Evening star., 1901-04-02
TOM JOHNSON'S FUTURE
MAY BECOME DEMOCRATIC CANDI-
DATE FOR PRESIDENT.
Many Elements in the Party That
Would support Him-Carter. Har--
risOn's Prospects.

| The chief interest in the Ohio elections
| among politicians in Washington is in the
| exploits Of Tom L. Johnson, who has been
elected mayor of Cleveland. AS general
| result, the elections of the state are not
! regarded as significant of the future. Gains
| made by the democrats in one place were
| offset in another and it is regarded as
a drawn battle without anything about it
| that need be discouragng to the repub-
| licans of the state. The democrats express
much satisfaction at their success in Cleve-
land. Toledo and Columbus, the election Of
| Jones in Toledo being counted in the aggre-
| gate of their victories. but still they speak
| of the general result as "a dog-fall."
! His Unique Position.
| The interest attaching to the success of
Johnson is on account of its possible in
| fuence upon his future in the democratic
party. Johnson occupies unique, If not
paradoxical position in the democratic
party, and 1T is deemed not improbable
that If he should win further victories in
Ohio he would become formidable candi-
date before the next democratic national
convention. When he was in Congress he
was very active as a leader among the
free trade element in the party, and was
close to Mr.. Cleveland. 1t is understood
of that element of the party with which he
was associated, though he has succeeded
in winning that of the various elements
which are now most antagonistic to Cleve-
land and that group of democrats who
were at the head of party affairs at that
| time. He is the idol of the single takers
and free traders of the Henry George
school. is supposed to be particularly pop
ular with the common people" on account
of his advocacy of 3-cent car fares and
municipal ownership of public utilities, and
has the warm friendship of the Bryan peo-
pie on account of his support of the demo-
cratic candidate at the last election.
He has managed t) avoid antagonism
with either faction Of the party on ac-
count of the money question, and though
not recognized as silver man in the
sense that Bryan is. has maintained his
standing with that element of the party
through his attitude with reference to
capital and labor and other kindred ques-
tions.
Supported by Many Elements.
1t is said of him that more antagonistic
elements gather about him without active
hostility than any other man in politics,
and that he is ''an s.inds' Of a democrat.
Though millionaire capitalist. closely al
lied with money making enterprises and
capitalistic associations, he has managed
to maintain close intimacy with all the
elements which are conspicuously antag-
oniStic to corporation influences. His at
with TeIdllOn 10 Iue single IdA tnree-
cent car fares and municipal ownership
covers his capitalistic SINS His being
free trader associates him with the old
Cleveland element, and his very active
support of Bryan prevents his being ques-
toned too closely on the subject Of silver.
He Is smart and ambitious. 1t is sup
posed that his purpose will be to strive for
either the senatorship of Ohio to succeed
Foraker or the governorship, and IL he wins
either OF comes very close to winning, 1t is
expected that he will be candidate before
the democratic national convention in 1904.
The single takers and advocates of munich
pal ownership would be enthusiastically
for him: the Bryan people generally would
have no special objection to him, and he
would probably be acceptable as any
body who is associated with Bryan to the
eastern wing of the party.
Carter HarrfsOn's Prospects.
In connection with the development of
democratic candidates for 1904 the result
of the election of a mayor Of Chicago is
awaited with a great deal Of interest. 1t
Is believed by democrats that if Carter
Harrison should be reelected mayor by
anything like decided majority he would
be established in security at the head Of
the Illinois democracy and would become
formidable presidential candidate before
the convention of 1904 If Harrison wins,
his name and that of Johnson will be put
upon the list of democratic presidential
possibilities: and developments are antici
pated in New York which will add a new
name from that state to the list.