The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1907-11-13
DHNSON STICKS
TO "THEC OMMONER''
Through The News aud Courier Con-
gresham johnson and Others Give
Views on National Politics.

A few days ago The News and Cou-
rier invited the Congressman of South
Carolina to express their views on the
following questions:
l.. Who is your first choice for demo-
cratic nominee for President, and why
do you favor him?
Q. What will be the issues in 1908?
3. Do you believe in government
ownership of railroads?
a.. Can the democratic party win
next year?
Five responses were received 5hss6
of Congressman Ellerbe, Finley, John-
son, Legare and Lever. Messrs. Ell
lerbe and Johnson are enthusiastic for
Bryan for the democratic nomination
for President; Messrs. Finley and Lee
vsr favor Gov. Johnson, of Minnesota,
while Mr.. Legare expressed no choice.
MR.. J~oHNsoN's VIEWS.
Congressman johnson takes up the
questions one by enc and answers them
as follows:
Who is your choice for democratic
nominee for President?
Bryan.
Why do you favor Bryan?
Because he towers incomparably
above any other man in the democratic
or any other party. All Of the peoples
of the earth appreciate his worth, even
if some of our WI people do not. Gov
errors of States, Representatives in
Congress, Senators, members Of Presi-
dents cabinets, 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 ven EX-President
Grant, received the homage and atten-
ton that Bryan, a private citizen, re-
ccived. What did it mean? 1t was the
worlds willing tribute to the worth,
purity and greatness of the man. Bry-
an deserves the nomination in order
that the great mass of honest Ameri-
can voters may right the wrong that
was done him, and the still greater
wrong that was done the people in 1896
and 1900, when managers of insurance
companies, managers of trust compa-
nios, bankers, railways, trusts and
combines, in the guise of patriotism and
in the name Of honesty, contributed
hundreds of thousands and millions Of
dollars of trust funds to encompass
Bryan's defeat. In those two great
campaigns practically every corrupt
and ~corrupting influence in American
politics was arrayed against him. All
the law privileges that enabled the
possessors to reap rich harvests with
out rendering an equivalent service to
the public th~erefor-were against him,
and are still against him. Why? 1t is
because Bryan is honest, fearless and
incorruptible, and would honestly, earn
estly and efficiently stop evil practices
so far as the law enabled him to do it.
Much as | admire Mr.. Bryan | will say
that | do not always agree with him. |
differ from many of his views and ut
%terances. Personally | am the strict
est Of strict constructionists of the con-
stitution of the United States. Bryan
is not. / 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 exercise
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 constitutional authority to
deal with than the South Carolina
Methodist conference would have. ]
do not expect the nominee of the demo-
cratic party to see all public questions
from my viewpoint. He may believe
that the moon is made of green cheese,
or ne may believe in predestination
without in the slightest degree impair
ing his usefulness as a public official.
Bryan would execute the laws in
honesty, decency and mercy, and fill
the greatest office in the gift of men
with becoming dignity and modesty.
Let me say one word with reference to
some things that Mr.. Bryan advocates
that are not within the power of the
Federal government. Even his fail
ings lean to virtues side. He shows
intense sympathy for his fellow man.
While he believes in protecting the
rights o. property, he seems to be
more concerned about the sacred rights
of men. He places man-living, breath
ing, working, suffering men, women
and children-above the dollar. Those
who lie awake at night thinking about
the sacred rights Of property and
thinking little about the sacred rights
of men are against Bryan. The Stand
ard Oil Company and the United States
Steel Corporation can talk e~loquently
and well of the sacred rights of prop
erty since they got it, but it wasn't Sc
sacred when the other fellows had it.
What will be the issues in 1908?
Tariff reform, regulation of inter
State commerce.. That right should be
exercised fearlessly, honestly and in
the interest of the people. This right
should be SO exeS2ised as in no way to
Interfere with the rights OF The. States
to regulate their own internal affairs.
The line between Federal and State