The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-16
Strength of Gov. Johnson.

Editor The Washington Herald.
1t is announced in the press dispatches
that Gov Johnson's managers will open
headquarters in New York. Chicago. and
here This indicates that the anti Bryan
element will rally around Johnson S
standard with the hope that he will OBJ
tain enough delegates to prevent Bryan's
nomination.
Manifestly. it is not so much their pur-
pose TO nominate Johnson as to defeat
Bryan. for surely there is not a sup
porter Of Johnson who is simple enough
TO believe that Johnson would make a
stronger candidate than Bryan
II is true that Johnson has been twice
elected governor of Minnesota. and Bryan
has been twice defeated for the Presi-
dency, but this proves nothing as to
their relative strength as Presidential
candidates. Johnson was elected on 10
cal issues. with the aid of Scandinavian
Republican votes, in a Republican State.
But is it reasonable TO assume that those
Scandinavian Republicans would carry
the national feeling TO the extent Of sew
ering connection with the Republican
party for the mere purpose of voting for
a man Of their own kindred on the ma
tional Democratic ticket2 The Scandi-
navians have always been Republicans,
and have always supported Republican
national policies.
Is it reasonable to assume that they
would sever party ties, surrender politi-
cal convictions. and sustain a political
Darty that they have always dstrusted
l opposed, merely TO vote for a man
their own antecedents?
o assume that they regard party afil-
on so trivially. can surrender political
victions easily. and give political
port 10 a party whose principles
repndiate on such pretext is to
&c very low estimate on Scandi-
Ian intelligence, integrity. and patriot
here seems to be really nothing in
nson's mental and moral equipment
his political sagacity. in his knowl-
Of the science OF government, nor
his geographical location to justify
assertion that he would be as strong
Bryan IN any State other than Mime
=, his native State.
fact, the political career of John
has been so brief and confined to
! narrow limits and under such Pc
ar political conditions that there is
ly no standard by which his national
Zeal strength can be determined.
Re claims OF the anti-Bryanites that
lson can carry States that Bryan
lot carry is all moonshine. There is
possible way to test JohnsOn's ma
al strength 1t is even questionable
whether he could carry his own State
as a Presidential candidate. The fact
that he carried Il on local issues does
not prove that he could carry it on ma
tional issues. Partisan feeling might
prove stronger than kindred feeling. as
it usually does. Eliminate the Scandi-
navian element from Minnesota. politics
and Johnson would not be a factor worth
reckoning with This is the source of
his strength, the secret of his power.
But this clan spirit is a very weak asset
when il comes TO national issues. II
may do very well on State or local is
Sues but its intrusion into American
national politics would be resented bv
every intelligent voter in the country.
1t Is surprising, too. that Johnson's
managers do not see this and concen-
trate their strength on a man whose
source lies with the whole people. and
not merely with a clan; on one whose
principles are broad policies. liberal and
political convictions. Parker's defeat
wouldn't be in it with Johnson's. The
nomination Of Johnson would spell the