Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1908-04-20
TRlU MPH OF DEMOCRATIC PRIN
CIPLES is IMPERATIVE.
THE NAN AND THE HOUR.
With the Nomination of John A. John.
son, Progressive Democrat of In
tegrity, 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 DO
litical, require some measure Of sue
cess to maintain their spirit and ef-
ficiency. Continuous and overwhe elm
Ing defeat, even in the worthiest of
causes, disfieartens the strongest men,
Conditions are such in this year
1903, that united Democracy, sup
porting strong presidential nominee,
can win the presidential office and
open the way for return of the Delio
cratic 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 ma
ton. Twelve years of almost unop
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 SUD-
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 so 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 it's leadership has
not been able to inspire confidence in
p 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 it
should name it's leader in a presiden-
tlal campaign and no longer permit it.
self to be defeated by a sentimental,
though heroic. devotion to a great
name that mas dominated 1t for a
dozen years. 49,.
If in the ranks of the party there is
man whose principles, whose party
fealty, whose success in political bat
ties, whose actual achievements in
legislation and statesmanship-and a
man holding commanding political
situation-are such that victory under
his leadership is indicated, is 1t not
the duty Of reasonable, thoughtful, de.
voted Democrats, desiring the success
or 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
well as impartial observers and Jour-
nal1sts throughout the country, believe
that he Is the man Of the hour, the
man In every way equipped to make a
successful campaign, and afterward
to be chief executive of the highest
order. Let us briefly review his career
John A. Johnson was born In st.
Peter. Nicollet county, Minnesota
July %, 1851, of Swedish parents. His
childhood and youth were passed in
great poverty. At 13 years of age, he
was compelled to leave the public
schools OF his native city, in order to
support himself and the parental fam.
lily, Though his formal education was
thus early cut short, his elf.education
never stopped, 4 A student at all times,
a wide reader and thoughtful one,
Mr.. johnson, after some years Of OBJ.
scure toll as drug and grocery clerk
and railway time-keeper, became at
the age of "a editor Of. the st. Peter
Herald. He soon became known as
one OF the ablest of Minnesota jour,
RNists and was recognized as one of
" leaders Of journalism in a state re.
markable for the number, vigor and in,
huence Of its periodical press. As. a
country editor, he was gradually drawn
into politics and In 1898 was elected