The morning journal-courier., 1908-01-04
A PRESIDENTIAL AsPIRANT.


 ldent is not to go to William J. Bryan by default. The latest aspirant to ap- peal to the imagination of seasoned | party leaders is Governor John A. | Johnson of Minnesota, who has twice carried that Republican State and who to-day enjoys the respect and | support of the representatives there of all classes. The New York World | has succeeded in persuading him to take the country into his confidence | and to tell what his views are upon the needs of the country and the best | way in which to gratify them. They are mighty attractive lot of views | and if formulated into a party plat form will come nearer placing the Democratic party on its feet than any undertaking since the last election of Grover Cleveland. They almost if not quite justify the confidence of experi- enced political observers who have all along declared that at the right , moment, when living chance pre- sented itself to carry the nation, man with head on his shoulders would appear as a candidate.
 From a practical point of view the nomination a third time of Mir. Bryan is of doubtful wisdom. He has a win some personality, has grown steadily and properly in the estimation of the country, has kept himself free from intercourse and has demonstrated to the satisfaction of unprejudiced peo- pie his absolute sincerity of purpose For example no man is more welcome to the hospitality of Connecticut than he, though from the first Connecticut Aas been~a conspicuous part of ''the eneiny's country" He possesses above any other man in public life the mar vicious power of swaying his audience and pleasing both their ears and their fancy, but he does not possess the corresponding power of holding their attention when his personality is removed. He charms rather than convinces, and it is this recognized fact which has made many of his warmest admirers agree with his po- S-litieal opponents, that from a prac- ,i,t ne Ia is oJa f, I,o presidency is Impossible This is the attitude of the southern Democrats who will if they see fit control the approaching Democratic national con vention. They have the greatest per- senal admiration for him, but they cannot find in him the assurances they need of party victory. This too is the attitude of the supporters of Governor Johnson, who has him self been consistent advocate of Mir. Bryan as the candidate of the party < to which he is attached. It is the at Ni.ude of thousands of Democrats the country over who profoundly believe that an effective political opposition to the party in power can only be or ganized through the leadership of a man whose success at the polls under demonstrated and whose namc is not associated with experimental ideas.
 The possibility of this new leader ship having been discovered is reflect ed in the sensible views held and pro. mulgated by Governor Johnson. He advocates a rational reform and re. vision of the tariff schedules in the interest of justice and of every man who has dollar invested in busi ness. You cannot,~ he aptly says "solve the trust evil successfully un- ii the conditions which produce tho trusts are removed. It is about tim, Infant industries hundred years ole were weaned from their need of pro tection," While he would take iron the favored few the privileges the! now enjoy at the sacrifice Of the man! he would have the laws enforced i'm partially with the end in view Q fairly and effectively controlling all O the industrial, transportation and com mercial evils which confront us. H opposes the extension of the power O the federal government Hc would re serve to tho States the rights no1 guaranteed them under the f2nda mental law. He would appeal to tn laws now upon the statute books { correc. evils which have sprung fror their neglect rather than encourag experimental and doubtful Legislation He stands for tho right of propert 'The man who has 2 dollar investe in farm or factory has right { lave that equity safeguarded frol tfso sttacks of the Gnscrapuious flnan c:sr on the ons hana, and the 2, trcme radical on the other" H opposes federal incorporation, supel vision and regulation of corporation us locating the responsibility for the coGt-ol too far fro-n home. "Corpora lions gre ntitied to have thei- pror