The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-08
JOHNSON IDOL OF
GREAT NORTHWEST
Republican Official Praises Demo
cratic Governor and Urges
Him for President.
PLEASED WITH SWANSON
Says Virginia Executive Would
Make Good Running-Mate for
Minnesota Man.

DR.. Samuel G. Smith, OF ST Paul,
Mimi, a well-known professor of So
GEOLOGY. president Of the State Board
of Visitors OF Public Institutions, Is
in Richmond attending the National
Conference OF Charities and Correc-
ton.
Speaking of the present political
situation, he said yesterday that lie
had received news from his home to
the effect that Governor John A. John
son had carried the primaries for
President In Minnesota over Mr.. Bry-
an by about 10 to 1. IN view of the
remarkable hold Governor Johnson
has upon the entire state he did not
regard this as surprising, but declar-
ed that II both parties had been vot-
ing together in the second primary 1t
had single delegate to the State
conventions.
johnson Praised.
Governor Johnson" says DR.. Smith.
us man of most remarkable quail
ties; born under lowly conditions, he
has fought his way to the front by
sheer brains, energy and character.
and. notwithstanding his youth Of
poverty and. hardship, he is not
ashamed of 1t. but never boasts of
1t.
He is a courageous. simple hearted
gentleman. His hold upon the people
of the entire Northwest is something
never known before In the politics Of
that section. He will probably carry
at least four Northwestern States II
he receives the nomination at Denver.
He can carry every State that Mr.
Bryan can carry, he can carry several
States that Mr.. Bryan cannot carry.
and he has lighting chance in several
more where. Mr.. Bryan would be
ignored.
Depends on the south.
The Democracy has a great oppor-
tunity before 1t, and It depends entire
sly upon the Southern States as to what
shall be the outcome. or the delegates
elected thus far about half are for
Bryan and about half are uninstructed.
In the next month the South will speak.
and 1t is for her to say what shall be
the future OF the Democratic party.
Governor Johnson has accepted an
invitation to speak in Richmond at
the Cotton Manufacturers Association
which occurs the latter part OF this
month. The people of Richmond will
then have an opportunity to see the
man as he Is and take his measure
After hearing your own splendid
Governor. Mr. Swanson. the other even
ing. l felt little like charging the
ticket and calling 1t johnson and
Swanson 1t has rhythm: 4. has a
swing: it has go In 1t. and 1t has two
men who belong to the future.
Line. Shifting.
at have always myself been a Re-
publican, but this is a time when party
lines are shifting. and men who believe
In n low tariff, preservation of the in
tegrity OF the States, and the reduction
OF government to the lowest terms
compatible with security, Will by and
by have to stand together. For these
things Governor John A. johnson
stands.
lie does not wish, as do both Mr..
Bryan and Mr.. Roosevelt. to make the
Federal government the great engine
for the transaction OF the peoples
business.
1.-The qualities OF Governor johnson
as a vote-getter may be seen in the
fact that when Roosevelt carried Min
nesota by over 10000 majority john
son was still elected Governor on the
opposite ticket. In the election for
the second primary in q State that
never but once before had had Demo-
cratic Governor Johnson carried 1t By
about $4,000 majority.
Calls Him Great Man.
Ills cnarm OF speech is not easy
to analyze;' he is not a spell-binder,
but he is an alert, earnest straight
forward man. He gives the impress
sion of tremendous reserve power, and
when the people go away from hear
Ing him they are not SO apt to say
that was great speech as to remark,
that is great man. He has the stuff
in him to make a great President and
to reserve to the American people the
n p1es If IeffarSonian Dep1Ocracyn