Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-12-24
JOHN JOHNSON.
The Big Man From Minnesota Who
May Be the Democratic Nominee.

May 6e tne Democratic Nomihccs
President John Johnson!
How does that sound? ~
Homely enough, doesn't it?-plain as
an old shoe, in fact. Hits you honest
like, and makes you almost feel quick.
strong hand-clasp that might 60 along
with It.
Well, stranger things have hap
pened!
Governor Johnson of Minnesota, went
to Washington the other day to attend
one Of those Gridiron dinners that the
big newspaper guns give every once
IN a while. They try you out at those
dinners. If you are trying to be some
oody in the world, they look your cre-
dentials over mighty closely and then
put you over the hurdles to bring out
the soft spots in your makeup. II you
stack up" II you stand the gaff'-
this is the way they put 1t In Gridiron
parlance-why, you'll do-thats all
Well, Governor Johnson attended a
gridiron dinner. He's the man, You
know, that Colonel Henry Watterson
nad up his sleeve sc. long as q dark
horse for the Democratic nomination
for the presidency. That didn't make
it any easier for him on the gridiron.
Governor Johnson was called on for
speech. He made II, and those who
heard 1t liked it. They not only said
so, but they showed II. The biggest
men Of the nation were there and they
gave him the glad hand. Speeches
made at Gridiron dinners are not re-
ported in the newspapers-that's about
the only mercy shown the victims. But
4 they were particularly good or par
licularly bad, echoes Of them get out
the next day. Governor -Johnson's
came under the first head, and the next
day his stock began to go up.
Charles II. Grasty was one OF the
biggest of the newspaper guns present.
He Is publisher of the Baltimore News.
one Of the successful newspapers Of the
nation. Writing to his paper OF the
Gridiron dinner, and particularly of
Governor Johnson and his speech, he
said: f
Governor Johnson attended the Grid
iron dinner. He made a speech. A
Darnyard rooster never goes through
that experience without losing his tail
feathers. A mere prairie phenomenon
would have been exploded. A dema-
gogue would have been found out Any
word OF buncombe would have made
the gridiron sizzle. tl.s p
A new man has arrived. Cannon saw
aim and jumped across the table to
greet him. Foraker wrung his hand.
riarry New Republican chairman that
he Is, ran to meet the man coming from
Minnesota 20 greater things. Roose-
velt- Taft editors, like Nelson OF Kan
sas City, pressed around him. And as
for Democrats-men groaning under
the Bryan yoke and looking for deliy-
erance-they fairly went wild.
Here is a Democrat without dema-
gogy. A leader whose head Is not In
the clouds. A sober thinker with the
saving grace Of humor. A rtght-doer
whose temperature Is perfectly normal.
young man Of seasoned Judgment.
A man of the people who looks well In
evening clothes. The possessor Of that
greatest gift Of the gods. sense-which
means Judgment and taste-but all the
while virile son Of the west with ev-
cry red corpuscle intact.
This Is not one mans enthusiasm; II
Is the unanimous verdict Of q set or
men trained to size up other men ana
cold -blooded to the point Of cynicism-
The supreme bench OF the United
States Is not less subject to emotion
than these singed cats Of journalism.
It is something to be q Democrat VINO
is a two times winner In strong Re
publican state, but that does not mat
ter so much to them. They rub elbows
and sit at meat with president, cabinet
ministers, ambassador and all the rest.
But John Johnson, modest, self-poised,
keen -witted, clear minded and good 10
look at-coming to Washington with
an official record behind him without
a flaw at a time when every eye Is
straining for Democratic timber-well,
they all think he'll do.
Governor Johnson hasn't quite q ma
httf fC craffinO fhQf
pretty fast. His life's history is short
but full of action. Here Is a brief
sketch by one newspaper:
John A. Johnson was born In 1851 In
st. Peter Mimi, where he has always
lived. His parents were born In Swe-
den. At the age of IL the care OF the
family devolved on him, and the tri-
umph Of his early life is an inspiration
in that region. He entered printing
office, learned the trade, became an
editor and Is one yet, with leave or
absence serving as governor. Essler g
Johnson published the St.sPeter Herald,
4 weekly in a town about the size OF
Griffin. Governor johnson has served
seven years in the National Guard, and
attained the rank Of captain. In 1904
he was elected governor by over 5000
plurality, while the Republican plu-
rality for president was 10000. In
1906 he was reelected by plurality
Of over 10000. This in a state in which
ordinarily the Republican maJorities
run from 10000 to 100000. He Is
Presbyterian, knows nothing Of Sec
tionalism, and is not filled with an1bi-
ton to reform the universe. Tho Yon
Yonson, he is thorough American,
and would be more apt to carry two or
three northwestern states. Minnesota
and Wisconsin especially, than any
other Democrat who could be named.
Atlanta Georgian and News.