The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-24
DOES NOT HOPE FOR MUCH
johnson Boom Started Too Latc-Not
Candidate for vicc-Presidcnt.

Candidate for vicc.President
WASHINGTON. D. c.. June es.-The
Stars staff political writer telegraphs
from ST. Paul to-day:
Governor Johnson's candidacy for the
Democratic presidential nomination Is
considerably bagged down at present.
However. the motto Is pixies Peak or
bust" and 1t will be driven into Den-
yer with a flourish there to "bust't
in all likelihood. This probability Of
disaster is not controverted by politi-
clans here who are closely associated
with the management of his boom.
or course. none of them admits that
i-defeat staring him In the face, for
it is not the policy of his campaign.
crs to surrender in advance of the
opening OF the battle, but 1t is readily
apparent, IN familiar conversation with
them. that they see but little prospect
of overcoming the tremendous Bryan
swing.
There is but one forlorn hope left
| to the johnson men, and 1t Is as for
+; lorn as a eve lamb lost on the moun-
| tain side; that is. that the Georgia
| Democrats. under the lead of Governors
elect Joseph Brown, representing the
conservative sentiment of the South,
NAV make a demonstration which VIII
encourage the anti-Bryan strength IN
| the South to hearten up and Join with
Tammany. However, this Is not re-
/ garded as an exceedingly hopeful con-
tingency at best
Failure OF Johnstons Boom.
Two main reasons are assigned for
| the failure of the Johnson boom to
| spread to States outside his own. The
first one was given by Colonel Henry
| watterson, when he threw up nhe
sponge not long ago. namely that the
] johnson campaign was started too late
| and was caught by the frost. Second.
| that Governor johnson has no virile
| and definite platform
He does not stand for anything In
particular except Democratic success
end his OWE, record as 4 yote-setter
| and Governor. The people. for lack
of time have not been instructed upon
| his record to any extent This. indefi-
niteness is strongly in contrast with
Bryanism There probably is not a
democratic grammar schoolboy In the
whole West who couldl not write q
pretty fair essay upon Bryan and his
ipolicIes.
Another factor which has worked
against him is the charge that his
campaign has been Financed by some
| wealthy interest, Nobody In Minne-
sofa, Democrat or Republican. believes
aught against Governor Johnson, but
lit is fact that, however baseless
they may be, reports have been circu-
Hated that some friend with money
ond Governor Johnson is not rich-ls
boosting his candidacy.
When / came to ST. Paul had
| heard two reports. one that Governor
Johnson, If it were offered MN, mig 81 !. :
| accent second place on the Tickets the
/ ctl,er was that II Johnson Is not nom
! mated for first place his friends among
1 the conservative Democrats might ne
lukewarm,l the campaign.
"There's nothing to either one OF the
4 stories..' said Dick O'Connor, the DEM
ocratic boss OF St. Paul, MINNEAPOLIS
i and Minnesota. Governor Johnson
will not take second place. whoever
lis nominated at Denver Will receive '.
1 the loyal support of the Democrats OF
this state. Why, there is Mayor Law
,ar Democrat Of this city, who
stunned for Palmer and Ruckner
against Bryan in 1886, Put 1t doWn
right now that he. will work might
and main in this State for the Denver
4 nominee. 49,, ,,,a r,th
4 Governor johnson this afternoon IN
Ibis chambers at the Capltoi, asNeu
| him pointedly as to his reported agree,
ahility 10 the contingency OF second
place. ],
81 am not candidate Tor secoho
place,, he replied aemphatically,
4 Nv Impression of Governor John
sons attitude Is that he is not wor-
rying much over the contest, There IS
another campaig n to be iwaged four
years hence. He is young, and he mas
known what it Is to work and wait
His friends will see toait that the cam
pnign next time will be begun seasons
ably. In the meantime he Is TO FOL.
low Bryan and La Follette,s plan %
Ilecturing. n am told that he has $30,-
900 worth of lecture contracts signed,
l. ~ r