The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-12-20
Declares He Doesn't Expect to
Be In the Big Contest.
Secretary Frank A. Day, Insists
There's 'N0thin' To It,
Declares Report Is False; He
Knows B0ss's Mind.

Rochester, Dec lG.-Dr w. w. Mayo
has returned from his trip to ST..
Louis. In an interview with The Post
and Record, he stated that his trip
had been very enjoyable. While in
st. Louis he had called on Governor
Folk and found him very genial
gentleman. After returning to his hotel
he was called up on the telephone by
Governor Folk, who asked for an inter
view that afternoon at five o'clock
1t was accorded, of course, but at five
o'clock Governor Folk telephoned that
would call at six o'clock. The doctor
regretted he could not meet him as he
had another engagement. He then
asked the governor if he intended to be
candidate for the democratic nomi-
nation for the presidency. Governor
Folk replied that he did, provided his
state wished it, and he was the choice
of the convention. DR.. Mayo responded
that he, the governor, was just the
man the country needed, for he was
fearless in attacking graft and other
evils. Governor Folk asked DR.. Mayo
if he knew Governor Johnson's inten-
tion in the matter DIR. Mayo replied
that he did not but he would call on
him on his return to st. Paul and in
quire of him.
Governor Says Pm Candidate.
On his arrival in st. Paul, DR.. Mayo
called on Governor johnson, and after
talking on political matters, inquired
of the governor if he intended to be
candidate for the presidential nomi-
nation. To this Governor johnson re-
piled: eyes, sir, l am He further
stated that he had received letters from
all over the country asking him to be
the candidate, and had full expression
from large meeting held in Washing
ton. This had determined him to take
his chance, if the democrats of Min
nesota wished it,. DR.. Mayo asked the
governor if he might use this state
ment publicly, to which the reply was,
what l say is for everybody, and
you may say to Governor Folk and
everyone else that l am in the field
for the nomination."
Says faint So.
When the statement was called to
the attention of Frank A. Day the
governors private secretary, Saturday
night he said to The st. Paul Pioneer
Press:
"That report is false. There is
absolutely nothing in it. l confer
with the governor every day on all
kinds of subjects, and [ know that
he never made any such statement. I
know that he could never have made
that statement because it does not
correctly state his position. The gov
ernor is not candidate for the demo-
cratic presidential nomination and does
not expect to be-"
The Pioneer Press of today stated:
81 have never declared myself as a
candidate for the presidential nomina-
ton, and never expect to-
This was the answer Governor John
A. johnson gave at the ADerueeI ldSC
evening to the interview with w. W..
Mayo of Rochester, Mimi, who was
quoted as saying that Governor john
son had told him positively that he is
a candidate. The interview was pub
lished Saturday evening in The Post
and Record of Rochester, which quoted
DIR. Mayo at some length, and was
reprinted in The Sunday Pioneer Press,
accompanied by a denial by Frank A.
Day.
81 think that DR.. Mayo has been
misquoted," continued Governor john
son. 81 made no such positive state
ment as is attributed to me. DIR.
Mayo, who is an old and dear friend
of mine, called upon me on his re-
turn from his trip to st. Louis, and
he told me what Governor Folk had
said relative to my candidacy. [ did
say that some of the democrats in
Minnesota had urged me to enter the
field, but 1 informed DR.. Mayo that
I had tried to discourage the idea.
We also talked over the political
situation in general way"