Sharp County record., 1908-05-01
NEED Of COUNTRY
TRIUMPH OF DEMOCRATIC PRlN-
CIPLEs is IMPERATIVE.
THE MAN AND THE HOUR.
With the Nomination Of John A. john
son, Progressive Democrat Of In
teqrity, Ability and Achieve
ment, Success Is Assured.

! ing defeat in national elections, dur
ing which time the party has lost ma
tional political control Of every north
ern state and has witnessed devastat-
ing inroads even on the southern
states, hundreds Of thousands of DEM
ocratic voters have in the last few
months asked Who is the man who
can lead the party to victory?"
The best Of armies, military or po-
litical, require some measure OF sue
cess to maintain their spirit and eft.
fciency. Continuous and overwhelm-
ing defeat, even in the worthiest OF
causes, disheartens the strongest men.
Conditions are such in this year
1908 that a united Democracy, sup
porting a strong presidential nominee,
can win the presidential office and
open the way for return Of the Demo
cratic party to power Not only do
the best interests OF the Democratic
party call for victory this year but
so also do the best interests Of the ma
posed 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 ad.
ministration of a government sup
posedly Of the people,
Principle with Victory.
Victory can be achieved this year,
without sacrificing one iota Of the
stand for principle that has been made
with 80 much sacrifice by the Demo
cratic party Of the United States for
the last dozen years. 1t Is merely a
question Of changing leadership. Three
times in succession our party has gone
to defeat, because its leadership has
not been able to inspire confidence in
the masses Of the voters, patriotic,
progressive and sincere as that leader
ship has unquestionably been. The
party Is greater than It's individual
membership and greater than It's lead
ers. The time has come when 1t
should name It's leader in preslden-
tal campaign and no longer permit IT,
self to be defeated by sentimental,
though heroic, devotion to great
name that has dominated 1t for q
dozen years,
II In the ranks Of the party there is
a man whose principles, whose party
fealty whose success in political bat
| ties, whose actual achievements In
legislation and statesmanship-and q
man holding commanding political
sltuatlon-are such that victory under
his leadership is indicated, Is It not
the duty of reasonable, thoughtful, de
voted Democrats, desiring the success
OF their party, to turn to him?
johnson the Man.
The friends Of Gov John A. johnson
OF Minnesota who have watched his
remarkable career In recent years, as
we'll AZ impartial observers and Jour
nallsts throughout the country, believe
that he Is the man Of tho hour, the
man In every way equipped to make Q
successful campaign, and afterwarC
/ 10 be chief executive Of the highest
order, Let us briefly review his career
John A. Johnson was born In 81
Peter Nieolet county, Minnesota
July 20, 1861, Of Swedish parents, Hi
childhood and youth were passed II
great poverty, At 10 years Of age h,
was compelled to leave the publ,
schools Of his native city, In order e
support himself and the parental fam
ily. Though his formal education wal
thus early cut short, his selfeduoatior
never stopped A student at all times
wide reader and thoughtful one
Mr. Johnson, after some years OF oh
soure toll ~ drug and grocery olerl
and railway tlme.keeper, became Al
the age Of "a editor of the St. Petei
Herald He soon became known as
one OF the abest OF Minnesota jour
nallsts and was recognized as one o.
the leaders OF journalism In a state 70
markable for the number yigor aud In
flp 8noe Of Ia periodical press As 1
country editor, he was gradually drawf
into politics and In 1898 was elected
member OF the senate OF the Mime
seta legislature and his frat public 30
lItieal work was IA member Of tha,
body From tho first, he was identl
fed with various reform measures
which have since become law in Min
noaota
Wherever Gov, Johnson has gone
he has impressed men ~ being u mar
Of the Lincoln type lie has the fac
uty Of making many friends and few
enemies.
Gov Johnson's Legislative Results,
The governor recommended n per
menent tax commission The legia
lature gave II 70 him and the ink was
hardly dry on the document before he
appointed commission 40 strong In
It's personnel that The Republican sen
ate resolved by rising vote TO con
firm the appointments without delay
while the equally Republican house
though without the power of eouarma
tion, expressed ny rising vote its 40,