Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-01-01
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY l. 1908,
NO OCCASION FOR CONTEST.

An effort is being made by inter-
ested parties to stir up a fight in
Minnesota between the Bryan men
and the johnson men over the con-
troll Of the state delegation to the
national convention. The effort
should be fruitless one, for the
simple reason that to very great
extent the Bryan men and the John
son men are identical. The men
who fought the most determinedly
for Bryan in 1896 and 1900 are still
as great admirers of the Nebraskan
as ever and will not put up a fight
to defeat him in the convention.
But many of them say and think
that it would be wiser to nominate
johnson. whom they consider of
presidential size, right on the ques-
tions at issue this year, and strong
er because he has not been thru
such strenuous fights as those OF
1896 and 1900 and has not the draw
back of having been twice defeated
for the place. But if Johnson is
nominated it will not be because of
a fight in the convention or in state
conventions; it will be because de-
mocracy will voluntarily turn to
him as the logical candidate; it will
be with Bryan's help, for the old
leader has power enough over the
masses to prevent the nomination of
anyone he believes unfit to be the
party's candidate. We believe that
he is patriotic enough to yield the
place, if he can be made to see that
it is better to 60 into the fight with
a candidate whose name does not
bring up any old animosities in the
party or among the independent
element that really holds the BAL
ance of power. Bryan could do
nothing that would more complete
]y convince people of his greatness
than by thus subordinating himself
to the good of his party without
sacrificing any of his principles.
The whole suggestion of trouble
comes from little coterie of men
who are always ready to see treason
in the actions Of men who do not
agree with them on every matter Of
policy, but this clique is powerless
to cause any great ruction because
it takes two parties to make fight,
and the johnson men are not look
ing for a fight. The latest move
of the clique is to attempt to brand
Johnson as the candidate of 1.-THE
interests" the basis for this being
that Johnson and Hill both ad-
dressed the recent meeting in WASH
ington. This is ridiculous. The
object of the meeting was not po-
li1ical; it was to consider means for
conservation of national resources,
and Hill would naturally be called
on to address any such meeting on
account Of the energetic work he
has done as speaker to call atten-
ton to the necessity of better me-
thods of development of national
resources in this part of the coun-
try. Neither johnson or Hill chose
the speakers; each Of them was Sc
lected on account Of his prominence
and knowledge Of the subject mat
ter. Nor would the 'interests"
turn to johnson as their candidate.
He has shown that he believes in law
enforcement, and that is not what
they want.
But there is no doubt that
some sensible men among the
moneyed men have come to rea-
lie what the Wall Street Journal
has been dining into their ears for
four years that it is better for
legitimate business that there be a
calm but determined effort made to
eliminate the evils that have sprung
up under the present system and
adopt strict regulations to prevent
recurrence Of these evils, rather
than AXE the chances of having the
entire system overthrown by a pop
ular upheaval amounting to social
revolution which is feared by both
the advocates Of the present system
as we'll as those who believe in a
gradual approach to a new system.
Among these conservatives who are
wise enough to see the necessity of
doing something there will un.
doubtedly be many who favor a
man with the calm, deliberate hab.
its and clear judgment that has
characterized johnson, and who
would rather see him elected than
airy one who would either be re.
dictionary or extreme radical. But
the interests that want to see the
government cease interfering with
corporations have nothing to expect
from any man that can get the
democratic nomination, and their
only hope is to force the nomina.
ton and election of some republican
Of the Fairbanks type and theil
prospects are not too bright there
either. Their real citadel Of
strength is the U. S. senate, anc
they will undoubtedly devote thei1
strongest efforts to retain their hole
there.