The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-11-02
John A. johnson Actresses
a Meeting Last Night
BIG CROWD WAS ON HAND
Name OF Roosevelt Cheered to the
Echo; Delegations Come From
the Surrounding Towns.
From Wednesdays Daily.

The democrats held the only rally
of the campaign in Mankato last night
and let themselves loose They came
from all the surrounding country, and
made the meeting the event OF the
party's campaign. The trains that
brought the crowds from outside were
late. and it was ten minutes to nine
when the curtain rolled up. Large flags
draped from the boxes and hanging be-
hind the stage made the scene a pretty
one. Small Autographs of Johnson were
tackled up in conspicuous places, with
handblls pendant from them, announc-
inc the Hammond Lind meeting Nov. 3.
The stage was occupied by a couple of
hundred ladies and gentlemen, many of
whom could not get seats in the body
of the theatre. There was such an out
pouring of republicans, ladies and chill
dren, that many of the democratic vot-
ers, especially those who came by train,
were obliged to stand. That the audi
ence was largely composed of republi-
cans who had been attracted out of cur
iosity was shown by the fact that the
mention of President Roosevelt's name
invariably drew greater applause than
anv reference to democrats. The speak
ers carefully avoided any mention of
Hearst, Bryan or other party leaders
whose mention would tend to ALLEVIATE
the feelings of the republican portion of
the audience Not even Hammond was
mentioned.
City Attorney Daley presided over
the meeting, and his oratory was the
most brilliant and inspiring of the meet
ing. He rose to heights of eloquence in
introducing Governor Johnson, making
a strong point of the. statement that,
johnson had come to the notice of Pres
ident Roosevelt. /.
s. d. Works, democratic candidate for
state. senator. spoke for twenty min
utes. He said that honest men should
be chosen to Office, men who would
stand like adamant for the issues on
which they were elected. Such men were
La Toilette of Wisconsin, Folk of Mis-
souri, and John A. Johnson of Minneso-
ia. He included johnson in the list
not simply because he had made a good
governor but because all recognized him
to be an honest man. Mr.. Works made
an appeal for independence in voting,
and then stated his own position on
several issues. He was for more equitable
freight and passenger rates, and was
against the drainage of northern swamp
lands at present. He said that the time
was not, ripe for expanding vast sums
for. drainage of swamp lands, as he
knew by personal observation. The time
for this would not be ripe for twenty
five years. Il will stand against the
drainage of these lands" he said "Until
the arabic, tillable land is occupied, let
these swamp lands GO"
Mr. Works said that some feared to
vote for a democrat for the legislature
for fear that his election might endan-
ger the reelection of Senator Nelson.
He assured those who favored Senator
Nelson's reelection that the latter was
sure of reelection.
Governor johnson spoke for an hour
and quarter. He said that no ma
tional issues were involved in the cam
paign. Republican speakers were go.
ing about the state asking what john
son had done as governor to entitle him
to another term. As they failed to an
swer the question he appeared as his
own advocate, to tell what his admin
istration had done, to give an account
OF his stewardship.
His administration had enforced the
laws impartially and had been obedient
to them Every promise of two years
ago had been religiously kept. Governor
Johnson took up the timber situation,
and said that it was not understood
in the southern part of the state.
Suits had been instituted and land had
been saved for the state "Amounts
aggregating $433,OOO are just as GER
tainly on their way into the state
treasury as that we are here tonight,
declared the speaker. When the pine
land was scaled up it was found that
much pine was missing, and $2,5OOyOOO,
and possibly $5,OO0,0OO, will be COW
cred back into the state treasury from
this source Timber stealing has been
effectually stopped.
Governor johnson then turned his at
tention to what had been done in the
matter of transportation rates. He had
sent letter to the state railway and
warehouse commission demanding that
it accept the proffered ten per cent re-
duction on grain rates, and that it con-
tinue the merchandise rate hearing, and
suggesting another hearing on rates in