The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-13
AIabamian Says Democrats Gan Be More Sure of Victory
 With Minnesota Man
DOES NOT SAY THAT BRYAN
 CANNOT WIN FOR PARTY
Senator Johnston Declares That Gov ernor Johnson Is His Choice For
 President, But VIII Support
 h Nominee In Any Case. v

Washington May 2.-(Special. )-That
 democratic victory in the presidential election this year is more certain with
 the nomination of Governor Johnson of Minnesota than with that of w. J. Bryan
 of Nebraska. is the opinion of Senator
 Johnston of Alabama.
 In an interview tonight the Alabama
 Senator went on record as favoring the
 nomination of Govern Johnson, who is
 now in Washington and also made the
 statement that this is the feeling of three
 fourths of the democratic senators in l Washington.
 | Senator Johnston is the first democrat | in the Senate who has come out against l the nomination of Bryan. A number of
 others are known to be opposed to him,
 but as most of them regard his nomina- | tion as a foregone conclusion, they have
 refrained from giving public utterance to l their opposition.
 T have been the friend and supporter | of MT. Bryan in every contest he has | made,' said the Senator tonight. q do l not feel less kindly to him now. No one | has greater admiration for his patriot | ism sincerity and ability than l. I would l rejoice to see him president I think the | chances of democratic success are greater
 now than in many years. It is no time for | any attack on any great party leader;
 no time for dissension or divisions 1 do
 not say that MT Bryan cannot win. I
 should be hopeful of success were he
 nominated, but l do say that in my opin- ! ion victory is more certain with Governor
 Johnson our standard bearer; and this
 is that of three-fourths of the democratic | senators at Washington.
 No Opposition Aroused
 Governor Johnson has not aroused the | opposition of any democrat anywhere. | He has, by his unaided ability, energy and | integrity, risen from humble poverty to the highest station in his state. His i worth ano splegdid manhood eem;nand the admiration of his political opponents. ! He has in his own state overturned a large republican majority and converted l 1t into a majority for himself of over 1 76,000. What other democrat has done | this? He has been the friend and faith
 fu supporter of MT. Bryan, approving the platform as well as the candidate. | What democrat who would vote for 1 MT. Bryan could refuse to vote for Gov 1 ernor Johnson. Many democrats do not | approve of some of the policies of Mr. 1 Bryan. Not one is opposed to a single
 policy that Governor Johnson stands for
 Many democrats have refused to vote for 1 MT. Bryan. Not one has failed to sup 1 port Governor Johnson. and thousands of
 republicans have focked to his stand i ard. | Few doubt that Governor Johnson can
 carry Minnesota and many feel that his l following would be larger In New Jersey and New York These last states are | naturally democratic, and whenever our | party is thoroughly united it carries them. They are most hopeful ground this year. l Bryan and Johnson are democrats of the | same type, and therefore their respective l SuDDOrtprg In A lahama haVa n O rea
 anything but a friendly contest. It Is a l question of opinion as to which is the
 most available man, and my own opinion | Is that Johnson is. So far as l am con-
 cerned, I shall support with zeal the nom- 1 inee of party, and when the battle
 ceases no democrat shall be found nearer l the flag than I.
 | Success of Party. ''The first consideration of a patriotic l democrat Is the success of his party. The 1 fortunes of individuals who soon pass off | the stage of action are scarcely worthy of ! consideration. In the selection of candi- l dates where the issue is doubtful the par amount question is which of two or more l faithful democrats can most certainly lead l the party to victory. It is vastly more im- portant to the south and to the country that democrat faithful to the principles and the organization of the party. should occupy the White House than that we should express our esteem for and confi- dence in any man. The men who believe l in the fundamental principles of our party | constitute a majority of the voters of the l United States. Questions of policy have | separated and divided our ranks, and | many have grown to believe that repub- ! lican rule meant prosperity. They have 1 been rudely converted.
 Tt is essential to success that we should l put behind us past differences agree upon prir anif and a4foit ita didate whom every democrat can support with enthusiasm. With such a candidate l believe that success is sure. Whilst recognizing the right of every man to follow his convictions. could not support the nomination of Judge Gray because think he could not unite the party or com mand Its enthusiastic support. Senators Cut Down. From a clear majority in the United l States Senate have in few years seen our numbers dwndie to one-third. We have seen every democratic senator | from a northern or western state, except l two, lose his seat, and not because he was | unfaithful or unworthy. The south has | been invaded and two republicans elect | ed. one from Missouri and one from Ken lucky If we can this year present candidate who can sweep some northern | and western states we should see demo- cratic senators following in the wake of victory and holding this citadel, the last defense against sectional legislation. I want to success assured. I want to see the democratic hosts following en- Enthusiastically the flag of our standard bearer. I want to see the man nominated who can best lead democrats to victory and behind whose standard success shall follow W. s.
 Patents Issued.