The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-01
NEEO OF COUNTRY
TRIUMPH OF DEMOCRATIC PRlN.
clPLEs is IMPERATIVE.
THE MAN AND THE HOUR.
With the Nomination Of John A. John
son, Progressive Democrat OF In.
tegrlty, Ability and Achieve
ment, Success Is Assured.

lnB WDltn NilHt luO patty hdo iOoN ho
tional political control of every north
ern state and has witnessed devastat
ing inroads even on the southern
states, hundreds of thousands of Dem
ocratic voters have in the last few
months asked: who is the man who
can lead the party to yictory?"
The best of armies, military or po
litical, require some measure OF sue
cess to maintain their spirit and eff
flciency. Continuous and overwhelm
ing defeat. even In the worthiest OF
causes, disheartens the strongest men
Conditions are such in this year
1908, that a united Democracy, sup
porting strong presidential nominee,
can win the presidential Office and
open the way for a return OF the Demo
cratic party TO power. Not only do
the best interests Of the Democratic
party call for victory this year, but
so also do the best interests of the ma.
tion. Twelve years of almost unop
posed government of the republic by
one party, and for eight of those years
practically by one man, have brought
about conditions that are repugnant
to the efficient and satisfactory ad.
ministration of government sup
posedly of the people.
Principle with Victory.
Victory can be achieved this year,
without sacrificing one iota of the
stand for principle that has been made
with so much sacrifice by the Demo
cratic party of the United States foI
the last dozen years. II is merely a
question OF changing leadership. Three
times In succession our party has gone
to defeat. because It's leadership has
not been able TO inspire confidence in
the masses of the voters. patriotic
progressive and sincere as that leader.
ship has unquestionably been. The
party is greater than It's individual
membership and greater than It's lead
ers. The time has come when IL
should name It's leader In a prcsiden
tial campaign and no longer permit IT.
self to be defeated by u sentimental
though heroic. devotion to great
name that has dominated II for q
dozen years.
If in the ranks Of the party there Is
a man whose principles. whose party
fealty. whose success u.political hat
ties, whose actual achievements In
legislation and statesmanship- aud a
man holding a commanding political
situation--are such that victory under
his leadership is indicated. Is II not
the duty OF reasonable. thoughtful. d.
voted Democrats, desiring the success
of their party, to turn to him?
johnson the Man.
The friends OF Gov. John A. Johnson
Of Minnesota, who have watched his
remarkable career in recent years, a.
well as impartial observers and Jour.
nalists throughout the country, believe
that he is the man of the hour, the
man In every way equipped to make a
successful campaign, and afterward
to be chief executive of the highest
order Let us briefly review his career
John A. Johnson was born In St
Peter, Nicollet county, Minnesota
July 2s, 1861, OF Swedish parents. His
childhood and youth were passed in
great poverty. At 13 years of age, he
was compelled TO leave the publir
schools of his native city, In order To
support himself and the parental fam.
lily. Though his formal education was
thus early cut short his self.education
never stopped. A student at all times,
a wide reader and thoughtful one
Mr.. Johnson, after some years of oh.
scure toll as a drug and grocery clerk
and railway time-keeper, became al
the age of "a editor of the st. Peter
Herald. He soon became known as
one OF the ablest of Minnesota jour.
nalists and was recognized as one OF
the leaders OF journalism In a state re.
markable for the number, vigor and in.
fluence OF its periodical press. AS a
country editor, he was gradually drawn
into politics and In 1898 was elected
a member of the senate of the Mime.
sofa legislature, and his first public DO.
litical work was as member of that
body. From the first. he was identi.
fed with various reform measures,
which have since become law in Min.
nesota
Wherever Gov Johnson has gone,
he has impressed men as being man
of the Lincoln type. He has the fac.
ulty of making many friends and few
enemies,
Gov. Johnson's Legislative Results.
The governor recommended per,
manent tax commission. The legis.
lature gave 1t to him and the ink was
hardly dry on the document before he
appointed commission so strong in
its personnel that the Republican sen.
ate resolved by a rising vote to con.
firm the appointments without delay,
while the equally Republican house,
though without the power of confirma.
tion. expressed by rising vote its ap-
probation of the excellence of the gov.
ernor's appointments.
In northern Minnesota are the great.
est iron ore fields In the world. The
state OF Minnesota owns extensive
areas OF these lands. By leases they
were largely in the hands OF the Unit
ed States Steel Corporation and the
state was receiving only an inslgnifi.