Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1908-01-16
MARKED ATTEMPTS
IN THE EAST TO Divert DEMOC.
RACY FROM BRYAN.
Governor Johnson, OF Mime sofa, is
GrOOmed to Defeat the Nebra Skan.
Press Dispatches Indicate a Con-
Certed ACilon to Create Sentiment
Opposed to Bryan.

1uc pTOSTeSS OI LHe masked at
tempts in the East to divert the DEM
Ocratic current now running toward
Bryan is outlined in dispatch of the
5th to the Chicago Inter Ocean from
Washington. The man around whom
the opposition to BfSan has been
gathering, since Tom l.. Johnson, of
Cleveland refused to lend them his
name, appears to be Gov. John John
son of Minnesota, who is backed by
the New York World in the East and
by Roger Sullivan and James j. Hill
in the West. "The Johnson move
ment," says the Inter Ocean dis
patch, "a gum shoe organization at
the start, has swept over the East
until now 1t is almost tidal wave
The New York leaders who told the
secret in whispers Immediately after
the meeting of the national commit
tee here last month are coming out
into the open. There are also strong
indications that the Johnson move
ment is taking hold in the West.
Minnesota naturally is interested in
the ambitions of it's governor, and
some Of the other states are getting
busy. Roger G. Sullivan is credited
with quietly working for Governor
Johnson in Illinois. The Illinois Ma
tiOnal committeeman feelings to-
ward Mr.. Bryan, is we'll known. He
hates Bryan even more than Mr..
Bryan despises the brand of Sullivan
democrats, and he would welcome a
chance to defeat the Nebraskan in
revenge for the warfare waged on
him by Mr.. Bryan personally and all
his followers in Illinois," The dis
patch then describes several Incl
dents as of particular significance
just at this time," one of which,
perhaps the most important, was an
authorized statement of Mr.. John
sons views on things democratic
which was published in his New York
newspaper to the extent of nearly
one entire page. On it's surface the
statement is not remarkable. Sub
jected to close scrutinty there is un-
mistakable proof that Mr.. Johnson
deliberately aimed a dozen shafts at
Mr.. Bryan. He discusses the plat
the democrats can win. 1t is not in
any sense whatsoever a Bryan plat
form, save for the one single plank on
tariff revision. 1t is, on the other
hand, just such a platform as Grover
Cleveland might be expected to ap-
prove quite joyously." Describing
this movement OF the conservatives,
with Governor Johnson as their lead
er, the Inter Oceans dispatch pro-
ceeds: "The New Jersey State Cen
trail Committee is planning to be first
in the field against Bryan, now that
johnson has forwarded his declara-
tion of principles to New York with
which to break the ice. On Jan. 80
the committee will hold banquet in
Newark and it will have no speaker
who does not dislike Mr.. Bryan. They
propose to trim Mr.. Bryan beautiful
ly and completely. Senator John w.
Daniel, of Virginia, has been in
vited to come up to Newark and do
the chief skinning stunt. Woodrow
Wilson will be another speaker. John
Sharp Williams and Grover Cleve-
land will either come or send letters
There will be nothing said at this
banquet, in all probability that Mr.
Johnson of Minnesota cannot heartily
indorse. The Bryan men of New
Jersey have pleaded for harmony and
have been spurned." Although the
fact is not mentioned in the Inter
Oceans apparently inspired dispatch
ex-senator James Smith is under
stood to be guiding the movement in
New Jersey and as responsible fol
the Newark banquet arrangements
AS to the expectations Of the leaders
in the Gov. Johnson diversion, the
dispatch proceeds: "The johnson
forces figure that they will have New
York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts
New Jersey, Connecticut, NewHamp
shire, Maine, Rhode Island, and Del
aware in the East, and Minnesota
Illinois and North Dakota in the
West, and scattering delegates from
other states on the first ballot. This
they figure, would prevent the nomi
nation Of the Nebraskan on that bal
lot; and then they believe that some