The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-09-04
JOHNSON IDOL Of
THE CONVENTION
May be a Candidate for the
Presidency,
ALL NOW GOING HIS WAY
The Ohio Platform Agreed to as
Shaped by Him.
THE CONVENTION WILL ADOPT IT TODAY
}fferson Davis is Again Chosen Governor of
Arkansas. The Republican Vote Shows
Big Shrinkage. Election Re-
turns from Vermont.
(By the Associated Press.)


Sandusky, Ohio, Sept. mayor Tom
l.. johnson, of Cleveland, won decisive
victory today in the preliminary meet
ings of the Democratic State Convention
which meets here tomorrow. Ever since
he was selected as chairman of the con-
vention by the State Central Committee
it has been the general opinion this oc-
casion would be made the initial public
opening of his candidacy for the next
Democratic inclination for the Presi-
dency In that respect his success has
been phenomenal. No Ohio candidate
for the Presidency ever had more unan-
unity of sentiment in his favor among
the delegates at a State convention than
was shown at the meetings tonight by
Congressional districts for the selection
of officers and members of the various
committees
committees of the convention, the COM
mittees on Credentials, Permanent Or
ganization and Rules and Order of bust
ness were almost unanimously with him
Tor anything he wants. One of them
gave him the double honor at once of
agreeing on a report to make permanent
the temporary organization of the con-
yeytion.
The Johnson men were opposed only in
the selection of the Committee on Reso-
lutfons and members of the Committee
on Resolutions and members of the new
State Central Committee and in some
districts these contests were closer and
more bitter than expected. The Johnson
men secured "a of the fl State committee
men with three contested opponents
pending and a greater proportion of these
on the Committee on Resolutions.
The Johnson men, during the day made
mo concessions, and in some cases gave
no quarter" to their opponents. This
caused the minorities on the two COM
mittees named at first to fight but the
hghtlng was soon over. When the roll
OF the Committee on Resolutions was
called the members from the first, third
and eleventh districts opposed the en-
dorsement of Bryan and the Kansas City
platform, and other Johnson planks, but
the Johnson platform finally carried
without changes and will be so reported
10 the convention tomorrow and adopted
without any minority report or other
obstruction as had been threatened
earlier in the evening. 1t has been Gus
tomary always, first to appoint a sub
committee of three or five to draft a plat
form and report the same to the full
committee, but that was found not
necessary tonight, as Mayor Johnson
handed the full committee his draft"
and the full committee soon completed
its work.
The platform as it came from Mayor
johnson was agreed to tonight by a vote
of 10 to of the committee on resolutions.
but it will not be given out for publica-
ton until it is adopted tomorrow by
the convention. The resolutions are
fully in accordance with the views of
Mayor johnson on both national and
state issues They favor a new NUM-
cipal code for Ohio cities with home
rule as cardinal principle, and the
Federal plan as secondary and denounce
what is called municipal government
by boards They also denounce the
proposition of perpetual franchises and
favor such charters subject to popular
vote.
In national affairs the last national
platform and standard bearer was
strongly endorsed and what is con-
sidered as a special thrust at Joe r.
Mclean is Incorporated in resolution
for the election of United States Sena-
tors by direct vote of the people, and
until constitutional amendment for
the election of Senator can be secured
it shall be the policy of the Democratic
ventions the candidate of the party to
be voted for at the next legislative
election of Senator.