The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-08-24
MINNESOTA POLITICS

John A. johnson Receives Such Encour-
agement that He Is Seriously consid
erng the Nomination for Governor
Anti-punn Leaders in Both Parties Say
He Can Be Elected-campaIgn Fund
Problem.
John A.. Johnson Of St Peter denies the
authority Of the Mankato Review to speak
for him. and the announcement published
in e u r n a yesterday Is thus de-
prived Of its official character. However,
the ManEato paper evidently spoke from
close knowledge Of the situation, and MIR.
Johnscn's present attitude encourages
democrats to believe that he will accept
the nomination.
Mr.. Johnson no longer says that he can
not permit the use Of his name. He adj
mits that he is seriously considering the
matter, and may yet decide to go into the
fight. He is getting plenty Of help in con-
slder1ng the question. Democrats from
all over the state, and large sprinkling
Of republicans as well, are writing him,
insisting cn his consent
1t has been strongly represented to Mr..
Johnson that the democrats have a good
chance to win this fall. The reports of
republican disaffection come from all sec
tons Of the state, and strong republican
majority TO the democratic candidate for
governor If he Is the right sort. There is
more or less feeling against some other
candidates on the republican ticket, but
not enough. it Is thought, to overcome
the influence of the heavy Roosevelt ma
jority. -,
Managers Of the republican state cam
pa!gn arc relying On the Roosevelt en-
thusiasm to carry Dunn thru. They expect
from $4,000 to LOO. COO majority for Roose-
vel:. In addition to this, they look for
about 10000 Parker democratic votes to be
cast for Dunn. This means that the demo-
cratic candidate mtg get $4,000 to 55, 600
republican votes to be elected. This the
republican ma nage1s believe to be impos-
sible.
Prominent republicans who have refused
to support Dunn say this is entirely pos
sible. They believe that the democratic
nominee will carry Hennepin county by
several thousand; that he will carry Ram
sey county and many republican counties
In southern and western Minnesota. Even
in the northern counties, the Dunn strong
holds, they do not expect him to get the
normal republican majorities.
| The democratic point of view is much
the same, except they do not look for as
heavy Roosevelt majority as the repub-
licans figure. They believe that many re-
publicans will stay at home rather than
go to the polls and vote for Dunn, and
that the Roosevelt majority will be be-
tween 100000 and 100000. They say that
this will be easily overcome by the demo-
cratic candidate for governor, and that
Johnson is good for anywhere from 10000
to $4,000 majority.
| It all depends on the magnitude of
the republican revolt against Dunn. This
/ is hard to estimate, because nearly all
who intend to scratch the head Of the
ticket are keeping their intentions to
themselves. For every outspoken anti
Dunn republican there are several more
who are keeping still, but doing "a heap
of thinking"
These conditions have been described to
the st. Peter editor, and he and his
friends are coming to the view that he
could be elected with the right kind of
a fight If Johnson takes the nominate ton
, he will make the campaign direct against
railroad and corporate control Of the state
government and state politics. He will
ask for republican votes a. a rebuke to
the influences that secured the nomina-
ton Of Dunn and the methods by which
it was accomplished With this kind of
| a. campaign, he cannot expect to get very
heavy financial backing. That is prac-
tical question which must be faced
Experienced politicians say that live
ly state campaign can be conducted with
a fund of $4,000 to $500 This only
allows for legitimate expenses, such as
headquarters rent and salaries, expenses
OF speakers, printing and postage. The
raising Of even this amount will be a
knotty problem for the democratic COM
mittee, which will have to "pass the
| hat" as it cannot collect assessments
from candidates or men In office It is
this financial consideration that stands
most in the way of Mr.. Johnson's con-
sent.
James R. Bennett. Jr., has created q
diversion by booming John Lind. 1t is
rather an embarrassing situation, for OF
course democrats generally would well
come Lind as a candidate, and Johnson
himself would gladly stand aside for the
veteran leader. However, those in Lind's
commence regard his repeated statements
as final, and they think it would be g
mistake to stampede the convention
They say that they know Lind would moi
accept, and the committee would ther
be under the unpleasant duty Of filling the
; ticket with second choice. It is likel,
that they will get another definite mes
sage from Lind who is now at Everett
WASH, forbiddfng the use of his name.
The Lind instructions adopted b,
Stearns county direct the delegation tt
vote for Lind Sin case his name is pre-
sented to the convention"
), Attorney General Donahower has gfver
his official approval to the construction
OF law by which Judge Jaggard goes OF
the state ticket as a candidate for tn.
term beginning In January, 1905, sue
ceeding Judge Douglass. He does not e.
on for an unexpired term, but for a full
six-year term, as the law directs. The
other three nominees run Jointly for tn,
three places Of Judges Brown, Lewis ant
, Lovely, whose terms do not expire unit
January, 1906.
| This means that the democrats will
have to name one man to oppose Judge
Jaggard directly, and three others to run
, counter to Judges Brown, Lewis and Ell
lott.
Charles B. Cheney.