Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-04-30
NEED OF COUNTRY,
Triumph of Democratic Principles
Is Imperative.
THE MAN AND THE HOUR.
With the Nomination Of John A. john
son, Progressive Democrat Of Inteo
rity. Ability and Achievement, Sue
cess Is Assured.

Wearied of twelve years Of over
whelming defeat in national elections.
during which time the party has lost
national political control Of every
northern state and has witnessed dew
astating inroads even on the southern
states. hundreds of thousands of Dem
ocratic voters have i'm the last few
months asked, who is the man who
can lead the party to victory?"
The best of armies, military or polit-
zeal. require some measure Of success
to maintain their spirit and efficiency.
Continuous and Overwhelming defeat
even in the worthiest of causes dis
heartens the strongest men.
Conditions are such in this year 1908
that a united Democracy supporting a
strong presidential nominee can win
the presidential Office and open the
way for q return OF the Democratic
party to power. Not only do the best
interests of the Democratic party call
for a victory this year. but so also do
the best interests Of the nation. Twelve
years of almost unopposed government
of the republic by one party and for
eight of those years practically by one
man have brought about conditions
that are repugnant to the efficient and
satisfactory administration of a gov
eminent supposedly of the people.
Principle With Victory.
Victory can be achieves this year
without sacrificing one " Of the
stand for principle that has been made
with so much sacrifice by the Demo
cratic party OF the United States for
the last dozen years. 1t ! merely
question of changing leaderhip. Three
times in succession our parry has gone
to defeat because its leadership has
not been able to inspire cnfidence in
the masses of the voter patriotic,
progressive and sincere as shat leader
ship has unquestionably been. The
party is greater than ID individual
membership and greater tan its lead
ers. The time has come wen it should
name its leader in a presidential cam
paign and no longer perm itself to be
defeated by sentimenta though he
roic, devotion to n great pine that has
dominated 1t for dozen ears.
If in the ranks Of the barty there is
man whose principles whose party
fealty, whose success h political bat
ties, whose actual achievements in
legislation and statesnanship-and
man holding n commanding political
situation-are sFcLl tnau Victory under
his leadership 3 indicated. is it not
the duty Of reasonable, thoughtful. de-
voted Democras desiring the success
of their party tsturn to him?
Johnon the Man.
The friends If Governor John A.
Johnson of Minnesota, who have
watched his rmarkable career In re-
cent years. as well as impartial OBJ
servers and Journalists throughout the
country. believ,that he is the man Of
the hour, the nm in every way equip
ped TO make successful campaign
and afterward be a chief executive
of the highestdler. Let us briefly re-
view his career
John "A. JonlOn was born In St
Peter, Nicollet Junty, Mimi, July %,
1861, Of Swedis parents. His child
hood and youtlwere passed in great
poverty. At fifteen years of age he
was compelledlto leave the public
schools of his btive city in order to
support himself nd the parental fam
! lily. Though informal education was
thus early cut sort, his self education
never stopped. student at all times,
wide reader nd thoughtful one,
Mr.. Johnson. aer some years of OBJ
scure toll as aFug and grocery clerk
and railway tfkeeper. became at the
age of twenty-ilr editor of the st. Pc
ter Herald. soon became known
as one of the sest Of Minnesota jour-
nalists and wi recognized as one of
the leaders or lrnalism In q state re-
markable for number, vigor and in
| fluence Of its briodical press. AS a
country editor was gradually drawn
into politics@a In 1898 was elected
member OF senate of the Mime
sofa legislaturpnd his first public po-
litical work as a member of that
body. From irst he was identified
with various form measures which
have since becle law In Minnesota.
| Wherever Vernon Johnson has
gone he has dressed men as being a
man or the Lloln type. He has the
faculty or ming many friends and
| few enemieS.
Governor Johdn's Lao;sIative Results !
The govern recommended a per-
manent tar Emission. The legisla- |
ture gave u him, and the ink was |
hardly dry Ole document before he !
appointed a omission so strong In /
It's personnl ut the Republican sem
ate resolved n rising vote TO con-
nrm the apptments without delay,
wnlie the e'lly Republican house,
tnougn wltnothe power of confirma-
tion, expressly rising vote its APP
preclation OF excellence of the gov
ernors appohents.
In northerIIInnesoto are the great
est iron o. as In tho world The
state OF -sesota owns extensive
areas Oh V0lands. BY leases they
were iarge the hands Of the Unit
eu StateS corporation. and the