Morris tribune., 1908-10-31
Republican Managers SCrutinize
Governor JOhnsOn'S Acts
Without Success.
MAN OF NATIONAL REPUTATION
Name of Minnesota Executive
a Synonym for Honesty
and Integrity.

For four years John A. Johnson has
been governor of Minnesota. For
thFee months a campaign has been in
progress in this state looking to the
steotion Of J: F. jacobson as his sue
eesSor. During this time political feel
ing has, in the nature of things, run
high. Mr.. Jacobson's managers, in jus
tee to their candidate, have closely
serutinized the governors official rec.
ord. If that record has developed cul
pability his committee has been clear
ly within it's rights ia criticising it
with only ten days of the campaign
remaining absolutely no criticism OF
John A. Johnson as governor of Min
nesota has been made. Mr.. Jacob.
sons newspaper organs, taking their
cue from the Republican state central
committee, have been unable to find
single flaw in the governors official
record. They have, therefore, been
forced to descend to campaign tactics
which assail the governor for a vote
on some obscure bill during his term
of Office as state senator, nearly ten
years ago. The governor stands on
his whole record, whether as senator
or governor, but it is reasonable to
suppose that, as he is q candidate for
reelection to the Office of goy6rnor,
his record as governor, after four
years Of service as the chief executive
Of the state, should be the test of his
fitness for the office
John A. Johnson is on the threshold
Of a career which viii not conf1ne his
activities to the state Of Minnesota
He is one of the best known men CT
the American nation. His name,
throughout the length and breadth Of
the land, is a synonym for honesty Of
purpose, a wide sympathy with the
great mass of our population, q keen
and incisiye intellect that goes
straight to the heart Of things, and
sound judgment that places him Oh
the right side Of all the great ques-
tiOns agitating the public mind and
public conscience. In New York and
New England he is regarded as a com !
ing man in the political life Of the
country; he is the idol Of thousands
OF the best citizens Of the Southern
states; he is the. pride and glory Of .
the people Of his. own. nationality in
the Middle and Western states, and !
he is certainly the fayorite son of
Minnesota. To listen now to the ap-
peals of mere partisans, who would
curb his future and circumscribe his
career, would be al error which the
people Of Minnesota as a whole would
live to regret. He has brought more
fame to NiDnesota than any man or
set Of, men ever produced by the state,
and his triumphant reelection will be
regarded by the people of the country
as a justification OF the claims made
for hin by his friends throughout the
United States that his public career
aas but just begun. Not only the peo-:'
pie of his own political faith-and
they are all proud of him-but those
citizens who differ from.
him politically, have an equal pride
with Denscrats in his success this.
year.
He has made his fight for re-elec-
ton almost single-handed, and against
him have. been pitted the great lead
ars of the opposition party In the ma
tion. Not only has Mr.: Taft come to
bat Governor Hughes, Sen
ator Beveridge, Governor Cummins
and Senator Dolliyer have sounded
..he tocsin and cried for party loyalty,
That this solitary figure, looming large
N the North Star state, may be de-
seated and his public career destroyed.
All of these men have the greatest
admiration and respect for Governor.
Johnson. and their coming to this
state is simply in Difference to party
discipline and the fear that, should
Johnson win in Minnesota in pres
Dental year, he will become a great
national possibility in another ma
tonai campaign. 1t is up to the peo-
Die of Minnesota to do justice by
John A Johnson