Morris tribune., 1906-09-22
; FROM The STATE CAPITAL /;

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Prior to the meeting of the Demo
cratic state convention it had been
supposed that this was what is pop
ularly termed the "off year" in poll
tics, when only congressman and state
officers are elected. AS it is very rare
for the Democrats to elect anybody
at the polls, when their state conven-
ton met they seemed to ignore local
affairs and plunge into national by
bringing the great returned William
J. Bryan to the front as a candidate
for president and forgetting all about
mentioning such important local mat
tiers as 2-cent railroad fare, the issu-
ing of free passes, the reform of our
tax laws, drainage and state develop
ment generally in their platform. The
so-called platform devoted to Bryan
was sent to committee to patch UP
and the delegates were allowed to
read the next day the patchwork pro-
duced, but they never acted upon it,
as it was never presented to the con-
vention in it's entirety. The chairman
of the convention kindly referred to
the Republicans who voted for John
son two years ago as the very uncer-
tain and tickle body Of citizens gen
orally known as mugwumps," and the
convention evidently thought that the
tickle citizens had become suffi
GENTLY tainted with Democracy to
swallow Bryan as we'll as Johnson this
year; SO they hand out this feast to
the assistant Democrats or mug
wumps" and let it go at that.
Isn't that dainty dish
To set before the peopls?"
N is puxzling a good many people
20 understand exactly why Governor
Johnson was so willing to introduce
Mayor Dunno to a Minneapolis audi
snce. While Mr.. Dunno is an excellent
man, perhaps, indeed, because of that,
he isn't much of Democrat. Indeed, so
little of a Democrat is he that at the
recent election in Chicago he opposed
the election of several of the Demo
cratic nominees and was roundly de-
nounced by the Democratic machine,
with whom he never has been in any
great favor Possibly Governor John
son hoped in this way to make munic-
1pal ownership, for which Mayor
Dunno does stand, an issue; but this
he can hardly do, for municipal owner
ship Is not now and in its nature can
not be state question. 1t is, more
over, favored probably by as many
Republicans as Democrats in this
state, as it is in Chicago. The most
plausible theory is that Governor John
son was willing to introduce Mayor
Dunno not specially because he IA
vors municipal ownership of public
utilities, in which great many people
agree with him, but because, with
William Jennings Bryan, he favors the
government ownership Of railways. At
the interstate commerce law conven-
ton, held last summer in Chicago, Mr..
Dunno made himself very clear on
favor with the railroad reformers
there assembled, who approved not
government ownership, but govern
ment supervision and regulation,
which Is a very different thing, and
which the Republican party has set to
work to bring about. Mr.. Dunno,
therefore, being in favor of govern
ment ownership of railways, Mr.. John
son no doubt thought, and thought
rightly, that he would, by introducing
him to Minnesota audience, indicate
In a. very emphatic way his approval
Of the stand taken by Mr.. Bryan on
this subject and reinforce the approval
of that statesman's course, which was
voiced with no uncertain sound in the
Democratic platform.
The reception of Hon. A. L. Cole
last week at the state fair was a con
tinuous ovation and many people en-
braced the opportunity afforded them,
which they might not on any other
occasion be in position to take ad
vantage of, OF becoming acquainted
with the next governor of Minnesota.
It must have gratified him to note
that the promises of support given
him were so general among leading
from all sections of the
state. He could not escape the convic-
ton that he had behind him the prac-
tically unanimous support of those who
profess faith in Republican principles.
The first important speech to be de-
livered after the primaries will be
made by Senator Beverage of Indiana
ut Minneapolis, probably at the Audi