West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-05-14
HIS BOOM IS GROWING
Many Democrats Think Iohn A
Johnson Can Win.
TARIFF REFORM THE SLOGAN

New York, Michigan ard iilinois Fau.
ing In Line Ter the Nianssotaa
as Their Choice For the Presidsatisi
Nomination In July.
At the johnson headquarters o. chi.
cago there are signs q Satisfaction
with the turn the presidential nomina.
ton contest Is taking a. the Dcmoernt lc
party. AS tie johnson managers see n.
tho recent action OF the New York state
Democratic convention and the Mich
igan Democratic state central com
mittce marked n significant change in
the contest. From now on" said 4.
ID. Lynch, who Is I'm charge OF the
Johnson campaign. you will hear
much similar news. From now on
people who read the papers will know
that there Is n lively contest on, good
natured though IL shall be 30 far as
we are concerned. for the Democratic
nomination at Denver The two OH
cial actions of latc--I refer 10 the
course taken by the New York state
convention and the Michigan state
committee-are merely indications Of
what Is going on beneath the surface
The fact Is the rank and file OF the
party are waking up TO the opportunity
the Johnson candidacy affords. They
are beginning to reflect on what n good
thing victory next November would be
and to consider that with new can.
didate like Johnson Il Is not only pos.
sible, but probable. The news OF the
action OF the Michigan state central
committee was surprise. but none
the less pleasing on that account. IL
was all the more n surprise because OF
the fact that we have done no active
work in Michigan and supposed. OF
course, that the state central committee
would indorse Bryan and Cumpau. We
had received many encouraging letters
from that state, but did not believe
that the party leaders would refuse an
Endorsement to Bryan and Campau In
this state, which has been so friendly
to them I'm the past.
Another thing that is significant IS
that. although we have mnde 10 effort
whatever TO organize In Illinois, quite
number of counties are electing un.
Instructed delegates to the Springfield
convention, and in all such cases fall.
ure to instruct means that the delega ties
are favorably inclined toward Gov.
ernor Johnson. The popular response
we are receiving in Illinois shows us
that had we been in the field a few
months earlier this state could easily
have been lined up for Mr.. Johnson.
We are receiving perfect deluge of
letters from all parts of the state and
largely from friends and supporters OF
Colonel Bryan who believe that the
time has come for new candidate"
Scores OF letters are being received
at the Johnson headquarters from Bry.
an Democrats i'm all sections Of the
country. While rs much attached to
Colonel Bryan as ever. the writer's feel
that it would not be wise to nominate
him n third time
typical letter is the following from
w. n. Bremen. n prominent lumber
dealer at Niles, o.:
81 reply to you as a Democrat. I
have talked Of and pondered over this
presidential election many times and
have found that John A. Johnson is
the man needed TO lead us to success
L have worked hard for Bryan in his
last campaigns and fell with him. I
am now out for John 4. johnson. We
can win If he is nominated. | will
talk with our delegate here and urge
him for Johnson. have told him
Bryan can't win even If nominated.
have quit politics for the past three
years, but will go TO work for j. A. J..
for If we nominate him he will surely
be elected. / will stay with him until
tln last yofa Go ant,pfoH In
Trust me with any political work YOU
may offer me for his success"
Governor Johnson is n man of strict
adherence to political principle, but he
does not believe in confusing every
passing fancy or fad with political
principle. He believes that there are a
few basic political ideas which charac-
terize Democracy. He is not man
who was Il Republican yesterday, n
Democrat today and an independent to-
morrow. Throughout his career he
has been Democrat.
Although there can be no question
that Governor Johnson is n believer in
sweeping tariff reforms and a believer
in the necessity for vigorous legislation
TO meet certain modern Industrial con-
common sense, so much intellectual
balance and is so tactful in his meth
DDS that he achieves his ends without
that excessive friction and violent dis
turbance that has been characteristic
OF some OF our recent reformers. Gov.
ernor Johnson is a big man. He is not
welded TO a particular political fad.
He Is In craftsmanship something OF
On opportunist. Although guided by
some big principles, be prefers TO de.
eide questions as they come up on their
individual presentation. lie is emil.
nently the man at this time to filI the
Office Of president.
As n Democratic candidate ne is
strong, because between his genuine
devotion TO reform and his careful and
effective methods Of getting reforms he
should have no difficulty IN uniting I'm
his support both the conservative and
radical elements in bis party. This