New-York tribune., 1903-07-27
SOMETHING DOING IN OHIO.

! We learn from vigilant and discerning news
gatherer in Cleveland that there is trouble
brewing this wear in Ohio politics. Such an
announcement would not ordinarily quicken our
curiosity to fever heat For Ohio is a State
where politicians are usually hunting trouble,
if trouble is not hunting them. But this year,
if our informant is not mistaken all records of
tumult and turmoil are to be broken. For the
Hon. Tom L. Johnson is again bulging with
political ambitions and political projects, and
his office in Cleveland is already becoming a
centre of underground political activities, which
are to shake the soil of the most distant county
in the State.
According to press reports Mayor Johnson
held an afternoon and evening conference last
thursday with "a dozen or fifteen of the lead
ing Democrats of Ohio" Who these statesmen
Of light and influence were we are left to guess,
except in one instance, Most of the Mayors
trusted councillors took the precaution mot to
register at the hotels" The single visitor who
braved publicity was the Hon. John J. Lentz,
the inextinguishabIe champion of the Aguinal-
dan republic, whom the voters of a Democratic
district in Ohio ingOriously retired three years
ago from the lower house of Congress. But one
and all the leaders called to Cleveland "repre-
sented close legislative districts in various parts
Of the State" and one and all they were put
in possession of Mayor Johnson's grandose and
glittering programme
Mr. Johnson's wants are few and plain, and
his method of satisfying them is frankly Ma
soleonic. Be ready 10 take whatever there is
in sight is his cherished watchword. If his
friends give him complete control in the next
State convention he may or may not heed a
demand from the party that he accept nomi-
nation for the Governorship. He will in any
olIo hi ri
an ideal candidate for the United States Senate,
should the Democrats win their fight for the
legislature against Mr.. Hanna. And, finally,
lie will not be averse to entering the next Demo
cratic National Convention as OhOS favorite
son and one of the inheritors in that conven-
ton Of William ]. Bryans prestige and int1u-
ence.
Mayor Johnson does not ask any more than
he deserves, perhaps, from the Democratic or
SanizatiOn in Ohio. But that he will get all he
asks is not so certain. For instance, here is the
Hon James a. Norton, until last March the
Representative in Congress of a strongly Demo
cratic Ohio district, already enlisted in the eff
fort 10 make Senator Arthur p German, of
Maryland, the partys next Presidential nOmi-
nee. Doctor Norton has more than once attrib-
uted his defeat last fall TO the i'll effects of Mr.
J0hnson's famous automobile and circus tent in
cursions into the XITIth District. Now he has
cast his fortunes openly with the German
movement, and has only this sneer for Mayor
Johnson and the Johnson programme:
Yes we have Tom johnson, with all of his gilt
tering nonsense l shall not be surprised if he IS
nominated for Governor and If his friends get hold
Of the State convention I expect them TO secure
an Endorsement of him for United States Senator
/ also think that he is likely to be candidate for
the Presidential nomination.
Mr.. Johnson's ambitions may prove too COM
prehensiye and too vaultipg. But he has yet to
learn what Encouragement means; and it will
not be his fault if Ohio is not turned once more
this fall into an arena Of dust and smoke, of
uprOar and eruption.