The San Francisco call., 1908-07-05
Johnson Talks Practical Politics, but Is
Silent on Affairs Of State
Minnesota Governor Says Bryan Must Be Nominated
on the First Ballot or He VIII Be Defeated
By George Van Smith

Special Correspondence TO The Call
ST. PAUL. MINI, June 3o.-That the
work Of the republican platform com
mittee resulted In an insult to Presi-
dent Roosevelt and that if William
Jennings Bryan does not bag the
nomination on the first ballot in the
Denver convention the name of the
democratic nominee VIII be Johnson,
home address, St. Peter. Minnesota,
arc the two opinions on national ques-
tons which John A. Johnson, gov
ernor Of Minnesota and presidential
aspirant, is willing to share with the
American electorate.
johnson may have other opinions
touching national questions. lie does
not care 10 discuss them. His man
ayers feel the same way about II. In
fact one OF the big machine democrats
evidenced marked surprise at the sug-
gestion that Johnson should be ex-
pected 20 air opinions on questions of
national government Earlier in the
campaign Governor Johnson answered
questions propounded by newspaper
men sent from afar to garner the ideas
OF the man backed by the safe and
sane" democracy TO beat Bryan. The
heartless newspapermen went away
and printed what Johnson said TO them
BOTH @GAsSED TOO MUCH"
None has accused any Of the special
correspondents Of inaccUracy, but the
johnson boomers think them most un-
clubliize, and Johnson mas conhded to
me that both Bryan and myself have
gassed too much"
knew John a. Johnson, the country
editor and country legislator knew
him as z clean cut, good natured, hon
est and rather commonplace citizen.
i knew the inside Of the corporate jug
glerys with q Minnesota republican state
convention which resulted in a popular
revolt and the election of Governor
Johnson I did not know Johnson, the
governor. I learned before I met him
that Johnson, the governor, had de-
1eloped, that he had made q good gov
crnOr and, from some Of the men iden-
uded with the Johnson campaign. that,
while they did not consider him q
world beater," If Bryan did not win on
the urst ballot. Roger sullivan and the
Illinois delegation would start the
wave that was expected to land the
nomination for the Minnesota man.
learned, too. that Big Tim" SulIi-
van, New York Roger Sullivan. Illinois
and Cardinal Dick O'COnnor, J. J.
HIS Minnesota democratic boss and
one Of the most astute machine poll
ricians in all democracy, believed that
they had more than z fighting chance
10 down the commoner. A representa-
tive Of the Illinois forces was on the
ground urging O'Connor not 70 give up
the ship and assuring him that Illinois
would be there with a solid delegation
for Johnson after the hrst ballot when
I reached St. Paul
HE HAS DEVELOPED
As q result OF a visit 10 the finest
executive Offices in the whole sister
hood OF states, I learned that Johnson
has developed. Johnson, the governor,
is much finer appearing man than
Johnson, the country editor, and John
son, the governor, as z politician, is
decided Improvement on Johnson, the
senator from Nicollet county Gov
ernOr Johnson would and did talk poll
tics with me. He would not talk about
policies OF state. lie confirmed the re-
port that he had made q good governor
and explained that ne had given the
ship Of state his personal attention in
stead Of passing il on to his private
secretary, also country editor, or his
executive clerk, a graduate reporter
from q country newspaper Office.
Governor Johnson was willing to dis
cuss the chances Of securing the demo-
cratic nomination for president, but he
was not willing TO uncover his ideas
on tariff legislation. He voiced his in
dignatiOn over the widely heralded re-
port that he purpOsed to fracture all
precedents by conducting his campaign
fn Denver in person. but he refused TO
tell me what kind Of an anti-injunction
plank he would recommend TO the
democratic party, or in fact that he
would recommend any anti-injunction
declaration on the part OF the Bourbon
platform carpenters.
PLATFORM NOT VITAL
Johnson explained that he could not
with 'prOprlety" discuss a work TO be
done by the committee on resolutions
either At the direction Of William Jen-
uings Bryan or possibly in defiance of
the wishes Of the Commoner. He per-
mitted me 10 understand that the cues
tion OF platform was not the most
vital I confess did not quite fathom
his "propriety' argument until he
clinched it by saying:
Both Bryan and myself have gassed
too much"
The question OF delegates was an
other matter The strained look dis
appeared from Johnson's rather fine
eyes when platform planks were rele-
gated and nomination possibilities
were again BIDdCleQ- lie was at home.
and gracefully at case, as he pointed
out that he had the long end of every
thing democratic in New England: a
long way the better Of the argument
in New York and Pennsylvania; that
ne had broken into Ohio and that Mary
land would be for him if that tight
little state had a chance to cast a
Second ballot al Denver. The MARYLAND
delegation, he said, would be for John
son, after il had discharged the duty
OF casting a complimentary vote for
Governor Gray. There was none of
the braggart Of cheap politician in
Johnson's estimates OF his chances. He
Kept the possibility Of Bryan winning
on the first ballot always TO the fore.
q referring 10 that possibility again and
again. His was the eye Of the cold
political mathematician when, bent
slightly over his desk as il peering
into the future and speaking as if
from q maze of penciled calculations.
ne said: II Bryan does win on the
drst ballot il cannot be by marga in
Of more than 20 votes
PRACTICAL POLITICS
An attempt 10 swing back 10 ma
tfonaI partisan policies was -abortive-