The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-31
JOHNSON MAY FIGHT BRYAN Minnesota Man Wants the Nomination. CONTEST IS UNDER COVER Friends of the Nebraskan Arc
 Uneasy. Governor of Northwester. state Has an Influential Following and He May He Factor in
 Democratic Cenventiea.
 

Minneapolis. Dec. 3o.--lspeciai 1--- Without a single outward sign of war between Governor Johnson of Minns- sota and William J. Bryan. there is really being waged Tight now in Min nesota a contest which may decide the outcome of the Democratic National Convention.
 Really. Johnson and Bryan are en-I gagged in a death grapple in Minne- sota and the fight is occurring alto< gether under cover. If Bryan wins Johnson's name will never be seriously mentioned in the race for the Damo~ cratic nomination. If Johnson wins he has made a most gigantic stride towards the White House--or at least towards the leadership of the Demo- cratic hosts at the next election.
 Practically nothing of this light has so far appeared in public. hut within the next two weeks Minnesota--sa and the entire country--will ring with the sounds of the conflict. Even now Bry- an Is endeavoring to smoke" Johnson out. say the friends of the latter but he has not succeeded.
 Johnson Has Best of Tt.
 So far. Johnson has the best of the thurity of the Governor. JohnaonsA friends are doing everything possible to have the Democrats of Minnesota send delegation to the Democratiu National Convention which will be fn~ strncted for Johnson. The plea is tho old onA of the ''favorite son. and upon that argument Johnson is making rapid headway even among the Bryan men. The latter. or at least that large pro- portion of the Bryan men who are not on the inside. and who do not know the scheme. can see no danger fo Bryan in having Minnesota cast it's vote for Governor Johnson. who in fact Is very popular with his constituents.
 Bryan will have enough votes to nominate him. anyway, and It's pretty compliment to Johnson to be mentioned as candidate" Is one of the apoio- gies offered.
 Johnson's plan Is to first secure the hinnes9ta del4 s,dtion. Then he fiGures on securing North Dakota and proba- bly, one or two other neighboring States, \ He knows we'll enough that New York. New Jersey and probably Pennsylvania and ssachusetts will never send Bryan delegations to Dem yer if there is possible chance for any other candidate. So he expects to have friendly delegations from these and several other States as well. While these are not enough to nominate Johnson the Democratic rule of a two- third vote necessary for nomination is counted upon by him to prevent the nomination of Bryan on the first few ballots and he expects other States to then fall into the Johnson column. having fulfilled their instructions and voted for Bryan ''as long as there is chance for his nomination.
 Bryan Men Uneasy.
 But Bryan knows the plans of John- son and among his friends that plan is thought formidable enough to cause uneasiness. so much so that they have started the underground fight against Johnson in his own State, with the hope of preventing his indorsement by Minnesota and the consequent rout of the Johnson men.
 Having announced that while he will not seek the nomination yet he will not attempt to evade drafting pro- cess Bryan cannot well afford to open- Iy fight Johnson for a Complimentary vote of his own State and his friends are therefore obliged to fight under cover.
 At the same time Johnson does not wish to be placed in a position of open ly fighting Bryan and he also is will ing for the light to be one of under ground methods. In fact, Johnson is more anxious to keep hts fight out of sight than are the Bryan men. If the latter can torce Johnson to come out in the open and start the fight himself that Is. start the open fght--they will be well pleased indeed. At the first false move of the Johnson men, the Bryanites, having Johnson in the open, figure on an easy victory.
 It can he stated authoritatively that Johnson has some heavy interests and some good politicians on his side, and that these people are opponents not to be despised. And the majority by which Johnson was elected Governor of Minnesota shows that he himself Is very popular and is a vote-getter at home.
 If Johnson secures this delegation from his own State. he will immediate ly become full -fiedged candidate and a formidable one. too. And If he loses Minnesota, he is down and out without ever having come to the surface.
 The situation is actually causing fright among the Minnesota friends of MT. Bryan and very probably to Mir. Bryan himself