The Washington herald., 1908-03-19
Is Gov. johnson a corservative |?

II is evident that the conservative
Democrats" who are pressing Gov John
son, Of Minnesota. as their Presidential
candidate have not taken the trouble TO
acQuaint themselves with the policies TO
which Gov. johnson is committed nor the
advanced views which he holds upon pub
lie questions. Gov. Johnson. for instance
believes in the actual operation OF the
initiative and referendum, an idea which
Mr.. Bryan timidly suggested and then
renounced with great promptitude when
he discovered that the rank and file Of
his party did not uphold him in his po-
sition. II is true that Gov. Johnson has
not, so far as we are aware, advocated
the government ownership of railroads,
another suggestion which Mr. Bryan cast
into oblivion almost as soon as he had
brought it forth, but he is strongly in
favor Of municipal acquisition Of street
railway properties. so that the difference
between his position and that assumed by
Mir. Bryan is one of degree and not of
principle.
II SO happens that the most superficial
seeker after information need have no
difficulty in learning Gov. Johnson S
views. He has submitted several mes
sages TO the Minnesota legislature, the
document Of 1897. for instance, emulating
one OF President Roosevelt's ponderous
utterances. inasmuch as it contained no
less than 270O9 words. In this particular
message he indulged in a lengthy dis
cussion Of many questions which are
semi-naiionsl In their character. First
Of all. it is evident that his attitude to-
ward corporations is not altogether
friendly He inveighed bitterly against
the United States Steel Corporation. which
owns valuable iron ore deposits in Mime
sofa, because the amount which II pays in
taxes bears such small ratio TO its
enormous dividends. He has a similar
complaint against the railroads. The
people should no longer" ne writes, be
compelled to pay great dividends on mon-
ey that the people themselves have put
into railroads by reason of excessive
rates Of transportation" He was one of
the first state executives 10 assert that
The time has come when relief is de-
manded in the matter of passenger rates. -
He urged the passage of a law requiring
a fat fare OF > cents a mile; and he
went even further than President Roose-
welt when he suggested legislation which
would make the mandates of the railroad
commission instantly effective notwith-
standing appeal "A mandatory writ en-
forcing such orders" he asserted, should
be issued by the court as a matter OF
course, without trial of the question upon
its merits" Surely there is nothing con-
servative about this language, and even
though it was written before Gov. john
son was a factor in the Presidential race
It is difficult to see how the Democrats
who are concerned in the protection OF
corporate interests can in the future hope
10 find in him a man after their own
minds
Gov. Johnson's antagonism TO corpora
tions is not confined to these instances
He believes in the increased taxation OF
express and sleeping-car companies, he
would have telephone companies taxed on
their interstate business, and he advocates
license tax law for corporations. AS "a
the trusts. he cannot refer to them ex-
cept in terms of righteous indignation
the monopolistio control OF the lumber
markets" by the so-called lumber trust
being the especial object of his ire. He
would even invoke the boycott as a rem
edy against existing trust evils. And
last. but not least, he expressed himself
regarding the initiative and referendum
In these words:
There can be, ! am sure, no valid reason aEains
the submission 10 the people Of a proposed con
sttutional amendment providing for direct initia
tive and referendum. This would give the people
an Opportunity 10 vote the question whether o.
Lot they want the right to instruct their representa-
tTes and also the further night to pass upon tn,
laws enacted by their legislature" "
Surely there Is enough in all these
declarations to prove that Gov. johnson
is not only fully abreast of the mos
advanced ideas regarding the treatment
Of railroad and other corporations. but
that he is really step or two in advance
OF many radical thinkers. Still more Ger.
tain is ii that the conservatives who
place their reliance upon him will awake
TO find themselves in a sadly shattered
state of mind.