the Demo-
cratic candidate for President. out In
Ohio the impressions seems to prevail
that Johnsons plan is to try for the
Senate in case he is elected Mayor, but
that is not the understanding here. john
son is not aiming for a halfway station.
Even at Kansas City last summer it was
well understood that johnson aspired to
lead the Democratic party in 1904, and,
therefore, the idea that he wants to bury
himself in the Senate is SECUTED by those
who have talked with him recently john
son gave Bryan as hearty support in 1895
and 1900 as he could, in view of the fact
that he didn't believe in any of the Bry-
an theories, so as not to ALLEVIATE that
wing of the party which is willing to
swear that the Nebraska statesman is a
demigod
johnson figures, so his friends declare,
that the latent opposition to Bryan
which was strongly indicated at Kansas
City will be in full blast at the conven-
ton in 1904, and that the delegates, hav-
ing tired of Organism, will gladly go to
the other extreme, which is Johnsonism
Therefore, if the paradoXical Johnson
succeeds in Cleveland, his friends will re-
gard the campaign for the presidential
nomination as being well under way.
johnson will not be a candidate for the
Senate for the simple reason that John
r. Mclean covets that office, and john
son, if Mclean will support his presi-
Dental aspirations, is perfectly willing to
make bargain with the Cincinnati
statesman which win rebound to the ben
eft of both He is also willing to make
a bargain with Col. James Kilbourne of
Columbus, whereby the latter may be
made the nominee of the party for the Of
flee of Governor Nobody believes, how
ever, that Johnson and Mclean will work
very hard for the election Of Kilbourne,
for such an event would oVershadow them
both. But they are perfectly willing that
the Columbus millionaire shall go into
the campaign against Gov. Nash this v',ll
and spend his money on the gubernatorial
fight while they lay plans to capture the
Legislature, so that Mclean may be
elected to succeed Foraker. In fact it
will probably be better for them if they
see to it that Kilbourne is defeated by
a good majority. Defeat for the Column
bus millionaire would serve to emphasize
the popularity" Of Johnson, who was
elected Mayor Of Cleveland, and of Nc
Lean. who has carried the Legislature.
OF course, this is a cold FLOODED plan
with regard to Kilbouripe but then the
Colonel is supposed to be old enough to
look out for himself.
The Frauking Privilege.
Some person employed in the postoffice
Of the House of Representatives has been
so unkind as 10 call attention 20 the lit
tie stealings done by the members of that