The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-07-06
THE ISSUE NOW.

TIE l0OOG WV
Colonel Watterson asked by The /
Leader to recount what was intended
in the original Johnson movement re
fers to an editorial in the Courier
Journal wherein he takes Colonel I
0Homphiu of the Charleston (SOuth |
Csrolinh) News and Courier. to task |
or failing TO understand the differ |
ence between Governor Johnson as |
the candidate of virile democracy /
and Governor Johnson. the last-straw. !
the last.nope-candidste of the Wall
street interests The editor of the
Courier-Journal wrote a platform In
that answer to the Hemphill query
and It's a platform that should be
/ read by every democrat In the Uni
tied States. II states the case clear
lly and witn that beauty Of diction so
wholly Wattersonian as to make It
interesting to those who do not take
an interest In politics. In full 1t
reads as follows:
"The altogether friendly scrap be
tween the CourlerJournal and the
lCaarleston News and Courier seems TO
resolve itself into difference vi iudg-
ment with respect TO a democratic
nominee for president.
Major Hemphill claims to have been
lthe discoverer OF Gov Johnson. OF
/ Minnesota, and to have first urged
him as an available candidate. The
lCourier-Journal took up the sugges
Ition. coupling It with the proviso that
he movemen. for the Minnesotan
should not be a movement hostile to
BRYAN. but should have for its object
a united and not divided party It
distinctly reprdiated any unfriendli-
ness TO Mr.. Bryan and his admittedly
, large following It sought to organize
uch volume of public opinion with
the democratic party as would
} satisfy Mr Bryan and his friends that
II would be wisdom TO put forward a
: new man. like johnson, raising less
friction and fewer antagonisms in
the debatahle states.
We never contemplated a break
with Bryan and the Bryanites. To
have done SO would have been TO in
! vite defeat In advance. Even on that
q qualified line, however, nothing came
. lof t. The discovery Of the News and
IAfVNl AfAa AH1 ohNIhlA hANNA NiAln W
the Courier-Journal, fell upon a deaf
aud dumb party, Jonnson proved a
n water-haul The editor Of the Courier
. Journal finally threw up his hands
2 saying in effect--"all right, boys II
If you can stand 1t so can I"-and went
e to Florida.
n- Mr. Bryan's nomination was con
c ceded Each person suggested as an
r alternate. including the governor oi
IL Minnesota, declared he would not op
r pose him. State after state began Il
le declare for him. Finally and all TOO
"a late the Johnson boom, which hat
\, gone to sleep in It's cradle, woke al
- and showed signs OF life. Il begal
y % break out not in the West. but II
ar toe East Il reappeared distinctly a
n an attack upon Bryan. It's organs
which had remained silent when ther
A. might have been some chance. be-
Ae came abusive in the last degreC
ne Then money. big money took IN
in field Headquarters were opened ul
is' Somebody was financing" the Johl
nd son boom. To what end? Not
ne single state, save Minnesota. Nortl
sc South East or West Johnson. as
cel compromise candidate. had not take
rs Johnson as y belaIed candidate o
~ fered no announcement 10 practicl
ou men, Johnson. as an anti-Brysn cal
didate. supported by a group OF Eas
~ ern politicians and newspapers, see
20 ing 10 destroy Bryan rather than
he nominate and elect Johnson, was pr
be pOsterous.
res This Is the situation with whiC
the CourierJournal has been dealin
ug Tho CourierJournal Is a democra
80 not a republican. IL Is democrl
ra Bryan. or no Bryan Il Is also
sht practical politician. Il wants a den
led cratic victory and Is not willing
NE ride for a democratic defeat Par
OF unity Is Indispensable Clearly
nm could not be made on Johnson. II G
"i be made, Il IS besng made. on Brya
and. before the election. we expect
~ ~ see II complete, universal and e
,e thusiastic.
Now comes the News and Couri
10 define lis position as follows.
out WIN the News and Courier 81
Tor port Denver or Chicago? asks Hen
is Wateron. The Gncwer Is easy. T
.ch. News and Courier stands by tne p
ses ~ right OF wrong in victory and
lur' defeat II the convention al Den,
cts says Bryan. We shall support him vi
zen as much spirit as the great leader q
nss prophet Of the democracy In Kentuc
There Is nothing else for as to DO.
. We think Mr. TAFT is very n
~ ~ man but he represents a very rot
" .nIfN Tool
moi po'''les, pH''s, a patty 20 Nhich
ex- 're pp"No"i lliS oi the pouln can
ern directly traced. a party OF pG6llc pl
ate der OF negro domination in
bic soutn-'a party OF special prlvllee
OF cenirallzlng tendencies. Of secrl