Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-30

proved useless.
one who heard the unreported speech OF
Johnson writes about IL in the Washington
Post:
when IT became evident that only the
most strenuous exertions could defeat the
nomination OF Mr.. Bryan for a third time,
a number of candidates we're brought for
ward. There was no real enthusiasm back
Of any Of them. the antI-Bryan democrats
we're simply casting about for a name.
They were noundering IN every direction.
hoping not for an attractive, popular
leader. but for somebody, anybody. who
could be put forward in such a way as
to shake the Bryan strength.
fudge Gray OF Delaware, Judson HAr-
mon. now governor OF Ohio, and other
names we're proposed and considered, after
the fashion in which drowning men catch
at straws. Among the rest, Governor John
son was brought forward for the reason
that he had been twice elected governor OF
a Republican tate. Nobody knew anything
about johnson; he seemed available as a
vote getter; tina was all.
"His Minnesota boomers committed the
mistake OF trying to suppress the gov
eTnOT 3 human CldTdClbIi llG dhu AhohV
a tin god OF him. Their procedure was
based on the theory that the opposition
candidate should be one who would make
a complete contrast to the character OF
Mr.. Roosevelt. In all the press matter
they sent out they toned down the real
Johnson and tried to create a sort OF
George Washington, severe, unsmiling,
austere and majestic. The very photo
graphs they circulated were those OF a
wooden-faced man, and everybody who
saw the sonber face with It's prominent
Jaw and unsrniling eye, said; well, what
ever else he is, he's a Scandinavian, sure
ut was all one to the eastern boomers,
ThH we're not in hopes Of getting a Lin
coin or a Roosevelt out Of the west. They
were Just grasping fIantically at a name,
any kind OF a name, and ell they hoped
was that by hook or by crook they could
land some figurehead in the White House
and keep Bryan but.
this time, while~there was a lacka-
daisical, apathetic, listless movement for
Gray or Johnson, or Harmon or anybody,
the Gridiron club of Washington invited
Governor johnson. Judge Gray and many
other national leaders to attend one OF
it's dinners. The governor and the Judge
we're among those who accepted There
was emily a languid interest in the governor
when he took his place, not at the head OF
the table, but at one OF the side tables,
and attacked the Gridiron viands.
'"rhere we're $50 guests present, the presl-
dent of the United States at their head
supreme court. senate. house, the money
kings of the country, generals, admirals'
authors, scientists, governors, judges,
among those present In the course OF
the e~vening-rather far own the evening
the governor was introduced.
The Gridiron always introduces It's speak
ers, not with a speech, but with a song
usually addressed to the prospective
sneaker. and gently derisive OF him. In
this case they sang a song entitled Poor
John" the burden OF which was hat poor
Jobn"-that is, Joh~nsoh-wanted the nomi-
nation, but couldn't have 1t, because Bryan
wouldn't let him.
Tho governor arose, and the first glimpse
Of him in the great dining hall OF the VIII
lard somehow dissipated every tenaciously
held idea OF the stolid Scandinavian, the
new Alton b. Parker. Before he had SAID
a word, his merry, twinkling eyes and the
genial. friendly face had belied every pho
| toeraph ever sent out about him, and the
deep. warm voice hat rang out in his
first sentence with strange and happy In
Elections that made everybody warm to
him made over John A. Crimson made
him over completely in a second OF time,
10 those who thought they knew what he
was.
Poor john" he said. II appreciate the
! honor: but don't you think, when you look
back at 1895, at 1900, and at 1904, YOU ought
to say Poor BillT"
The unexpectedness Of II, the additional
element OF unexpectedness that was at
| tached to its coming from the stolid
Swede." set the crowd villa. The president,
the speaker of the house. the justices of
the supreme court, all united In one mighty
shout that lasted a minute. Johnson looked
out over the shouting crowd with eyes
that danced.
He was so utterly different from what
his iIl-advised press agents had represented
| hin. Tall. straight, with a sensitive, mo
bile face that changed in expression every
second. his was as fine-looking and strik-
ing appearance as ever was seen In a din
ner hail. despite the libelous photographs
of his press agents. His mellow voice, full
OF unexpected deeps and shadows and
always so calculated as to bring out
TO the uttermost every meaning that lay
behind one OF his sentences, may not have
hsen the voice Of an orator, but no orator