Newspaper Page Text
NEED OFJUNTRT,
Triumph of Democratic Principles
is Imperative.
THE MAN AND THE HOUR.
With the Nomination of John A. John
son, Progressive Democrat of Integ
rity, Ability and Achievement, Suc
cess Is Assured.
"Wearied of twelve years of over
whelming defeat In national elections,
during which time the party has lost
national political control of every
northern state and has witnessed dev
astating inroads even on the southern
states, hundreds of thousands of Dem
ocratic voters have In the last few
months asked, “Who is the man who
can lead the party to victory?”
The best of armies, military or polit
ical, require some measure of success
to maintain their spirit and efficiency.
Continuous and overwhelming defeat
even in the worthiest of causes dis
heartens the strongest men.
Conditions are such in this year 1908
that a united Democracy supporting a
strong presidential nominee can win
the presidential office and open the
way for a return of the Democratic
party to power. Not only do the best
interests of the Democratic party call
for a victory this year, but so also do
the best interests of the untion. Twelve
years of almost unopposed government
of the republic by one party and for
eight of those years practically by one
man have brought about conditions
that are repugnant to the efficient and
satisfactory administration of a gov
ernment supposedly of the people.
Principle With Victory.
Victory can be achieved this year
without sacrificing one iota of the
stand for principle that has been made
with so much sacrifice by the Demo
cratic party of the United States for
the last dozen years. It Is merely a
question of changing leadership. Three
times in succession our party has gone
to defeat because its leadership has
not been able to inspire confidence in
the masses of the voters, patriotic,
progressive and sincere as that leader
ship has unquestionably been. The
party is greater than its individual
membership and greater than its lead
ers. The time has come when it should
name Its leader In a presidential cam
paign and no longer permit itself to be
defeated by a sentimental, though he
roic, devotion to a great name that has
dominated it for a dozen years.
If in the ranks of the party there is
a man whose principles, whose party
fealty, whose success in political bat
tles, whose actual achievements in
legislation and statesmanship—and a
man bolding a commanding political
situation—are such that victory under
his leadership is indicated, is it not
the duty of reasonable, thoughtful, de
voted Democrats desiring the success
of their party to turn to him?
Johnson the Man.
The friends of Governor John A.
Johnson of Minnesota, who have
watched his remarkable eafeer in re
cent years, as well as Impartial ob
servers and journalists throughout the
country, believe that he is the man of
the hour, the man in every way equip
ped to make a successful campaign
and afterward to be a chief executive
of the highest order. Let us briefly re
view his career.
John A. Johnson was born In St.
Peter, Nicollet county, Minn., July 28,
18G1, of Swedish parents. His child
hood and youth were passed in great
poverty. At thirteen years of age he
was compelled to leave the public
schools of his native city In order to
support himself aud the parental fam
ily. Though his formal education was
thus early cut short, his self education
never stopped. A student at all times,
a wide reader and a thoughtful one.
Mr. Johnson, after some years of ob
scure toil as a drug and grocery clerk
and railway timekeeper, became at the
age of twenty-four editor of the St. Pe
ter Uerald. He soon became known
as one of the ablest of Minnesota Jour
nalists and was recognized as one of
the leaders of journalism in a state re
markable for the number, vigor and in
fluence of its periodical press. Asa
country editor he was gradually drawn
into politics and in 1898 was elected
a member of the senate of the Minne
sota legislature, and his first public po
litical work was as a member of that
body. From the first he was Identified
with various reform measures which
have since become law in Minnesota.
Wherever Governor Johnson has
gone he has Impressed men as being a
man of the Lincoln type. He has the
faculty of making many friends and
few enemies.
Governor Johnson’a-Lsgislative Results
The governor recommended a per
manent tax commission. The legisla
ture gave It to him, and the ink was
hardly dry on the document before he
appointed a commission so strong In
its personnel that the Republican sen
ate resolved by a rising vote to con
firm the appointments without delay,
the equally housCi
thougfi without the power of confirma
tion, by a rising vote its ap
preciation of the excellence of the gov
ernor’s appointments.
In northern Minnesota are the great
est iron ore fields in the world. The
state of Minnesota owns extensive
areas of these lands. By leases they
were largely in the hands of the Unit
ed States Steel corporation, and the
state was receiving only an insignifi
cant Income from its royalties. The
governor advised the withdrawal of
all such lands from mineral leases, and
the legislature concurred.
Minnesota has enjoyed but scant In
come from the wealth of the privately
owned iron mines. The governor rec
ommended a royalty tax on the output
of these mines. He did—ot get it. but
the United States SU™ corporation
bound itseif as a substitute to establish
a $20,000,000 steel plant at Duluth.
The newly created tax commission,
together with the state board of equal
ization. which preceded it (the mem
bers of which were appointed by Gov
ernor Johnson).-have in the four years
of Governor Johnson’s administration
increased the assessed valuation of the
steel corporation's iron ore holdings in
Minnesota from $32,000,000 to $190,-
000,000.
