The San Francisco call., 1908-07-08
BAN OF BRYAN
FIRMLYPlACFD
UPON JOHNSON
Nebraskan Declines TO Accept
Gopher Governor as His
Running Mate
If Minnesota Mans Name Is
Mentioned Peerless One
Will Oppose 1t
COmmOner Believes Interests"
Back Rival to Capture
Organization
By George Van Smith
DISPATCH TO THE CALL

DENVER, July William Jen-
nings Bryan has not only declined to
accept Governor John A. Johnson of
Minnesota as his running mate, but
has forbidden the presentation of
Johnson's name as a candidate for the
vice presidential nomination.
Johnson, in the estimation of the
commoner, is an interests" candidate,
put forward to capture the party or
ganization rather than with any hope
of party success in the presidential
campaign. The depth of Bryan's feel
ing toward Johnson may in some de-
gree be measured by the fact that the
commoner not only told Johnson's rep
resentative that he did not want the
Minnesota man mentioned for second
place, but that If Johnson's name were
presented for the vice presidency, he
would openly oppose the Gopher state
governor
I have exclusive information today
from an absolutely unimpeachable
source, high in the councils of
democracy, which proves that I was
correctly apprised of Bryan's attitude
toward Johnson when I wired The Call
from st. Paul that The people of Min
nesota generally, in common with the
Bryanites Of this state, are preparing
themselves to enjoy the spectacle of
Minnesota's presidential candidate
carrying an interest label affixed TO
their governor by none less than Bryan
himself"
O'BRIEN SQUELCHED
The same information explains the
visit Of T. D. O'Brien. former national
committeeman from Minnesota, TO Lin
coin, and the unsociable frame of mind
he brought to Denver after a 90 minute
interview with Bryan. O'Brien is one
of the really big men of Minnesota
To him is justly due much of the credit
for Johnson's success in his first
identified with the old Minnesota ma
chine and, until Johnson's candidacy
appeared on the horizon, was a stanch
Bryan man.
Press and public were puzzled last
week when O'Brien was summoned to
Lincoln from st. Paul. The explana-
tion that OBrien had been invited to
Fairview to discuss the platform fell fat
in view of the fact that Martin O'Brien
of the resolutions committee, and still
fiatter when the St. Paul lawyer arrived
in Denver and denied that Bryan had
talked with him about the platform
planks.
O'Brien was in an ugly mood when
he reached Denver. He came on the
same train with brother Charles Bryan
and DR.. Hall, the original Bryan man,
but not in their company. He insisted
that his interview with the commoner
had consumed only a few minutes and,
pressed for an explanation of his in
vitation to Lincoln, said: why should
1 not be invited? 1 know Mr. Bryan
very we'll" Every question touching
the vice presidential nomination for
Johnson was parried by O'Briens state
ment: Il told Mr.. Bryan that Johnson
would not accept second place and
Johnson will not be invited to take it
by Bryan"
In all of which OBrien was undoubt
edly telling the literal truth, but the
truth unadorned with the sidelights.
which explain O'Brien's trip to Lincoln
and bad frame of mind. If it does not
fully explain why Johnsons name will
not be mentioned for second place.
WILL OPENLY OPPOSE HIM
Bryan summoned O'Brien to Lincoln
to tell him in the most unmistaka BILE
terms that the minnesota man would
not be acceptable as the commoner's
running mate Nor did the peerless
leader stop with mere statement of
his desire not to have johnson on the
ticket. He told O'Brien that for rea
sons that were good and sufficient he
would openly oppose the Minnesota
man II his name was presented to the
convention for second honors
persistent rumor current today.
that Johnson's name would not be pre
sented for first honors, was emphati-
calIy denied tonight by Congressman
Hammond. who will nominate johnson.
and Thomas D. O'Brien. Hammond
said: There is just one condition un-
der which we would withdraw Johnson
from this race; that condition would
arise upon the withdrawal OF Mr..
Bryan
"Johnson's name would be presented
to the convention even II we were as
sured that he would receive only the
90 votes from Minnesota"
CHAUFFEURS ARE FINED