, 1905-01-13
RieE OF GOVERNOR
JOHNSON OF MINNEso-

JOHNSON OF MINNESOTA.
Among the stories Of poor American
boys who have risen to distinction
through their own unaided efforts,
none is more interesting than that of
John A. johnson, whose mother was
q washer-waman, whose father was a
drunken profigate-who helped sup
port his brother and sisters when he
was earning only $40 a month, who
overcame every obstacle and every
encouragement and who at last only
two months ago was elected governor
OF the state Of Minnesota by a major
lily which under the circumstances was
ione Of the miracles OF the campaign.
In this struggle nothing Of calumny
and abuse were spared by John John
sons opponents but it was not until
the ordinary weapons of offense failed.
that they placarded the state with such
Inscriptions as these:
10 His Mother Was a Washer Q
10 woman. Q
10 His Father Was a Drunken o
10 Loafer. Q
They were meant to destroy John
sons prestige with the weather. ele-
ment of the state but If there wa one
voter who withdrew his support from
the democratic nominee because OF
his parentage there were so who rallied
around the man who had, with so much
In his disfavor, succeeded in achieving
the respect of the community in which
he, lived. and the favorable considera-
tion of the whole state says the Pitts
burg Dispatch. Instead of accepting
his origin as a reason for his rejection,
the people chose to inquire more deep
ly into the story of his ate.
They learned of years of devotion to
duty. how he had struggled with hard
ships and poverty to care for his little
brothers and sisters and to support
the mother whose husband had desert
ed her. The reputation of the besotted
father was forgotten in the admira-
ton of the boy whose whole career
had been one of u~nselishness n con-
sideration towards others.
AS a matter of fact the allegations
against his father were quite true. He
was or had developed into a drunken
loafer. He had come to st Peter in
Minnesota, from Sweden, had estab-
lished a blacksmith shop there and &C.
cumulated a little money At this the
most creditable and prosperous period
of his life, he had married the wife he
afterwards left destitute with a help
less little family.
For a time after their marriage all
went well. Then the husband began
to seek companionship in the saloons,
and to give himself up to drink. The
savings that they had put aside began
to dwindle and finally disappeared.
Even in those days Of bitterest expert
ence manly little John, the Oldest child,
offered his mother his childish con-
Isolation and prophesied a time when
he would take care of her and they
would never be hungry or poor.
At last n day the drunkard sold
his shop for $500. and disappeared.
leaving his wife with her four little
children to the mercy Of sympathetic
neighbors and friends. Until her old
est child. the governor-to-be. OF Min
nesota, was ~ years Of age. Mrs. John
son earned q living for herself and her
family by doing washing. Then John
begged permission to leave school and
assist in providing for the family.
He first went to work In q general
store at 80 per month, cheerfully turn
ing over every cent Of his money to
his mother. The following year his
father returned and found In fairly
comfortable circumstances the family
he had deserted. He begged ~piteously
to be taken back, promising to do better
and to u the duties Of provider.
The reformation proved only tenn
porary. however, and nee more the
family was in want. The burden for