Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-20
New York Paper Responsible
For Sitting of Flattering
Prospects For Johnson
GAVE THE GOLD Bue" faint
Desired to Boost Minnesotan and I'm
willingly Gave Him the Wrong Label
johnson Refuses to Accept Invita-
ton to Non Partzan New York
Dinner.

Washington. Feb. 20. 1t is evdcn
there are many democrats in public
life. particularly in the two houses %
congress. who are still hoping that j
may be possible to bring Governor
Johnson out as an active candidate
for the democratic presidential nomi-
nation.
Last week there We're conferences be-
tween these democrats. as Il result OF
which they determined to see what
could be done to bring the governor to
Washington for non partizan dinner
the idea being to show him off here
to the best advantage. and thus help
advertise him to the country, especially
TO people of the states south of here.
Accordingly. Representative Fred Stew
ems of ST Paul was asked to transmit
an invitation to the governor. Repre-
sentative Hammond of Minnesota. Sec
ond district was at first thought of as
being the proper person thru whom to
send it. but later 1t was agreed that
by sending it thru Mr.. Stevens the
might be best maintained
The telegram was sent by Mr. Stew
ems on Monday. but thus far no reply
has been received to it, There is a story
from st. Paul telling about the invita-
ton. and limiting that the governor
does not purpose being drawn into any
performance which may seem To ind-
cate that he is in the field opposing the
Very general demand that exists for
Bryan. 1t is therefore assumed here
that the dinner invitation will be de-
clined
Representative Stevens said today:
Il sent an Invitation to the gov
ernor at the request Of many prom
inent democratic members of both
houses of congress, who have been
anxious to get better acquainted with
the governor but who did not want
their attention To him at this time TO
take on a political tinse. They accord
ingly asked me to write the invitation
in their name. it being understood that
numerous prominent republicans would
also be invited to dinner. The gov
ernor has not yet replied to my tele-
gram"
Has "GoId Bug" faint.
1t is conceded that the Johnson pres
dental boom has been badly managed.
and that the greatest mistake of all
came thru permitting it to he launched
and guided by the New York World.
which is representative of ;he eastern
'golG bug" democrats. which nominate
ID Parker four years ago. A number of
weeks ago the World itself which sin
cerely desires the nomination of john
son. became aware of this mistake, and
began to name other democratic avail
abilities. 1t has since that time men
toned" nearly every big man in the
party and this morning ii brings out
Tom l.. Johnson of Cleveland. It's de-
sire to take the "cuss" off Governor
Johnson is very apparent, but folks
here think that the gold bug tag is
pretty securely attached to the Mime
sofa man. altho perhaps unjustlN. and
that it will take much more effective
work than the World can do to remove
t. The editor Of the World recently
spent a week in Washington rounding
up southern members of the two
houses of congress. but he was not en-
to believe that Governor
Johnson could win.
The southern voters are for Bryan,
md southern officehoders feel that
hey must not run counter to that sem
.iment.
Laid Plan Goes Amiss.
The plan in the south as outlined by
The two western democrats who have
,een here, is to get up a series of ban
quests to be attended by business men,
md to be managed by comTercfal
'lubs and boards of trade in southern
titles. Johnson would be invited to at
end one or two of these. The first of
hese dinners was to have been the