The sleeping car companies of Min
nesota had never paid taxes in Minne
sota in proportion to their earnings.
The governor recommended a change
in the system of taxing these compa
nies, and a satisfactory law was en
acted. Similarly a rational law as to
mortgage taxation was enacted.
Railway Regulation.
Taking up freight rates, Governor
Johnson in a powerful speech so ex
haustively and conclusively bared ex
isting unequal and exorbitant rates
that the railway companies voluntarily
made a reduction of 10 per cent on
grain rates on their lines In northern
Minnesota. By order of the railway
commission, re-eu forced by subsequent
legislation, this voluntary reduction
was followed by a horizontal reduc
tion in maximum freight rates of about
13 per cent, and there was created a
uew class of merchandise tariff in
which the rates were reduced about 20
per cent. The railways took these re
ductions into the United States courts
by enjoining the attorney general of
Minnesota from enforcing the law.
This action has opened up some of the
most important litigation involving
constitutional interpretation that has
come before the supreme court in this
generation.
The Two Cent Law.
The enactment of the two cent pas
senger tariff law was an example of
Governor Johnson’s celerity of action.
Invited to address the Minnesota Edi
torial association, instead of making
the usual platitudinous address on such
occasions, “he exploded the two cent
bomb" and urged that an end be put to
the giving of passes. He talked on
the same subject to a convention of
commercial travelers. Immediately the
state was aflame with this innovation
in railway legislation. When the legis
lature met be asked for a law embody
ing this idea, and the legislature quick
ly responded. Neighboring states fol
lowed with reductions, and now
throughout the middle northwest the
two cent rate prevails.
About the time Governor Johusou
came into office there was a wide
spread agitation for reciprocal demur
rage laws which would compel rail
ways to allow shippers demurrage
charges for failure to deliver cars pu
time. Governor Johnson, ever abreast
of popular progress, recommended such
a law and got it
Thanks to his Initiative, the orders
of the Minnesota railroad and ware
house commission are now Immediate
ly effective pending appeal.
In Defense of Labor.
Governor Johnson. In consonance
with his thorough democracy and be
lieving In equal rights, has not been
neglectful of the interests of labor. He
desired a free state employment bu
reau designed to eliminate the many
abuses that have marked private em
ployment bureaus In the great labor
centers of Minnesota. Such a bureau
was created and has been thoroughly
helpful and widely efficient.
Since time immemorial that relic of
feudalism, the common law doctrine of
nonliability of employer to employee
for injuries occurring through the negli
gence of a fellow servant, has prevail
ed In Minnesota as well as In many
other states. "This ancient rule of the
common law," said Governor Johnson,
“coupled with the other rule generally
referred to us the doctrine of the as
sumption of risk by employees, has
cast upon the individual laborer a risk
and responsibility out of proportion to
the wages he receives.”
During his term of office Governor
Johnson has had to deal with one
great conflict betwee i labor and capi
tal—namely. the stri'.:e of tbo miners
on the Minnesota Iron ranges. By di
rect personal Intervention, by advice
to the employers on the one hand and
the strikers on the other, the governor
succeeded, without the use of state
troops, in preventing violence and
bloodshed.
In the forests and prairies of north
ern Minnesota are great extents of
fertile lands which, owing to lack of
drainage, not been available for
cultivation. Thanks to Governor John
son, additional legislation on this sub
ject was secured, and hundreds of
thousands of acres of fertile land will
be added t® the rolls of the state’s
wealth.
Governor Johnson believes In the
municipal ownership of public utilities,
and. following his suggestion, a modi
fied form of the Illinois Mueller law
was adopted by the Minnesota legisla
ture. Under its provisions a municipal
ity may bond Its street railways or
other public utilities to pay the cost of
the purchase and operation of the
same.
Minnesota, a leading agricultural
state, has long had to contend with
the cordage trust, which has a practi
cal monopoly of the binding twine
used in harvesting. For innny years
the state has had a twine plant in
which prison labor was employed. The
trust erected a factory in Minnesota
to compete with the state made twine,
and Governor Johnson’s answer was.
with the consent of the legislature,
authorization for the state twine plant
to sell Its product outside ns well as
within the state. The cordage trust
will now have to flgnt the cheap Min
nesota state made twine in other states
as well as at home.
MAN THE NATION REQUIRES.
John A. Johnson the Ideal Occupant of
the Presidential ChVr.
