The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-08-24
Tom JOhnsOnMay take
Nomination for
Governor
Will Make a Strong Effort
TO Fleet a Democratic
legislature TO Down
Hanna

Columbus, o., Aug. 24.-The first In.
stallment of delegates to the Demo
cratic state convention tomorrow put
in an appearance today, and this even.
ing as the trains arrive from all over
he state, the inpour will be heavy.
Delegates on the ground, and, in fact,
all students of Ohio politics agree
that the convention will be one Of the
most important that the Democratic
party in the Buckeye state has held
in recent years Governor. State Of.
ficers, legislature and a seat in the
United States senate are at stake in
the battle this fall. and theDemocrats
Intend TO make try for victory.
For several weeks the political
world has watched with intense inter.
est the selection OF delegates to to.
morrow's convention, but the result
was not decisive and the battle will be
carried to the convention floor. And
II will be a fight that viii have results
of vital importance not only TO the fu.
ture Of the party in Ohio, but in the
country at large.
Two factions are contending for the
control Of the convention, the nomina.
ton OF candidates and declaration Of
principles. Tom L. Johnson OF
Cleveland, friend OF Bryan's, advocate
OF single tax, of free-trade. OF free sill.
yer. Of anti-imperiallsm as a para.
mount Issue, sworn to raise the taxes
on corporate property, believer OF gov.
ernment ownership OF telegraph lines,
etc, is at the head OF one faction.
He has announced his willingness 70
accept the nomination for governor
II his name at the head OF the ticket
would conduce 20 the success Of the
party. though he says he does not
seek the Office.
With Mr.. Johnson In the heht is
former Congressman John ]. Lentz,
who is credited with burning ambi.
tion TO succeed Mr.. Hanna in the sen.
ate. Back Of this faction is William ].
Bryan. who recently spent a few days
in Ohio to stir the boys up and con.
serve the interests OF the Kansas City
platform.
Opposed to this faction are the con.
servative Democrats, whose choice
for Governor is John L. Zimmerman
Of Springfield. This faction has the
active support of Harmon OF Clncin.
natl, young Thurman OF Columbus and
lanes Kilbourne and the old stand.
lrd Democrats throughout the state,
some of whom have strayed into the
Republican party on national Issues.
,ut are willing to fall into line on an
state ticket II is claimed |
hat on the main state Issues Mr.. John.
ion and Mr. Zimmerman are not far
part, but that the insistence OF
Johnson upon announcement in favor
# the Kansas City platform and his
adherence 10 Organism in all forms
rings about the division.
According to the gossip OF persons
gho are usually well informed Mr..
ohnson, as has been said, enter
aims no great ambition TO become
overnor but. in fact, would prefer 20
ee Mr.. Zimmerman elected to that
ffice. provided he could dictate the
latform and manage the campaign
ghat he is anxious about is the elec.
on OF a Democratic legislature and
he consequent selection of a Demo
ratio senator Whether a satisfactory
cal having these ends in view can
p patched up remains to be seen.
any event the convention win be
he Of the greatest Importance TO the
party.
The convention will be called 10
der at $3.50 o'clock tomorrow morn.
& in the Columbus auditorium. with
lylord NJ. salzgaber OF Van Vert as
mporary chairman. The attend
zee of both delegates and visitors
omises 10 be unusually large. u
I