The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-08-25
DENIS MAY GET
 NORTHWEST Republicans Alarmed at
 Conditions. MINNESOTA IS DOUBTFUL Admitted That Johnson Cannot Be
 Beaten. consre.sman Tawney May Be Defeated Because of His Close AfaIiatIen
 with speaker of
 the House.
BY ALFRED J. sToFER.

From fnformaJlon brought 70 tnib CAty by visitors--and they are not all po- liticians, either--there are indications of an upheaval in the Northwest by which the Republicans are likely to suffer greatly in the coming cleo" tions.
 According to statements made here. the storm center is in Minnesota. Gov ernor Johnson having accepted an- other nomination, means terrific hght by the Democracy of his State. The Republican campaign managers had hattered themselves that this popu- lar and successful man would not be in the race again this year, and they were even telling 1t around that Gov ernor Johnson was not sincere in hls support of MT. Bryan.
 They reasoned that the Governor would go out into the campaign and make a few speeches for Bryan, but that deep down in his heart he would be glad of Bryan's defeat, so that the Nebraskan would be eliminated en- tirely as a factor in national politics. They also calculated that with another Democrat at the head of the State ticket in Minnesota they would have plainer sailing up there, and would not have to bother with Minnesota this year. They did not even believe that another nomination could be forced upon e1OVeTnOf JO0uson.
 Evidently their Idea was that he would decline after 1t was. for they argued that if he should be defeated for third term away would go his chances for any future nomination in a National Democratic Convention. But they find that John A. Johnson is made of the stuff that fires him up for an- other redshot contest with the Min nesota Republicans. MT. Bryan's frianda q raf aiao ornfnn n with q will to help elect the Governor. and the followers of of the latter are reported to be determined to join hands earn estly with the friends of the Nebras- kan, so take 1t all around the Repub- licans are in an uneasy frame of mind over the outlook in Minnesota.
 Minnesota Republican Talks.
 John C. Stephenson of Fergus Falls. Minn., is one of the visitors here this week who is frank enough to say that there is no doubt In hts mind of the election of Governor Johnson. and Mir. Stephenson is an ardent Republican, too.
 He has such a hold on the people of the State that no other result can happen" said Nh. Stephens -Jacob- sen. the Republican candidate for Gov. ernoT. while he is also . Scandinavian, is not knewn. But the people know Johnson I think 1t was a ehrewd political move on the part of Bryan to instruct his friends In Minnesota 10 see that Johnson was nominated. Even the most sanguine Republicans will admit now that Minnesota is in the doubtful column Should Bryan be elected, he would probably make John son member of hls cabinet"
 This is only a sample of the talk heard in Washington as to the admit ted strength of Governor Johnson. It |. AH.- Lr | "a. A...A ter, one-ideaed Republicans as a rule are compelled to admit. that they see no prospect of heading oif Governor Johnson in. Minnesota. few hope that in his case 1t may be- an illustra- fion of the pitcher going to the well once too often or of prize-dghter go- ing into the ring just once. too often.
 The Minnesota Republicans picked up q Norwegian as their candidate for Governor, However. 1t is generally conceded that Jacobsen has not the winning qualities in him. He might have done we'll enough with Johnson out of the running.
 None of the State Executives who attended the White House conference arranged last spring by President Roosevelt, made a better impression than Governor Johnson, and few were so attra ctive in personality and ability as the Minnesotan. That was gener- ally conceded by the public men of both of the great political parties.
 Johnson at Grfdiron Club.
 The first time that Washington fairly sized up Governor Johnson was last December. Primarily. he came here to attend the big National Rivers and Harbors Congress, composed of 1900 delegates. That was a notable week in the Capital City. Congress opened that week. The National Re- publican Committee met here also to fix the time and place for the National Convention. And on Saturday night of the same week the famous Gridiron Club gave its first dinner of the sea- son. Governor Johnson was a star guest at that notable gathering. Most Governors and other public men can stump along pretty well at an ordinary banquet, but the Gridiron dinners are so different from the ordinary affairs that 1t requires a peculiar aptitude to follow the pace that has been set by the brightest among the highly dis tinguished men of this and other eoun- tries. There are no set toasts and one called upon (and he is never even certain that he will be called upon) has to catch the spirit of the evening, and he's got to be up and doing to rank up we'll to the front. Some great men talked that night. but it was admitted on all hands that the two best talks of the evening were by Governor Johnson of Minnesota and Senator Johnson. of Alabama. As wired The Advertiser at the time the guests all said it surely was "a Johns(t)on night"
 Although he was elected by over 0oO majority two years ago 1t Is said that Coneressman Tawney of Minne- sota is having much trouble in his district. According to the information which reaches Washington there is a large part of his constituency who do not like his close utilization with Speak CT Cannon.
 Tawney is a bright. splendid fellow and deserves the highest credit for having pulled up in the world against adverse circumstances. He Is not ashamed to put in cold type in the sketch of his life in the Congressional Directory a note to the effect that while a boy he commenced to work in his fathers blacksmith shop at Gettys- burs. Pa. where he was born. Then he became a machintst. When a young man he went out to Minnesota and thare worked first as blaclEsm tn and machinist. and at night studied law.
 Jim Tawney's greatest friend and benAfactor while he was trying to be- come a lawyer was the late Judge William Mitchell, a justice for many wears of the Supreme Court of Min nesota. The Judge was an ardent Democrat and W so beloved that the Republicans quit king nomination