As president Governor Johnson would
have the qualities that might be do
scribed as logically and historically
needful at this time, representing both
in thought and by concrete achieve
ment all of the progressive reforms to
which the American people are now
thoroughly committed. His personality
and his methods are such that, coming
into office after the strenuous and eveu
terrifying political and financial expe
riences of recent years, he would be
prepared to hold all that has been gain
ed, restore an era of good feeling and
smoothly and comfortably prepare the
way for such additional advanced legis
lation as the times require. In a word,
Governor Johnson is precisely the kind
of leader the nation requires at this
time, ready for new legislatl3n to meet
new needs, but careful and conserva
tive In bis methods. The same confi
dence Inspiring, vote getting attributes
that have made Governor Johnson so
popular In Minnesota that there is ab
solutely no question that he could car
ry the state us the Democratic presi
dential nominee will make him equally
popular with the voters of the nation
once they have an opportunity to be
come acquainted with the man.
Every political campaign has its In
dividual conditions. It is found in this
contest that Governor Johnson pos
sesses a strength peculiar to him alone
and by which he is certain to bring to
the Democratic party upward of a mil
lion votes in the middle west that have
hitherto been Republican. This condi
tion insures beyond a reasonable doubt
victory for Democracy and Governor
Johnson In the following states: Min
nesota, North and South Dakota, Illi
nois, Wisconsin, lowa, Kansas. Ne
braska, Colorado, Montana, Washing
ton and Michigan.
PLATFORM BROAD AND STRONG
Declarations of Governor Johnson All
Democrats Will Indorse.
“The man from Minnesota" believes
In tne “immediate revision of the tar
iff. to the end that articles now con
trolled in America by illegal and ltn
moral combinations may be deprived
of their tariff power to rob the com
munity." lie believes that tariff re
vision Is one of the most important
works for the correction of tne abuses
I hat are plaguing the country.
He believes that the maintenance of
government by the people involves the
least interference by federal power
with the domestic affairs of the states
consistent with efficient national ad
ministration.
He believes in the constitution. “For
n president.” he says, "to go outside
the constitution, even to accomplish a
beneficent purpose, is to enter the road
that leads to the destruction of repub
lics.”
He 13 opposed to the government
owuershlp of railways by state or na
tion. but, as his acts show, is a strong
believer in Just and rigorous rcgula
tion.
He is opposed to oversea expansion.
He favors “the peaceful consolida
tion of the continent from Panama to
the arctic circle.”
ne Is opposed to great military es
tablishments. but believes that the
size of the American navy must neces
sarily bo determined to some extent by
(he naval activities of other countries.
He is opposed to ship subsidies.
"You can’t kill combinations,” be
says, * * • “but when you come in~to
crush the business of Individuals they
must be opposed as evils.”
Ho believes in an income tax.
He believes in the just and equal en
forcement of law and that the observ
ance of the law Is as incumbent upon
the rich and powerful as upon the poor
and weak*.
Subscribe now for the Progress.
False Claims
A number of business colleges and schools have been claiming
to teach the genuine famous Byrne Simplified Shorthand. Their
claims are positively untrue; they only have some imitation system
which does not possess the merit of the sixth edition of the Byrne
Simplified which is taught, exclusively by the Byrne Business Col
leges in the states where tneir schools are located.
Inasmuch as we are under contract to protect the Byrne Bus
iness Colleges and in prder that the public may not be deceived by
by any false reports, we give the nsmes of the Byrne Business
Colleges and their location: Tyler Commercial College, Tyler, Tex
as, Capital City Business College, Guthrie, Okla., Fredonia Business
College, Fredonia, Ivans., Columbus Business College, Columbus,
Miss., Athens Business College, Athens, Ga.
A. few years ago, when the Byrne Business Colleges were
introducing our system, these very schools were loudest in their
claims that the system would not make good, and now since they
have seen the Byrne Business Colleges grow to be the largest in
their state and one of them the largest in the U. S., they want to
obtain patronage under the false claim that they are teaching the
Byrne Simplified. There is always a great difference between the
original and the imitation.
U. BYRNEJPU BLISHING CO.
TYLER, TEXAS
Take an Outing
VIA
Southern : Railway
THE RESORTS OF
“The Beautiful Sapphire Country" and
“The Land of the Sky" are cool and inviting
UNUSUALLY ATTRACTIVE LIST OF
Summer
Resorts
For complete information in regard to
rates, schedules, etc., address
G. R. PETIT, T. P. A.,
Macon, Georgia.
Machine Shop
W. I. WAGNER, Proprietor
Machinery erected and repaired; Pipe Fitting,
Plumbing, Electric Wiring; Automobiles
and Gasoline Engines Repaired.
WANTED: Scrap Iron,Brass,Copper,Lead
X_ E. Edwards
| The Bicycle Repairer
Repairs
Bicycles, Graphophones Phonographs, Umbrellas, Sew
ing Machines, Novelties, Etc.
, Sharpens
Meat Saws, Wood Saws, Scissors, Knives, Lawn Mow
ers, Etc.
Sells Bicycle Sundries and Supplies. Futr Rubber
Tires on Baby Carriages. Guarantees his work.
TV, no' send your repair work away when you can
havo done here and saving, at least, express
charges.