The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-31

paign in this state has taken on. A
life record, which, if known in all it's
dramatic and tragic life record,
which, if known in all it's de-
and tens of thousands the friends and
well -wishers of the man whose record
it is, has been mutilated for partizan
purposes, and detached portions, with
false insinuations and charges, have been
and are being circulated under cover
here and there. with view to Great
ing the impression that, instead of Der
state should respect, John A. johnson
is lacking, among other things, in flial
affection; that he sent his father to
the poorhouse, where he afterwards
died, and that, in more recent years,
he turned his aged mother out of doors
to shift for himself.
Circulating the SANDER. .
T he Journal has reliable infor-
nation that such SANDER is being cir
culated in printed form in many places
turnout the state. Apparently, the peo-
pie who are responsible for this assault
upon the reputation of Mr.. johnson
have secured the names and addresses
committees, for in one specific case Of
which n he Journal has informa-
ton, the chairman of county com
mittee received 1000 printed copies of
the affdavits appearing above, with the
request that hes circulate them as wide
| ly, but at the same time as quietly, as
possible, beginning about the middle Of
the present week. For the credit of
that particular chairman it should be
stated that after he had made a little
investigation he thrust the whole
bundle into the stove. .... -... 4 Il
! Knowledge of the proposed attack on
Mr.. johnson has by this time, fortunate-
| ly for his candidacy for governor, been
SO widely advertised as to dull its edge.
The country press of the state has be-
gun to notice it in various places, and
The afddavits, It viii be noticed, re-
fer only to the fact that Mr.. johnson 8
father died in the poorhouse Of Nicol-
let county, which is true. Accompany
ing them have been sent charges against
Mr.. Johnson Of unflial conduct toward
both his mother and his father.
| The facts set forth in brief form in
this story were obtained by Journal
pose of investigating the situation.
They were secured with a great wealth.
of corroborative detail, which has been
omitted because of space limitations,
but nothing has been written here
which has not been Endorsed a score Of
times by competent witnesses. ....,.
Endorsement of His Neighbors.
| Practically the entire town of St..
Peter, so far as could be ascertained in
days journey, is for johnson for gov
ernor. His Autographs are to be seen
everywhere. Similarly, Nicollet coun-
ty, it is claimed, will be for him by
a majority such as it never has given
any candidate for any office in it's his
tory. -~ G,8
Naturally, there is much indignation
on the part of the people of his native
town, and the two St. Peter men who
made. the affdavits which are quoted
in this article, are members of very
small minority. ~ .--
AS corroborating all that is set forth
in this story, e Journal is per-
mitted to. refer to DR.. A. w. Daniels,
who has been physician in ST. Peter
lily physician and thoroly familiar with
family conditions. He says that there
was a great deal Of sickness in the fami.
ly during the early days, due to the fact
that it's members were insufficiently fec
and clothed. It was he who examined
hopeless inebriate, and recommended to
the board Of supervisors that they send
him to the poor farm.
DR.. G.. F. Merritt, who wen to St.
Peter in 1872, vouches for the truthful
ness of the story as it is told here:
Mr.. and Mrs. M. G.. Evenson also per.
nit T h e. Journa to use their names
as vorching for the truthfulness Of this
narrative. They have lived in st. Peter
since 1852, and Gustav johnson came
over from the old country with them.
Among numerous others who have
signed statements refuting the malic
ious reports which have been sent over
the state about Mr.. Johnson s conduct
toward his family, are the following:
P. V. Collins, now the editor and pro
prietor of the Northwestern Agricul
turalis Of Minneapolis, who years age
was editor of a newspaper in St. Peter
and had occasion during that time to in
quire as to the truth or falsity of these
charges. ... -
B; r. Damren, past commander Of thu
st. Peter Grand Army post, one Of tn.
substantial citizens Of the town. =,
H. L. Stark, the president of the Mic
ollet County bank, one of John A. John
sons employers in his youth:
F. A. Donahower, the president of tn
First National bank of St. Peter, VIII,
personally knows all the facts, AM
says he wants to indorse the signet
statement of DR.. Daniels, which i
aqet e1dg gta 9 and gees S into the
! saIy or proper to indulge here.
Z MdlUI n. L. DCtChcGG, pd1G pIUpllcGU
of the principal mill at st. Peter, on
: Of the most substantial men of tn
? town. 49,
DR.. w. A. Jones, the well-known. Min
Z neapolis specialist, who as boy live,
in St. Peter, and in whose fathers dru
= store John A. Johnson was employed
. for dozen years.
j.. G: Colin, who was John A. John
E Henry Moll, Judge of probate Of Mic
e ollet county, who has lived in st. Pete
: since before the civil war; and man,
! others. ......s.s tzvse Il.
-. Nearly all Of these men are republi
, cans. Politics, however, cuts no fgur
: with them in this matter. They thin1
, that great outrage is being committed
= and as his old neighbors and friends
and therefore thoroly familiar with thi
: entire case from beginning to end, the
!, are anxious to do what they can to pre-
q vent the state from entertaining the nc
. ton that Mr.. johnson is not in ever
way worthy the esteem and good will o
+ all decent men and women. They re
. gard him as a model son and insist tina
: his attitude toward his mother and sis
J stamped him as possessing all the quail
= ties Of noble manhood. His record
such that these st. Peter friends are pei
" haps justified in the statement that Mir
. nesota has produced very few such sons
! According to story from Australia
e two cyclists who are crossing the islam
: continent intend to utilize the tires O
t An official return just issued show
that of the 1,772 miles Of tramway lin