A RANK OUTSIDER.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 November 1923, Page 4

A RANK OUTSIDER.

(An Australian Vapor.) A tew weeks ago an election was held in Minnesota to till a vacancy in the American Senate. Three eandi'iates contested the seat. The Republicans and the Democrats were each represented by prominent citizens, men of weight and standing in the community, who weie supported bv the whole strength of their respective party organisations. There was also a certain Magnus Johnson, a farmer in a small way, iiuile an obscure person, of whom few lnul ever hen id. Kittle was known of him. save that he was supposed to hold rather radical views. ,\ v. ry close light was anticipated between the Republican and Democratic champions. The most experienced judges of the timid of political opinion did not venture to ju-edict which of the two would win. Du; Mr Magnus Johnson was net even in the picittie. JI is candidature was regained as a joke. The cam pa i._ u waxed hot. Republicans and Democrats brought their massed batteries to hea'-. and discharged broadsides at'e.uh other quite ignoring the inconspicuous Mr Magnus Johnson. 'Hie latter hail no ry.-ga.nis itiMii we-.th mentioning. no Press, no ‘-hoosters." and. to judge by appearance, very few followers. He stum| ed the country almost unaided, delive ring uddic-scs, which no one took very -eiion-ly. (in cue rvctision, the weather being warm, he caused some amusement by divesting him-elf of Lis coat and collar, and then continuing hiiutc; rupted speech. The eventful day dawned. The result was awaited amidst lens" i xeileiimm. Ami then consternation. amazement, -liipofaclinu. The im-t-ejihle had come |i pas-. The rank-

est of outsiders had wen hands down. For Senator Magnus JnLu-m it was not niciely victory; it was triumph. For the Republicans and Dcmocr-1.-it was not merely defeat, it was debacle. Senaloi .Johnson had swept the hoard and had .scored a handsome majority over the other two combined. 'Kite election had amused gieat interest I lirouglioiit the countiy. because it was expected to alidad a significant comment upon the Republican Administration. To say that ,Senator John-

-on's -le.v-s ■ .cated a sensation 1- to understate the else. Throughout the length and btcadih of the I'nion l ie public uni astounded. \\ hat h..d hap- ] cue I f What did it menu Y Did it j resagu an agion iau tevcll ? Had Minnesota gimv red ! Thai a solid, pu s| crons middle-western Stale should develop leanings towards Dulshcvisiu was incimceh. able. Then Imw aueuiiut for Seim tor Joimson's victory? Fur days the eonirovoisy raged, until at length a iv! respondent in the New York ulanatien. “Do you know what elected .Magnus Jeliti--.il a Senator Id : Miimesr.t.i?” he wrote. -‘lt was not |es--than-a-dollar-w heii t. not Hie tariff, not the reco-.d ! I the 1 larding Adiniui-tra-t on. It was tiie appeal of something mo tv I'umlameuLal ami far- rettching than these. ’’ It wits his removal, on the 1 hit fol id. of the gai mems which irked him. It was. in a word, his simplicity and freedom inm aim; tatiom in p:c----1 ion.-:" for (lie Ikesideney condiK-tcd Ir. American newspapers. .Mr lleniy Fun invariably heads the list. Why? Xc.t we ate ns<nml. I.ccau-e he sti;i| li-.-< a good car at. a low p; ice. tmi he aiisc In- lies a genius fur organisation, not i c :tt'-• ! (• java the highest wages in America; hut l'C.-iitsa. so hi- Ibpsage Hi gave cut, “when supper D over

and ‘mu' is doing the dishes, frolo 1 ferny takes off his slices and rest!s' the editorials in the Dearborn Independent in hi- stocking feet.” It is just that touch of nature which is held to make all America, kin. the correspondent's diagnosis seems to he sound. Simplicity and genuineness ate qualities which have a perennial appeal. When Senator Johnson discarded hi- coat, the spontaneity of the act pleased his audience. Here was a man v.lm was not- obsessed by the idea of hi- own dignity. When, on hearing the results of the election he meiely -aid. -’Ah. now me anti the i oys can start getting in the hay!'’ his words struck a respi nsive chord. Here was a man unspoiled by success Further evidence of his simplicity vax supplied by his maiden spec.h in the Senate, when he p.ir.po.-ed that, in order to keep America free from fo icigtt entanglements-, all her diplomatic ami t-insular oflieials should I e recalled from abroad. Dm there is no doubt that the man whom men like is a man like them.-elves. Mr Henry Ford's “hcmeline--" touches the gre.it heart of the American pea] le. The mosi popular persons in any community ate not necessarily the in t v-r.rthy, still less the nin-t able brillianee. indeed, i- usually snspec-i but the ) lain, simple. unpretcnliuu-- folk. .Mr Daldwin is said to he more popular personally than anv I’rime .Minister wilt m Drittiin 'has had for many a long day. liven Mr l.loyd (Jeorge. at tl'.e height of in- faint', win, not exactly a popular u one; be was too subtle. Rut M' Daitlv. m sind; - a eherryw cod pipe an... when the ciibs of State leave him a . excising of leisure, plays chess with hi- daughter. In him the fiiigh-h sec a ivpie-.il lingli-,liman. Here in New. i'ouih Wales there never was a l-cttc"-liked Fremier than the hue Join' Storey. 'I he reason was to he Raimi in Id- -implicity and sterling genuineness of character. Of nur governo: Hm, two most popular among all ranks and classes were the bite Sir Harry Rawson ami the late Sir Walter Davidson. In many lespects they diflered. hut they resembled each other in their alfeetati-m. Neither of them, to use a colloquialism, “put on frills. the one Fluff, vigorous and downright, the other companionable, una —liming, and keenly iiiterested in the life of the commitliitv. Y(»:ir> l.oitl .Dt'i’by pvve some hints to a friend who Imd just been appointed to the Cove-nmi-ship of New South Wale.-. What the people loally wish and like, he said, is that tm- (m----vermir should appreciate them, mix in tlu-ir amusements and app-arently enjoy being among them. Therein lay t-e soviet of our late (bivenier's hold upon the alfections ol this. State.