The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-09-20
TOM L. JOHNSON NOMINATED Ry
DEMOCRATS AS MAYOR
OF CLEVELAND.
OPPOSES BURTON
Contest Between Two Men Promises
to BE Most Exciting ever Held in
America Roosevelt to Aid Repub.
lican Candidate by Making Speech
in His Favor.

Cleveland, o., Sept. 19.-At the dem
~ocratic city convention Mayor Ton
Johnson was again selected today t,
become the standard bearer of th,
party in the coming municipal cam
.paign, opposing Congressman Theo
dore p. Burton, who was recently nom
mated for mayor by the republicans
The contest between these two mer
OF national fame promises to be amono
the most exciting ever held in an
American city and will attract the at
atentlon of the entire country. Mr.
Burton's candidacy has been Endorsed
Apy PRESIDENT Roosevelt and Secretary
Taft, and it will be sufficient to over.
come the opposition of men in high
places. 1t is believed that President
Roosevelt will make a speech fayorine
-Burton's election during the campaign.
and William Jennings Bryan and other
national leaders of the democracy
have promised to come to the aid IF
Johnson. Already the greatest en-
thusiasm is manifested by the parti.
sans OF both sides and the struggle
will undoubtedly be more picturesque
than any ever known in Cleveland.
not excepting campaigns in which the
late Senator Hanna was the central
figure.
That Congressman Burton has an
eye on the presidency is the belief OF
many Cleveland politicians, who de.
clare that Roosevelt is bent not only
on selecting his successor in Office, but
also his successors successor. They
declare that the plan Of running Bur.
ton for the mayoralty was decided OH
at conference in which the presi-
dent, Secretary Taft and Secretary
Garfield took part, and that it was
agreed that if it should be found I'M.
possible to nominate Taft at the repub-
lican national convention, Mr.. Burton
should be brought forward as the
dark horse" If Burton should sue
,ceed in defeating Tom johnson, II
would make him more than ever )
national character, and put him in line
as Taft successor, substitute or cab
met member.
On the other hand, if Burton should
be defeated, the cause of Secretary
Taft would be given decided setback
in Ohio that would be of great aid
and comfort to the Foraker forces.
Senator Foraker has openly announced
his belief that Johnson is invincible
and that Burton's nomination for the
mayoralty was a tactical hlunder that
will cost Taft the presidential nomin-
alton. No one can defeat Johnson, de-
clare the Foraker followers, and Bur
toms nomination means his elimina-
ton from Ohio political affairs and
a new lineup of politicians throughout
AOiluSfn Ol1O. Sa.
According to Mr.. Burton's political
managers, his success in the mayor
atty race is already assured, but they
add that it will in no way affect his
probable candidacy for Senator For.
aker's seat in the senate. Mr.. Burton
will retain his seat. in the house OF
r.
representatives and the chairmanship
of the rivers and harbors committee,
at least until after the mayoralty cleo
tion, which will be held in November.
The platform on which Burton was
nominated attacks Mayor Johnson's
administration for allowing the public
works department. to drag and for in
creasing the bonded Indebtedness Of
the city. The immediate settlement of |
the street car question at no less than
seven tickets for Is cents is demanded.
The limit of franchise is to be 20 |
years, with a readjustment of fares
every 10 years. The road is to be sub
ject to the right of the city to pur-
chase at the end of 20 years These
demands, it is alleged by the demo
hrats. were found necessary as re-
suit of the campaign for municipal
reform waged by Mayor johnson since
his election to Office, and which has
attracted national attention. The dem.
ocratic platform adopted at today's
convention reafirms the well known /
program of Mayor johnson and points
to the many betterments Instituted /
since he has occupied the offlce OF chief
executive OF Cleveland.
The coming campaign viii not be
the first in which Burton and john
son have faced cath other on the
field Of political battle. Tt was Burton
who defeated Johnson for congress
after the latter had served two terms !,
in the national legislature. having
been previously elected as q demo-