The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-09
Speakers Want Man Nomi-
 mated Who Can Win
J0HNS0N'S AVAILABILITY
Stromme of Minnesota Tells of His Personal Acquaintance With the Governor and Lauds Min
 nesotans Virtues.

was comfortably filled lass night when an enthusiastic Johnson meeting was held in the interest of the campaign of Gov. John A. Johnson of Minnesota. The crowd was in a pleasant humor and cheered re- peatedly, while the speakers were urged | to continue even at a late hour.
 A. G. Smith, chairman of the Johnson committee, called the meeting to order and stated that it was not an anti Bryan movement and that many good democrats believe that Mr. Johnson is more avail able than any other candidate.
 Forney Johnston introduced the speak CTS. While at the supreme court re- gently number of Alabama citizens dur ing the recess of the court, discussed the lethargy and lack of enthusiasm in the Bryan campaign he said, He then con- tinued with the statement that they pro- eeeded to organize for the purpose of put ting the name of the most available man duced Judge B. M. Allen with a few humorous remarks.
 Judge Allen First Speaker.
 "The democratic party" said Judge Allen, was at one time the dominating party, standing for good government, for purity, for strength and for greatness Now we are the respectable minority We have beautiful and eloquent records be- hind us, but the only thing we need Is a man that can get the votes. If it only took talk of blanks in platform we could beat them easily.
 We have tried for long time a glori- | ous democrat as our candidate. He is one of the best winded 1 ever saw, having lost two times and comes up again for the third round He is good at making votes with his old friends, but he can't go out among the republicans and sin ners and bring them into the fold.
 If we decide to have a man of the proper calbre then there is no man so appropriate as John A. Johnson of Min nesota. At best we ought to have all understudy. Where would the democratic party be if something should happen to the immaculate Commoner?
 "The party has so long been under the | leadership of a man who can do them no good that all democrats are tired of being defeated. They want to win"
 MT. Allen urged that the people must take charge, and not leave it to the poli- ticians, who are yelling "Too late.'' l "As man, democratic in principle, elected by an enormous majority In a re- publican state, a popular man, he is not to be lost sight of when we need to carry some states that the democrats don't own. He can carry a half dozen states that Bryan can't touch.'
 Walker Percy introduced.
 Walker Percy the next speaker, said that he received formal document yes terday morning asking what his personal preferences are for president coming from Tomlinsons office. He answered then and there that he was not for Bryan and that he was for Johnson.
 In reciting his reasons he reviewed the l past and present, panic and scare and his conviction was that it is due to the legislative and administrative policies of | the government and consequent loss of confidence.
 He said that the country is waiting for results, to see what policies are to be pur- sued in the future. He did not believe | that w. J. Bryan is the man to bring | about business confidence, and he doubted | whether even Colonel Tomlinson would say so. He said the people of the coun- try do not wish any more intoerant dom- | inaton.
 l MT. Percy's speech was punctuated by remarks and suggestions from the audi ence. Bryan seemed popular with the crowd. but they loudly applauded when l the speaker said that after a long search for a man like Grover Cleveland he had 1 at last been found in the person of Gov 1 ernor Johnson.
 1 Stromme Is Last Speaker.
 The guest of the city. P. o. stromme of Minnesota warmed up the audience with | number of anecdotes, said that he had 1 the right to talk because it was a harder | thing to be a democrat in his state than where respectable people are all demo- l crats.
 He declared that in his judgment tie | government is the servant and not the | guardian of the people. He did not think | that a man could be bigger than his | party. MT. Stromme brought first hand information of Governor Johnson, calling | him democrat of sterling worth. Touch | ing upon the tariff he said that 1t is time to stop the government firm trying to regulate prices.
 1 The speaker insisted that Governor | Johnson is not Swede but an American. "As the son of Swede, a poor boy who | has proven America to be land of op- i portunity, he deserves some attention. His | father was village blacksmith and he had to leave school; became a man at Il 1 years, worked for himself and family. He was not like the rich boy who spent all 1 his time trying to invent a liquor that l would taste as good coming up as it did ! going down."
 With an admirable humor which kept the crowd laughing all the time, the speaker pressed home the history of the Minnesota governor, his incorruptble honor ond democratic principle. ''Unfor- tunately, when nominated for governor it was then too late,' but he got two thirds of the votes. Practically all the people in Minnesota will vote for him if he is nominated for President.
 "Who can mention a single state where MT. Bryan can get any more votes than he did last time, but we know that we will not be doing Bryan any great favor if we give him another chance to be beaten.
 In closing he said he could not help '