The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-11-27
JOHNSON ON BRYAN.
Why He FayoTs Him as the DEM
ocratic Candidate.
Because He Towers 1ncomparibly
Above Amy Other Man in the DEM
ocratic or Any Other Party.

ton News and Courier as to the next
presidential election, the candidate
of the democratic party, etc. This
interview published in the Charles
ton paper. Mr.. johnson is strong in
his utterances fer Bryan as the par
tvs choice. giving clearly and dis
tinctly his reasons. Following is the
interview as it appeared in the News
and Courier:
Congressman Johnson takes up the
questions one by one and answers
them as follows:
Who is your choice for democratic
nominee for president?
Bryan.
Why do you favor Bryan?
Because he towers inconparably
above any other man in the demo
cratic or any other party. All Of the
people Of the earth appreciate his
worth, even if snrle Of our own peo-
pie Go - Co ernors of states, rep.
resentat VS. in congress, senators,
! judges Of the supreme court Of the
! United States, generals Of the army,
admirals Of the navy, great scholars
and distinguished divines, have gone
abroad. and yet no man of our
country. not even x-president Grant,
received the homage and attention
that BRYAN, a private citizen, recelv-
ed. What did it mean? 1t was the
worlds willing tribute to the worth,
purity and greatness Of the man.
Bryan deserves the nomination, in
order that the great mass Of honest
American voters may right the wrong
that was done him, and the still
greater wrong that was done the
people in 1896 and 1900, when man
ayers Of trust companies, bankers,
railways, trusts and corlbines, in the
guise of patriotism and in the name
of honesty. contributed hundreds Of
thousands and millions Of dollars of
trusts funds to encompass Bryan's
defeat. In those two great cam
paigns, practically every corrupt and
corrupting influence in American
politics was arrayed against him. All
who enjoyed Special privileges under
the law---privileges that enabled the
possessors to reap rich harvests with
out rendering an equivalent service
to the public therefor--were against
him, and are still against him. Why?
It is because Bryan is honest, fear
less and incorruptable, and would
honestly, earnestly and efficiently
stop evil practices SO far as the law
enabled him to do it. Much as | ad-
mire Mr.. Bryan I will say that | do
not always agree with him. I differ
from many Of his views and utter
ances. Personally am the strlctest
of strict constructionists of the con-
stltution,of the United States. Bryan
is not. l believe that all powers not
delegated to the federal government
are reserved to the states and to the
people. Neither congress nor the
president has any warrant to exer-
else any authority beyond the strict
letter Of the constitution. Some Of
the things Mr.. Bryan believes in, in
my opinion, neither the president
nor congress has any more constitu-
tional authority to deal with than
the South Carolina Methodist Con-
ference would have. do not expect
the nominee Of the democratic party
to see all public questions from my
viewpoint. He may believe that the
moon is made Of green cheese, or he
may believe in predestination with
out in the slightest degree impairing
his usefulness as a public official.
Bryan would execute the laws in
honesty, decency and mercy, ard fill
the greatest Office in the gift o. men
with becoming dignity and modesty.
Let me say one word with reference
to some things that Mr.. Bryan advo-
Gates that are not within the power
of the federal government. Even his
failings lean to virtues side. He
shows intense sympathy for his fel-
low man. While he believes in pro-
tecting to be more concerned about
the sacred rights of men. He places
man-living, breathing working,
suffering men, women and children
above the dollar. Those who lie awake
at night thinking little about the
sacred rights Of men are against Bry-
an. The Standard Oil Company and
the United States Steel Corporation
can talk eloquently and well of the
sacred rights Of property since they
got it, but it wasn't so sacred when
the other fellows had it.
What will be the issues in 1908?
Tariff reform, regulation of inter-
state commerce, trusts, and states
rights. The constitution Of the Uni
ted States reserves to congress the
right to regulate interstate COM
merce. That right should be exer-
cised fearlessly, honestly and in the
interest of people. This right should
be so exercised as in no way to inter-
fere with the rights of the states to
regulate their own internal affairs.
The lir : between federal and state
control should be clearly defined.
Do you believe in government own
ership Of railroads?
No. Such a plank will not be in
the democratic platform. Bryan has
said as clearly as it could be stated in
the English language that he is in
favor of giving government regula-
ton fair trial, and that in the event
that government regulation fails the
ultimate solution will be in govern
ment ownership. | have heard that
opinion expressed by democrats and
republicans in congress over and over
again. Roosevelt himself has said |
that failure to regulate will result IN
government ownership. # Bryan
were elected president he would en-
force the laws as he found them. 1t
would be necessary for congress to
act before there could be any gov
Il