New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1909-04-28
JOHNSON OUT FOR BIG SAME
Minnesotans in Washington so
Continues His Action on the
Tonnage Tax Bill.

Look Upon it as Forecast of His
Intention to Enter the Presi-
Dental Contest in 1912.
A correspondent of the st. Paul
Pioneer Press, writing from Washing
ton, has the following to say anent
Gov. Johnson's veto of the tonnage
tax bill:
"Most of the members of the Mime
sofa delegation in congress consider
that the veto of the tonnage tax bill of
Gov. johnson is the most significant
act that has occurred in Minnesota for
a long time.
1T means that Gov. Johnson has
decided not to run for governor of the
state again, but that he is preparing
to enter national politics as candi-
date for the Democratic nomination
for president in 1922 said one of the
Minnesota congressman. ''This leaves
Representative Hammond of St. James
the logical candidate for the Demo-
cratic nomination for governor of the
state. It means that the Republicans
will now probably elect a governor, as
it is doubtful if any other Democrat
can command the strength in the state
that Gov. Johnson has so mysterious
ly gathered about him.
Among the Republican. politicians
OF the state there are at least three
who might be considered prospective
candidates. Lieut.. Gov. Eberhart of
Mankato would certainly be a candi-
date, and ex-Attorney General Young
of Appleton and former Senator
Brewer of St. Cloud would be likely
to get into the race for the Republican
nomination. Minnesota has presented
a rather unusual spectacle, with it's
Republican legislature, a Republican
state ticket and Democratic COVER
nor who could not be dislodged, but
unless all the words of the prophet
fail this last act of the governor means
that he will enter national politics..
|
| ing about the political situation at
home, which is probably a wise and
diplomatic thing to do. 1t is true that
Mr.. Hammond is not in line with the
rest of his delegation in congress,
! politically speaking, and the congress
sional berth is not nearly SO pleasant
for him as would be the governors Of
fee in Minnesota. He is the only
Democrat on the state delegation, and
the national administration is against
him. In fact, Mr.. Hammond is lone
some.
AS the Minnesotans in Washington
see it, the veto of the tonnage tax bill
was a clear declaration from Gov.
Johnson to the business interests of
the country, outside of Minnesota as
we'll as in the state, that he could be
| depended upon to stand against ''pop-
ular clamor' when he felt the bust
ness interests demanded it. This, the
Republicans here admit, was very
clever piece of politics and has made
Johnson stronger than ever both in
the state and out of it.
The tonnage tax was advocated by
the unorganized vote of the rural dis
tricts. 1t was opposed by the orga-
nized votes of the business centers.
The veto was as a clarion note from
the housetops that populism and radi-
calism were not on the Johnson slate,
that he was not an advocate of expert
mental government, or policies, of
which the Democratic party has heard
SO much of late, but that he can be
classed with the conservatives, and
when the test comes he will stand pat.
The fact that Gov. johnson played
good politics is not regretted nor Sc
creted by the Republican congressman
And it may be added that they are
looking ahead little themselves.
They see chance to elect Republi-
can governor of the state if Johnson is
out of the way, and they do not con-
slider that he has any better chances to
be elected on the Democratic national
ticket than any other Democrat has.
So, if Johnson could be lured out of
state politics by the possibility of
Democratic nomination for president,
the Minnesota Republicans are willing
to have it thus.