Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1908-05-14
NEED OF COUNTRY.


10 tufpSI dttsc.
THE MAN AND the HOUR.
with ths Nemlnatlea Of John a. Jehn.
sen. Progressive Dsmeerst Of intss.
rity. Ability and Achievement, Sue
ssss 70 Assured.
Wsarisd - twelve yssrs sf ever
whsiming defeat 10 national slsetiona
during which time the party has lost
national political control Of every
northern state and has witnessed dsv-
astating 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 victoryr
The best of armies, military or polat-
icai. 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 msn.
Conditions are suchYln this year 1908
that united Democracy supporting q
strong presidential nominee can win
the presidential ONCE and open the
way for a return Of the Democratic
party to power. Not only do the best
interests OF the Democratic party call
for q victory this year. but 90 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
ernment supposedly 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. II IN merely q
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 fits individual
membership and greater than its lead
ers. The time has come when it should
name len leader d presidential cam
Daignl and-no T. aess permlti rrelf 30 he
defeated by q sentimental. though be-
roic. devotion to a great name that has
dominated II for q dozen years.
II in the ranks of the party there IN
man whose principles. whose party
fealty, whose success In political bat.
ties, whose actual achievements IN
legislation and statesmanship-and q
man holding q commanding political
situation-are such that victory under
his vleadssship In indicated, IL 4 not
the duty Of reasonable, thoughtful, de-
voted Democrats desiring the success
ot their party to turn to himi
johnson the Man.
The friends Of Governor John A.
johnson OF Minnesota, who have
watched his rsmaykabls cayser I'm 70
cent years, as wsii as impartial OBJ
servers and 5ournalists throughout the
country. believe that he 10 the man Of
the hour. the man In every way equip
ped to make q successful campaign
and afterward 10 be q chief executive
Of the highest ordsr.a Lst M briefly rs-
view his career.
John A. johnson was born In st
Peter, Nicollet county. MINI, July a.
1891, Of Swedish parents. His child
hood and youth were passed In great
poverty. At thirteen years Of age he
was compelled TO leave the public
schools Of his native city In order 10
support himself and the parental fam
ny. Though his formal education was
thus early cut short, his self education
never stopped. A student at all times,
a wide reader and a thoughtful cns,
Mr. johnson. after some years Of OBJ
| scure toll az q drug and grocery clerk
and railway timekeeper. became at the
age Of twenty-four editor of the st. Pc
ter Herald He soon became known
as one Of the ablsst Of Minnesota four
nalists and was recognized as one Of
| the leaders of Journalism In q state rs-
markable for the number, vigor and In.
fuence Of its periodical press. Az Q
country editor he was gradually drawn
q member Of the senate Of the Mime
sofa Legislature, and his first public Do
liticai work was an a member Of that
body. From the nrst he was identified
with various reform measures which
have since become law In Minnesota
Wherever Governor johnson has
gone he has impressed men as being O
man Of the Lincoln type. He has ths
faculty Of making many friends and
few enemies
oevsrner Johnson's Legislative Results
The governor recommended q per-
manent tax commission. The legisla-
turs gave II TO him, and the ink was
hardly dry on the document before he
appointed a commission 30 strong In
its personnel that the Republican sen.
ate resolved by a rising vote to con-
frm the appointments without delay.
while the equally Republican house.
though without the power Of confrma.
ton. expressed by a rising vote its ap-
preciation Of the excellence Of the gov.
ernor's appointments.
In northern Minnesota are the great.
est iron ore fields In the world The
| state Of Minnesota owns extensive
areas Of these lands. By leases they
were largely In the hands Of the Unit.
| ed States Steel corporation. and the
| state was receiving only an insisnin-
can't income from its royalties. The