The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-05-01
AROUsEENTHUS|ASM
CANDIDACY OF GOVERNOR JOHN
SON BRINGS NEW HOPE.
PROBABILITY OF WINNING
Party Leaders See In the Man from
Minnesota an Unusual Chance
for Victory 1t the Polls
In November.

C~hicago.-At the Johnson ~headquar-
ters In the Grand Pacific hotel
there are signs Of satisfaction with
the turn the presidential nomin-
alton contest is taking in the Dem
ocratic party. AS the Johnson man
ayers see 1t, the action Of the New
York state Democratic convention
and that Of the Michigan Democratic
state central committee marked a sig
niticant change in the contest. From
now on" said F. B. Lynch, who is in
charge Of the Johnson campaign, you
will hear much similar news. From
now on people who read the papers
will know that there is a lively con
test on, good.natured though 1t shall
be SO far as we are concerned, for the
Democratic nomination at Denver. The
two official actions OF late--I refer to
the course taken by the New York
state convention and the Michigan
state committee-are merely indicar
tons of what is going on beneath the
surface. The fact is the rank and file
Of the party are waking up to the OPP
portunity the Johnson candidacy af-
fords. They are beginning to reflect
on what a good thing victory next No
vember would be and to consider that
with a new candidate like Johnson It
is not only possible but probable. The
news of the action of the Michigan
state central committee was a sur.
prise, but non the less pleasing on
that account. It was all the more o
surprise because OF the fact that we
have done no active work in Mich.
gan and supposed, Of course, that the
state central committee would indorse
Bryan and Campau. We had received
many encouraging letters from that
state, but did not believe that the
party leaders would refuse an indorse.
ment to Bryan and Campau In this
state which has been so friendly to
them in the past.
Another thing that Is significant Is
that. although we have made no effort
whatever to organize In Illinois, quite
a number Of counties are electing un.
instructed delegates to the Springfield
convention, and in all such cases fail.
ure to instruct means that the dele,
gates are fayorably inclined toward
Gov Johnson. The popular response
we are receiving in Illinois shows US
that had we been In the field a few
months earlier this state could easily
have been lined up for Mr.. Johnson,
We are receiving a perfect deluge Of
letters from all parts Of the state, and
largely from friends and supporters Of
Col. Bryan who believe that the time
has come for a new candidate"
Scores Of letters are being received
at the Johnson headquarters from
Bryan Democrats in all sections C. the
country. While as much attached to
Col. Bryan as ever, the writer's feel
that it would not be wise to nominate
him a third time.
A typical letter is the following
from W. N. Bremen, a prominent lum-
Der dealer at Niles, O.:
Il reply to you as a Democrat. l
have talked OF and pondered over this
presidential election many times, and
have found that John A. johnson Is
the man needed to lead us to success
| have worked hard for Bryan in his
last campaigns, and fell with him. I
am now out for John A. Johnson. We
can win II he is nominated. | will
talk with our delegate here and urge
him for Johnson. / have told him
Bryan cant win, even II nominated.
| have quit politics for the past three
years, but will 60 to work for ]. A. j.
For if we nominate him he will surely
be elected. | will stay by him until
the last vote Is counted in November.
Trust me with any political WORK you
may offer me for his success"