The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-01-17
He Says the Governor Is Not
True Blue Democrat.
Insists That Bryan Is Entitled
To the Party Support.
The Nebraskan Still Remains
The Idol OF His Party.

st. Paul, Jan. ll.-That Governor
John A. Johnson is the candidate of
the railroads rather than the pcople.
| and that he is not true democrat
but q representative of the system
Is the charge against Minnesota's
presidential aspirant by Attorney
James Manahan of St Paul
Coming from man who has been
one OF the leading spirits in the fight
against the railroads in Minnesota
and prominent democrat, his attack
upon the governor as presidential
candidate is doubly significant.
As usual Mr.. Manhattan does not
mince words. He hits from the shout
I! der.
Taking the interview in The New
York World, in which Johusons can
didacy is announced, as text, he
proceeds to attack the governor be
cause of his soft speech. lie ex-
presses the opinion that neither Gov
ernor johnson nor anyone else can
serve two masters-the masters in
this case being the railroads and the
people.
SCOTS at Pride
MIR. Manahan does not believe that
state pride should lead the democrats
of Minnesota to support Johnson and
evidently if his influence added to that
of prominent democrats in the north7
ern part of the state who have already
spoken has any weight, Minnesota will
not only fail to send Johnson
pledged delegation to the democratic
national convention, but will send one
instructed for Bryan.
MIR. Manahan, who returned today
from a trip to Chicago and Lincoln,
Neb., had the following to say regard
ing the situation:
Il have no sympathy with the prop
osition that Minnesota democrats
should be for Johnson as a matter of
compliment, or in recognition of state
pride.
"The selection of president for
the United States is serious business.
''The principles involved and the fit
ness of candidates are the only things
which should be considered. Compli
mentary votes are worse than wasted
when great issues are at stake
'If the democrats of Minnesota be-
lieve in the principles and personality
of w. j. Bryan, they should stand for
him, first, last, and all the time.
Digs Into J.. ]. Hill.
eff they believe in trimming to
suit Jim Hill and corporation inter
ests generally they will support any
candidate put forward by the system
Governor johnson is being pushed
with vigor by the monied interests
i'll the east and by corporation demo-
Gratis in Minnesota.
1T is fair to Judge any mans policy
by the character of his support gen
orally.
"The voices that best represent the
trusts in this country are shouting
the loudest for Governor Johnson. His
interview in The New York World en-
that support, whether or not
it was intended.
'Therc is not statement in it to
alarm the trusts and the railroads are
perfectly satisfied with it.
"The interview lacks the ring of re-
form as it is understood by progressive
democrats and as it is typified by
MIR. Bryan. In my opinion Mr. Bryan
is entitled to the support of every
man who stands for progressive lcgis-
lation tending to destroy monopoly
and regulate the great public service
Fight Between People and System
"There is conflict now Oh be-
tween the people and the system ana
no public man can serve both. ANY
man who attempts to steer hiiuuie
course must meet disaster.
"In NV Judgment the democrats OF
Minnesota should thoroughly under
stand this and send delegation to
The convention pledged to support
BRYAN first, last and all the time
sBryan is stronger now than he ever
was. The fact that he has met defeat
vice and still remains the idol of his
,artv instead of being handicap is
,ribute to his manhood that IS IRE
,;stable His former defeats at the
,olls were the results of money spent
" tbe same interests which are now
ryinc to defeat him for nomination
md that explaines why the people
eader"