The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-02-19
JOHNSON HAS
ISSUED BLAST
caiIfornla's Governor Gets Out in the
Open and rells for Roosevelt
As Loud as He
Can.
ONLY CHANCE TO WIN
Says That His Choice Must be NomI-
mated or the Party VIII
GO Down to
Defeat

limited Press Leased Wire Service.1
NEW YORK, Feb. ia formal
statement issued here today by Gov
ernor johnson. Of California, who led
the fight to have the delegates from
that state to the republican national
convention instructed for LaFollette.
came out for the nomination of Rooae-
welt The governor has been east for
nearly month and has conferred at
great length with all of the progress
sive leaders regarding the situation.
He saw LaFollette last week in Wash
ington and afterward conferred with
Roosevelt while the colonel was pre-
pairing his declaration OF principles in
the Colombus speech to be delivered
Wednesday.
| Governor Johnson's statement fol-
i lows: California is progressive.
pledged by Overwhelming majorities to
certain governmental policies and
principles. the fundamental underly-
ing one of which is that this govern
ment belongs to the people and the
people shall rule. More concerned are
We in the success and contamination
of the policies than In the success OF
election OF men. The present nation
al political struggles typifies in some
1 respects, that from which we in Cali
i fornia have recently victoriousiy
4 emerged
Il "The republicans Of the United
States ask the selection of a certain
man as candidate for presidtnt, the
politicians, with their usual disdain-
tful cssatempt Tor the electorate. sees
to relieve the country and those 10
II whom it belongs of the burden of se-
lection of presidential candidate,
and in defiance of their wishes,
through manipulation of southern dele
gates composed of federal ofiicehold-
ers, and political machines in north
ern states, are endeavoring to nomi-
nate the present president as that
candidate, (and | speak of course only
for the group of progressives with
whom am familiar) we gave evidence
of our faith in December last by an
nouncing presidential preference
primary law The state organization
was in our hands, the power was ours
under the law to send delegation to
Chicago of our own choosing, but fnl-
lowing that definite policy from which
: there has been no departure since the
old machine was on the throne, we
u have put up to our state the dues-
! tion of its preference for candidates
and have weighed and yielded the ad-
= vantage and power which came to US
legitimately by victory at the last
!. primary.
: Our people, therefore, all will de-
= eide at the polls by direct primary
; how Californias vote shall be cast in
: the national convention. And 1t is
= Just this sort of thing, the yielding OF
= power and advantage to that deter
: mination of the people because OF
: their right to decide that marks the
! difference between the prosressives
: and reactionaries.
THE admiration of California pro.
!. gressives for Senator LaFollette is un.
: diminished and they recognize his
splendid services and great sacrifices
for the cause In California, however
with the cause ever the determining
n factor, 1t is obvious that progressive
policies can best be accomplished al
N present through the leadership O
: Theodore Roosevelt. Mr. Roosevelt i:
recognized throughout the west as the
greatest teacher our country has had
y. He has not only our respect and ad
"a miration, but our affections as we'll.
Il HE it was, we believe who aroused
H. the public conscience. and by his cour
at age and frmness for the right, mad
,e possible our victory and tho redemr
II ton of our state government from th
" Southern Pacific machine To hin
~ the west has ever looked as a guild
IN in righteousness in government, a
t. exponent of equal opportunity TO
" all and as the champion Of popula
n. rule. Today, there is not hamlet o
% city In this country where, upon
al ballot, legitimately taken, the peopl
he would not by to / prefer him to hi
M principal opponent. What travest
upon a boasted government Of th
of people that with this overwhelmin
ed sentiment there should be for an II
en- stant doubt as to the result. Fou
rd- years ago Mr.. Roosevelt turned owe
or to his successor a republican part