The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-26
Tuscaloosa Is Ready
 To Welcome Johnson
MINNES0TAN TALKS
GOVERNOR JOHNSON RECEIVED IN
 BIRMINGHAM.
He ts Happy Over His Vote in Ala bama and Regrets He Did Not
 Visit the State
 Sooner.

| Birmingham, May 25.--{Specia1 J. Governor John A. Johnson of Minne- sota. arrived in Birmingham this morn ing from Georgia, en route to Tusca- loosa., where he will deliver an ad- | of the State University.
 His early coming had not been her. aided and there were no ceremonies at- tending his arrival Tn fact the local committee first met him at the Morris Hotel after he had been in the city for | a little whole. Governor Johnson will go on the special train Tuesday morn l ing leaving here at s:15 o'clock over the Alabama Great Southern Railroad, | together with a number of the alumni and others.
 Governor Johnson was given a most cordial reception at the Morris Hotel Among the prominent citizens who call- | ed on him were A. c. Smith, who was I chairman of the State Committee which recently promoted his candidacy in the Democratic primaries; B NJ. Allen, Rufus N. Rhodes. Robert Jem- | ison. IT,, W. Hill Ferguson, W. P. c. Harding, E. W. Barrett, E. K. Camp bell. John W. Tomlinson. Walker Per- cy. E. D. Smith, Sterling A. Wood. Will | liam Walker and many others. Governor Johnson was shown some
 
 during the afternoon and tonight was the guest of honor at a banquet at the Country Club, at which a number of happy speeches were made by prom inent citizens.
 Talks of Alabama Primary. Tn regard to the recent primary. Governor Johnson answered an inter viewer as follows.
 "The vote in Alabama was happy dfga pnOfufnnanf fn mo Mxy frfan6n tn this grand old State must have put in ten days of splendid work. It is cer- tainly gratifying to receive between 80 and 40 per cent. of the vote for Presi- dential nominee In a State In which I never before had the pleasure of visit to Alabama before the primary, so that l should have had an opportunity of meeting the people earlier.
 Tt may sound like a paradox, but I mean what say when tell you that the result in AIabama was hap py disappointment. Mir. Bryan had been 10 Alabama on several occasions. He had met and mingled with the peo- pie and knew many of them personal ly. It had never been my pleasure un- til now to set foot in Alabama, ai- though have visited the South on sew era1 occasions. Naturally. T. Axpected Mir Bryan to carry the state by an | OY0EWIU flying. therefore. when tbe news was flashed to me that Alabama had given me something like 40 per cent. of it's vote That is a big vote when you stop to consider 1t. Pretty near & majority. And all can say now is that regret not having come to Ala bama earlier
 Governor Johnson in answer to ques- tions concerning the other States in the South said he felt encouraged to a high degree. Over in Georgia where the Brown and Smith factions are fghting 1t out for Governor the man from Minnesota said he had every req son to believe that the delegation to the Chicago convention would be un- instructed.
 At least, that's what they told me in Atlanta Sunday" said Governor Johnson as Edward Smith. City Attor- ney of Birmingham handed hdm q fragrant Havana. The Governor from Minnesota then found a soft spot In the corner of the cushioned seat crossed his legs and stretched out in a thoroughly Democratic way. Seated around him were A. G. Smith, a mem Der of the Alumni Committee of the University, William Walker Edward Smith and other members of the Alum nj Reception Committee. a.S
 And Georgia Is not the only South
 
 ed delegation," continued the rival of William Jennings Bryan. "In Virginia, wh ere spoke before the American Cotton Manufacturers Association last Thursday at Richmond, was told that there would be an uninstructed dele gation, and 1t looks like uninstructed delegations from North Carolina and Louisiana with an even break in Flor ida"
 EaHf is Tor Tohwno,.
 Governor Johpson was asked about the East. The question caused S. M Williams. a representative of The New York World, who is traveling with the Governor to sit up and take notice.
 ''rhe East is all right" said Cover nor Johnson. Already action has been taken in most of the States and New York. New Jersey. Maryland and Delaware will send delegates opposed to Mir. Bryan. Two thirds of the Pennsylvania delegation will vote for me and part of Massachusetts has been instructed for me-"
 Then the Democratic Governor who has won out twice In Minnesota, was asked about the West.
 You know, of course. that my own State has been instructed for me and F. B. Lynch, who is looking after my interests from the Chicago offlce tells me that things look favorable in Ore Ron, wyoming, OOlOTdOos ULah and other parts of the West"
 CSovrnor Johnson was then asked if he expected to be the next nominee for President He did not want the ques- ton couched in so many words, but said he would be before the American people until the vote was cast in the convention.
 "WFen I entered the race" said Gov ernor Johnson. who was frequently in- terrupted by introductions to first one citizen and then another, who joined the throng, T did so feeling that if the people of the United States did not want MT. Bryan they should have an opportunity to express themselves. While would be glad to get the nomi- nation. if the people want Mir. Culber- son or any other Democrat I certainly shall not make any fight against them. simply agreed to make the race on the idea that the people did not want Mir Bryan and to give them an oppor- tunity of nominating me or some other Democrat who will stand by the con vention's choice Several members of the Alumni As sociation were invited to the Smith home to take luncheon with Governor Johnson and at o'clock this after noon the Reception Committee took Governor Johnson in charge for a drive about the city. He expressed a desire shortly after his arrival to look at the backbone of Birmingham; the mines.