The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-07
Minnesota State Committee
Present the Name of Their
Governor for President.
BRYAN MEN FIGHT,
BUT ARE OUTVOTED
Fail Both in Securing Declaration
for Nebraskan and Preventing
One for Johnson-Organize
Volunteers, and Will
Work for Dele
gates.

/ r. PAUL, MINI, March THE
Democratic State Committee of
Minnesota this afternoon adopt
lo ed resolution indorsing Gov
ernor John A. Johnson, of Min
| nesota, fot the Democratic presidential
nomination. and recommended that he
be named by the national convention
at Denver next July.
AS the meeting OF the committee was
presided over by Frank A. Day, pri-
vate secretary to the Governor, and
as Mr.. Day voted for the johnson reso-
luton on every test and on the final
ballot, the action of the committee this
afternoon Is held by political leaders as
placing the Governor formally In the
race for tho Democratic presidential
I, nomination.
! Bryan Forces Are Beaten.
| The Johnson resolution was carried
by vote of IS to % after the Bryan
adherents had forced two test votes, on
both OF which they were defeated. The
Bryan men insisted on a roll call on
every vote. and gave notice in their
speeches on the original resolution that
they would not be bound by the action
OF the State committee, but would
make fight throughout the State for
a delegation from Minnesota to the
national convention Instructed for
| Bryan.
Moreover meeting OF Bryan al-
herents held at the Ryan Hotel imme-
diately after the adjournment of ths
State Committee. formed a Bryan or
| sanization. which proposes to carry the
| contest against johnson into every pro-
cinct OF the State.
| The State committee, besides adopt
ing the johnson resolutions. voted that
| the State convention to elect delegates
! to the national convention, should De
| held in st. raul on May 18th. TIE
matter OF calling a convention to nomi-
nate State officers was left to a COM
! mittee OF five. to be appointed by State
4 Chairman Day.
The meeting of the committee To-
day was the most largely attended IN
1 the history of the Democratic party
| in Minnesota. word having been sent
| to all members that a resolution in
| dorsing johnson woull probably lie
offered. OF the Ill members, 81 were
| present or We're represented by proxy.
Several proxies were thrown out on a
| technical point, though on only one
| proxy contest was there any indica-
ton OF the Johnson Bryan fight This
was on the proxy held by James Mana-
nan, OF st. Paul, a personal friend of
MIR. Bryan, and recognized as one of
the Bryan leaders in this State fIe
came to the committee holding proxy
for the member FROM Itasca county,
which he had received from T. r. Hud-
SOL, of Duluth. OF the Democratic Ma
tional Committees
Mr.. Hudson had received the proxy
by wire from tue Itasca county men,
Der. The committee on proxies ruled
that proxy could not be transferred.
Thus Mr.. Manahan was prevented from
taking part in the meeting.
The state committee was called 20
order this afternoon by Chairman Day.
who made brief speech congratulate
ing the Democrats OF Minnesota on
recent victories in the State, closing
with the statement that in spite of
feuds and jealousies all Democrats
would abide by the action of the party.
Resolution IndorsinE johnson.
Martin O'Brlen. OF Crookston, who
was member of the Populist State
Committee in 1896. offered resolution
indorsing Governor Johnson for the
presidency. The resolution follows:
Governor John A. johnson has
twice brought victory to the De-
nocracy in Minnesota. During his
incumbency of the office OF Cover
nor more reforms have been insti-
tuted and more remedial legislation
adopted than during any equal
period OF time in the history OF
our State. He has been controlled
only by the public interests. His
mentality. restless energy and
sound Judgment. united with his
unimpeachable integrity. make him
the embodiment OF the best spirit
ri the West. an ideal American cit
izen.
Confidently believing that his
nomination as the candidate of the
party for the presidency would
bring to our support the electorate
votes of all the States within the
the Mississippi Valley, and thus
secure a national triumph, we ro-
specially present to- the De-
mocracy of the nation the name OF
the Hon. John A. Johnson as a can
didate for President of the United
States, and recommend to the
Democrats OF Minnesota that they
cause his name to be presented to
the national convention at Denver
for nomination."
Would Not Indorse Bryau.
Tho presentation of tls resolution
precipitated a contest, and the Bryan
adherents insisted on fighting every
inch of the way. After long and at
times, acrimonious debate. the Bryan
supporters forced vote on two reso-
lutions.
One was to lay the O'Brien resolu-
tion on the table, and the other In
dorsed the candidacy OF William y.
Bryan for President. These motions
Were overwhelmingly defeated The
Bryan adherents made the members of
the committee go on record by insisting
on roll call. not only on the O'Brien
re resolution. but on the two other minor
resolutions. On the motion to lay the
O'Brien resolution on the table thu
vote was yeas ai. noes 6S. On the
resolution indorsing Bryan the vote
was yeas 10, noes 66.
The debate was opened on the O'Brien
resolution by Jay La Due, OF Rock
county, who said that as a friend oe
Governor Johnson's he desired to save
the Governor from the results OF ths