Evening star., 1903-07-23
THE OHIO DEMOCRATS
Having Trouble Over Candi-
date and Platform.
TWO FACTIONS AT WAR
ONE HEADED BY TOM L. JOHNSON
OF CLEVELAND.
The Other by John L. Zimmerman-
VIM. Jennings Bryan Behind the
Former, Aided by MI. Lentz.

Interesting political information comes
from Ohio where the democrats are having
a warm time deciding upon guhernatorlai
candidate and a platform with which to op-
pose the republicans. Governor. state or
GERS. legislature and a seat In the Ihlteo
States Senate will be at stake in the pat
tie next November. and the democrats ih-
tend to make try for victory.
Two factions are contending now for
control of the coming state convention, the
nomiua ton of candidates and declaration OK
principles. Mr.. Tom L. Johnson of tleve-
land friend OF Bryans. advocate OF slnste
tax of free trade. of free silver, OF anti
Imperialism paramount issue, sworn
to raise the taxes ON corporate" property
believer in government ownership of tels-
graph lines. etc, is At the head of one rae
ton. He is expected to be a candidate for
governor
With him Is eX- Representative John J.
Lentz, we'll remembered in Washington for
the expression in Congress of radical views.
MIR. I.entZ wants to come To tn" Senate 10
succeed Senator Hanna. who once made II
his business to annihilate Mr.. lcntz,
though at great cost Back of this faction
is William Jennings Bryan, who has pronl-
iSed to come to ONO a few days before con-
yention time to stir the boys up and con-
serve the interests of the Kansas city plat
form.
Opposed to this faction are the conserva-
tive democrats. headed 10y Mr. John l..
Zimmerman of Springfield. backed by fIar-
mon of Cincinnati, young Thurman OF Co
lumbus and James kilhoUrne and the gold
standard democrats throughout tie state
some of whom have strayed into the re-
publican party on national issues, but are
willing to fall into lire ON an acceptable
state ticket
The Johnson Faction.
1t is claimed that on the main state
issues Mr.. Zimmerman and Mr.. Johnson
are not far apart, but that the insistence
of Johnson upon announcement in favor or
the Kansas City platform and his adher-
ence to Organism in all forms brings about
the division. Mr.. Lentz seems 10 be the
mouthpiece of the Johnson faction, and
has promulgated "A number of editorials
which are accepted in Ohio expressing
the attitude of the Tom Johnson faction.
Mr.. Lentz has outlined his views Of the
platform OF the democrats. He iirst would
adopt the Kansas City platform an en-
tirety and would add thereto a few adorn-
ments in the way of demands for govern
ment ownership of telephones and tele-
graphs, to be operated by the Post Office
Department. He favors the election OF
United States senators by popular vote OF
the people.
Mr.. I.entz takes the stand that since
the taxation system of Ohio WAS founded
the character and value of taxable prop
wealth of the state consisting of cattle.
horses and hayricks. 1t now Is found in the
value of corporation franchises. lie de-
clareS against perpetual franchises. would
prohibit the granting of franchises by city
councils until they had been submitted
to the direct vote of til" people. He faYorS
municipal ownership of utilitarian proper
ties.
1t is said that Mr.. LentZ and Mr.. john
son are very busy laying pipe lines before
the convention. but that Mr.. Zimmerman
is holding back. expecting the office to
come to him, the wiSeacres are not able
to predict yet who is likely To get the
nomination.
The gossip is that Mr. johnson does
not expect to elect a governor. but does
think he may give the republicans tight
race for control of the legislature and
election OF senator
Vigorous Campaign Indicated
Already there are indications that the
campaign Is to be waged vigorously. The
republicans now are at work. but the DEM
ocrats will not commence until September.
as their convention will only be held the
latter part of August. The democrats are
said to be equipped with ample funds for
the campaign, while the republicans are
not lacking.
The word was passed around a little
while ago that Senator Hanna had ex-
pressed anxiety to the outcome of tho
election. but that kind of talk is al
ways sent out in advance of the gentle
manly assistant who passes around the
hat rn