The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-03-08
MAKE 1T A FREE-FoR-ALL.


Governor Johnson of Minnesota was
Endorsed for the Democratic presiden-
tial nomination by the state Democratic
committee of Minnesota on Friday by
. vote of eS 10 %, the minority rep
resenting the Bryan sentiment in the
committee The Endorsement is sig
nificant chiefly as formal announce
ment of the governors intention to
contest with Bryan for the nomina-
ton, determination which should add
materially to the interest in the Den
Yer convention.
So far as Governor JohnsOn's rec
ord is concerned he has shown some
high qualifications for the office and
has certainly demonstrated his vote
getting ability among his own people.
About the only grave handicap he has
is the fact that he is Henry Waiter
sons choice for the place; and no Dem
ocrat having Wattersons support has
been successful in a long term of
years. although he did help to elect
Bradley the Republican. to the United
States senate from Kentucky.
However that may be. the Minnesota
governor is easily one Of the most
conspicuous figures in his own party
by reason of his election TO office i'm
a strong Republican state and his dis
tinctly successful administration of the
office under difficult conditions. The
Bryan opposition to him charges that
he is the choice of the interests" but
his OWN record has shown an indie
pendence. a devotion 70 the public well
fare and a determination 10 secure
justice for all that disposes Of such
a charge He has been neither cor
poration batter nor a tool of special
interests. Apparently he has none of
the elements OF the demagOgue nor of
the opportunist in politics. If there
is any serious objection to him as a
candidate it is geographical, and in this
he is on a par with Bryan, who is
located still further out of the center
of politics than is Johnson. The Min
nesots, man has been comparatively un-
known as a national figure until re-
Gently. but that is no great disadvan-
tage: and if he happened TO go into
the convention with any strong sup
port from the south he would stand
a good chance of winning.
one of the regrettable features of
this years campaign in both parties
is the apparent determination of the
result i'm advance and without any
hard contest The Republicans seem
II.
Hughes is regarded as a possible can
didate by the New Workers. Similar
". Bryan seems to be the Inevitable
choice of the Democrats. although there
is no lack of opposition to him in the
east and south. for various reasons.
1t would add much TO the value of the
nominations on both sides if a choice
were made by unpledged delegates and
solely on the merits of the candidates.
The result might be the same, but
il would not leave the impression that
the whole program had been cut
and dried in advance
Not since the New York Democrats
tried 20 prevent the nomination of
Grover Cleveland at Chicago in 1882
has any national convention presented
the appearance of representative
hodv free to make its own choice and
anxious TO select the best man. In
1896 and in 1900 McKinleys nomina-
fion was a foregone conclusion In
1901 Roosevelt was practically nomi-
mated to succeed himself before the
convention met. on the Democratic