The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-08

s. w. johnson Candid acy, but Republicans
Deplore the Confusion Of ,Names-TIm-
Der Trespass as an "lssueJ in This
Campaign. & Il, 81. 4 u. -5Gsrtssy II
Speeches today: Republicans-A. L.
Cole at Lamberton; Knute Nelson. at
Rothsay;s Moses 3. Clapp at Tracy; j. F.
jacobson at fLuverne;, Frank M. Eddy at
Park Rapids. ~ 1 "a;
Democrats-John A. Johnson at New
Ulm; 7. D. O'Brien at Belle Plaine; F.
M: Magnusson at Clinton. ska a s$s1
= :2stf 49, S'fg5zz az. ora ~
8 The democratic committee has issued
an infiammatory circular scharacterizing
in bold headlines the candidacy Eof John
w. Johnson, the socialist labor nominee
for governor, as fraud and as a bold
attempt to defraud the people in their
choice for governor The circular reads
as follows: - 9,s,aS z&.T" 80
On Saturday, Oct. 6 (the last day for filing
Tor state ofhees) petition was presented to
official ballot an unknown John W.. johnson,
q so-cailed socialist-labor candidate for COVER
nor, = %%r = - Z - I'D. ;. ,
? Thousands of, dollars were spent in securing
signatures and aftdavits on this petition and the
cheap lodging house districts in the big cities,
were secured in an effort to secure the requisite,
number of names. "'<+ ga: = !
Who is John ". Johnson? Who is responsible
for this dastardly work? Everything points to
a prominent republican, ward heller of Minneap-
Tolls, now connected with the, republican state
committee. The. facts will soon become public.
!: Fair-play loving people Of the state are
righteously indignant at this bold attempt, to-
prevent an honest expression Of opinion the
governorship. They are asking and will ask
pertinent questions. az :& -
Who furnished the money. to secure over 1000
n%lk3 Aox
Acknowledgements thereto? -. - 49, "
Why was a name selected almost identical
with that Of: the democratic nominee, only a
w being substituted for an A?
r. Why was the petition held until five minutes
before the office Of the secretary Of state was to
close on the last day for fling? .
/ Why did the republican state committee,
within ten minutes after the filing became pub
lie have a. denial OF any completely ready to
spread broadcast, over the stated? ." :
VIII anyone claim that the so-called socialist
! labor johnson can have any chance Of cleo
| ton? Is he known or identified with any social
ist-labor movement? Is not the name ''Johnsoh''
lis one and only: asset? :, .. ~ g,
The democratic state committee calls upon
every honest man who believes in fair play and
- government by the people to resent this infa-
nous attempt to steal a high office and to SO
| thoroly advertise this outrage that it will fail
of its purpose. - frank A. Day.
Chairman Democratic State Committee.
| Ed A. Stevens, Secretary, -.
| In answer to one Of the questions, it
may be said that the republican commit
tee did not know, of the filing for half an
! hour or SO afterward, when they were
notified by telephone from the capitol.
1 Chairman Cole very properly lost no tins
in repudiating any connection with such
| business, and the committee will request
every republican paper to air the facts
| so that there will be no confusion over
the two Johnsons on the ticket. In view
Of, this action it would seem that the
democratic committee ought to reserve
it's cry of fraud till it can produce some
evidence connecting republicans with the
John w. Johnson, petition. In the alb
sence of such evidence, the circular looks
like a cry of "wolf," and is an unjust
attack on the republican committee.
1 The confusion. of names is very unfortu-
nate, but no one appears, in any way to
blame but the: leaders Of the socialist
labor party They deny any desire to
! secure votes; intended for any other man;
and say that they, do mot believe in
preaching socialism thru political aglta-
ton. They are the economic or "clear''
socialists, and are antagonistic to union
labor as at present organized g They are
| not the same wing Of socialists as those
| who ran Tom Lucas for governor. Lucas
was the candidate of the rsecial- demo-
| cratic" party, and cut down John Lind s
vote because many democrats looked fol-
the word democrat and voted for both
Lind and Lucas. Any repetition Of this
was prevented by legislation, and the
social democratic'' wing had to drop
both sections Of its name, because other
parties had a, prior right to them. They
now go on. the ballot as the public own.
ership" party ..~&-.- >'',s.
| m 1oI WIZ
avoided the confusion to large extent
if it had nominated it's candidate under
the name of J.. w. Johnson, but this did
not seem to have occurred to them till
the petition was filed, and it was then toe
late to change it's form. nm
The duplication of names may not have
SO much effect as feared, for the reason
that John A. Johnson's name will come
ahead of the other Johnson on the ballot
Not many voters will be apt to skip. over
John A. johnson, if they intend to vote
for him, and mark the other johnson
farther down the list. Under the election
Il law party precedence is determined by
the average vote cast for candidates Of
the different parties at the preceding
election This means that under the head
of governor A. L., Cole will come first
John A. Johnson second, and third will
prohibitionists, who had four candidates
and averaged 10,034 votes at the last cleo.
ton. The public ownership party polle6
an average of S,175 votes for three can
didates, and Mr.. Lofthus, their nominee
for governor, will come fourth. Last Will
come John W. johnson, nominee Of the
4 socialist labor party, which had. only one
candidate-for governor-last time, anC
polled only 1923 votes. This was less
than per cent SO they could not nomt-
nate in convention, but had to circulate
a petition. There will be two names
therefore, separating the two Johnsons
I Nominees for the Legislature who have
pledged their support to Senator Nelson
. are, being ridiculed by the anti-Nelsor
men for subservience to the federal ma
chine" That IS not the reason for thu
pledges they have made. The reason il
explained as follows by the Long Prairie
Leader: .,~-s.s ...... - -.
| =, Up in this part OF the state the legislativ
candidates who have given their written pledge
to Mr.. Nelson, and by the way, all OF theI
have, have in doing bowed to- the will an
power OF the people. So strong Is the popula
desire for the reelection Of Mr.. Nelson that r.
publican legislative candidates would have stoo
Eno chance Of nomination had they not promise
their constituents that IL sent to the legislator
they would vote for Mr.. Nelson.:-ztE - 8 :
. A prominent republican of Heron Lake
! writing after A. L. Coles meeting there
SAYS that several leading republicans q
, that vicinity who had been talking John
: son were changed by, Mr.. Coles speech
7 and will from now on boost for Cole an
lxt.~