The Saint Paul globe., 1904-10-29
COLLINS DFNOUNCES
ATTACK ON JOHNSON
Former Editor of ST. Peter
Tribune Tells True Story
of Quoted Article

In connection with the circulation of
story rejecting on John A. Johnson
by certain Republicans, a copy of a let
ter received recently by Chairman F.
A. Day, of the Democratic state CEN
trail committee, from P. v. Collins, ed
itor of the Northwest Agriculturist,
Minneapolis, and formerly editor of the
st. Peter Tribune, will be of interest.
1t was in Mr.. Collins st. Peter paper
that the first public reference was ever
made to the charges, and his letter
showed how speedily he made repara
ton when he became convinced that a
great injustice had been done the man
who is now a candidate for governor of
Minnesota:
Minneapolis, Mimi, Oct 49, 1904
Hon. Frank A. Day, Chairman Minnesota
State Democratic Central Committee, St
Paul. Minn.--Dear Sir: I have just learn
opponents of the candidacy of Hon. John
A. Johnson for the governorship of Min
nesota.. are making an underhanded and
cowardly attack on Mr. JohnSon'S YOUTH
on the ground that he was derelict in his
duty to his father and that they are quot
ing something which published as ed
itor of the st. Peter Tribune in the issue
of Sept. II, 1888, as verifcation of their
charges. They are not quoting my imme-
date correction of the charges then pub
lished and in justice to Mr.. Johnson l
want to put you into possession of the
facts.
In the first place let me remind you that
II had at that time been in Minnesota
only about eighteen months; L was not
at all familiar with the circumstanees OF
Mr.. Johnson's early life then and / made
no statements in the first place on my
own authority, but simply published a
brief interview with Judge p, StJulieD
.arf thu
regular issue of the St Peter Tribune. but
was in an extra gotten out Immediately
after Mr.. JohnSon's nomination for the
legislature by the Democratic convention.
Cox was a Democrat, but was bitterly op-
posed to Johnson, and his statement quot
ed was as seen on the inclosed sheet.
Hardly had we begun mailing this ex-
ira to our subscribers when / discovered
the utter injustice of Cox's attack on
johnson, and haStened to do all in my
power to counteract the unfairness by
withdrawing from the postoffice every copy
of the extra which had not yet been de-
Iivered. I went further and Immediately
sent the incloSed letter of apology to Mr.
Johnson, which letter l published in full
in the following issue of the Tribune, dated
Sept. 10, 1888.
Indignant as were the old citizens of St.
Peter. who knew the facts, no one was
more indignant or more sympathetic WIFI
Mr. Johnson than l was myself, ana
words fail to convey my contempt at this
late date of the tactics of the political op-
ponents of Mr.. johnson in undertaking to
make political capital out of his father $
dereliction, 1t should be remembered that
at the time of the death of his father.
| John A. Johnson was a boy, yet he was
man enough to take the position as head
of his fathers family and become the
main support of his mother, younger
brother and four sisters.
If r. c.. Dunn's hackers in this cam
paign have come to such an extremity
for ammunition, their plight is certainly
pitiable The subject naturally must be
delicate one for Mr.. Johnson personally,
but if it were not for his personal feel
| ings it might be wished that the whole
| history of this matter could be made
familiar not only to the voters of Minne-
sofa, but to the growing youths, as an al
most unparalleled example of boyish no.
bility Yours truly, -P. v. Collins.