THE PRESIDENCY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 190, 6 May 1908, Page 7

THE PRESIDENCY.

A DEMOCRAT THRILLER. TALK OF ANNEXING CANADA. ' /AN "IMAGINARY LINE." 6T, TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPTRIOHT Now York, May 4. Mr. Johnson, Govornor of Minnesota, one ' of the Democratic candidates for the Presidency,, declares that Americans must obliter- ' ate the imaginary lino between the United States and,tho Canadian States. J ,This spread-eagioism meets with small response, except "in Minnesota, Michigan, and ' Dakota. ; , . '• i . GOVERNOR JOHNSON. • 1 So far the only Democratic candidate for . tho Presidency who. lias- stood out from the i- ruck is Mr. AY. J. Bryan, humorously designated "the continuous Democratic candidate." With his record of defeat, Mr. Bryan must find it,difficult to instil much hope into the Democrats; and that party's nomination might , yet go to , anyone who could conspicuously, stir the public mind with a new thrill. This is 'apparently what Governor Johnson is' trying to'do in his campaign of spread-' eagleism/ In the legitimate sphere of United States polities' few opportunities are left to him, for'the familiar-plaint of the Democrats is that President Roosevelt has annexed their thunder. , Indeed, the New York "World" 1 takes the ground that if the' Democratic plat- ; form is the; affirmation. of the Roosevelt policies,; as Mr. Bryan is saying-, it will be, then Mr. Roosevelt is, logically tho Democratic candidate,' He'possesses many advantages over Mr.'Bryan; .He can be:elected. "Why," continues, tho "World," "should the Demoeratio Convention nominate imitations like William 'Jennings Bryan when it can nominate the real thing in..Theodore-,Roosevelt?, Why .take a broken reed when.it can lean on a. big stick?". " Identically the same can be said (comments a New York correspondent) of. tho Kepublican candidates. ■ The only. really, logical out: coipe seems to be the nomination of the President -by" all three parties, and to have one party, one' policy, and a one-man campaign." 1 Governor John A.. Johnson (Minnesota) .was .elected Governor in 1901 by a somewhat narrow'majority, receiving 148,091 votes as Democrat candidate, while the Republican candidate (Mr. Dunn)'got 141,847 votes. In 1906 Minnesota gave Mr, Johnson a better majority, as be polled. 61.69 per. cent, .of the total- vote,. while the Republican candidate (Mr. Cole) polled 84.03 per cent. But in the .Minnesota State Legislature tho Republicans -lave, a majority of' 25-in the' Senate and 87 in the House; and when Governor Johnson, in January of last year, stood for the United States Senate, the Minnesota ,'Legislature re-elected ■ 'Mr, Knuto Nelson (Republican), Governor Johnson receiving one vote. . ' /;V ' ' '