The Washington herald., 1908-05-13
BRYANS LEADING RIVAL
A STRONG PERSONALITY

'If the Republicans nominate one man
who is much in mind at present. he
should be much easier to beat than an
other man whose mountaineering TO
peculiar OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Just now
out of the question. While I am not
actively seeking the nomination for the
Presidency. if I should get it. am going
into the fight with all my heart and
soul.
He attracted interest around the WI
lard Hotel simply because OF his person
atty It was not that people knew that
here was q man who was spoken OF as
the most likely opponent OF W. ]. Bryan
for the Democratic nomination for Presi-
dent of the United States. They saw.
simply, a man in a dark green suit OF
clothes-a business suit-green necktis TO
harmonic, tan shoes; nothing striking
anywhere until you saw the face Of the
man. Then people looked twice. And be-
cause Gov. John A. Johnson, newspaper
man and governor of the State of Mime
sofa. has a face that bears looking at, he
was a marked man in the hotel corridor.
lard Hotel yesterday morning, having
reached Washington in company with
Vice President Fairbanks and Hon. w.
J. Bryan. the "Commoner" who hopes 10
be President. The Vice President drove
from the station to his home; Mr.. Bryan
went 10 the Metropolitan Hotel, and Gov.
Johnson and his charming wife went to
the New Willard
1t would not matter II you had no idea
who Gov Johnson was; you would prob
ably stop and take stock of the man.
SmoOth-shaVen and open-eyed, he fronts
the world boldly, as If conscious Of a GER
tain power within himself He has
rugged face, deep-lined with character
wrinkles. and with an expression that
would be regarded as somewhat stern. It
is. evidently. the face of a man who has
fought and fought hard for what success
he has achieved. Ii is doubtful whether
any one would take it TO be the face of a
newspaper man. II is, rather, the face Of
a soldier
II may be faneiful, but It seems, too,
that one can see in the man something
OF his ancestry: can read it in 'his face
that is ordinarily set and rather hard
but which can smile in hearty friendli-
ness (else he would not be a Politician.
something OF the Morse father and n 9TH
er, who emigrated TO this country and
won a home for themselves out of the
wilderness of Minnesota
He has the face Of man who has done
things Il is a face that has wrinkles
such as the face Of Lincoln held. and
perhaps. for something OF the same cause.
For here is a man who. from the age of
twelve. has shouldered responsibility. and
merely boy. finding the care Of his fam
lily devOlving on his shoulders. went to
work IN a drug store in st. Peter. Mimi
the town in which he had been born. and
settling his neck 10 the harness. has been
in it ever since.
Gov. Johnson is typical OF that class
Of man which has made the United States
what it is. Self-reliant. independent
strong-with the strength that comes Of
ancestors who were fighting men. and TO
whom so much Of the fighting blood has
descended as to enable them to win up
ward from the adverse circumstances
that threatened 10 crush him. He has
the right now TO write LII D. after his
name. The right was conferred last year
by the University Of Pennsylvania-not
for scholarship. surely. for Gov Johnson
would be the first to disclaim scholarly
attainments. but simply in recognition
of the merits Of the man. He himself
was educated in the public schools of st
Peter but he had scsnt time for school
ing, for at twelve years Of age had TO
earn living for himself-and others
It is not too fanciful to imagine that
one can see part Of the history of this
strenuous life written in the figure OF the
man, It is a figure that commands rec
ognition. Loose-knit, and yet with a
subtle suggestion Of power about IT, A
man not easily moved either TO laughter
or to anger, and yet, when in converse
with one In whom he has entire conf
dence, as with his wife, yesterday, all
gentleness and suavity and perfection Of
manner. In short. Gov. Johnson is the
sort OF man who impresses you as one
who would be a good companion in the
wilderness; a fine comrade for a tight
place; one who would stick and fight to
the end, regardless of consequences
There Is something about him that sug-
gests the soldier. perhaps. This is the
result OF his seven years in the National
Guard of his State He was captain when
he left il because his political duties were
becoming heavy.
At the Willard Hotel yesterday he was
one of the most popular figures, for it
is plain that he has friends in many