New-York tribune., 1905-01-01
THE MINNESOTA MIN.
Characteristics That HaUen Enabled
j. Il. Johnson to Win His Success.

St. Paul. December S0.-NIany stories are told os
Governor-eIect John A. Johnson which show his
character and his untiring energy. but the latest
Is told OF him when on flying trip from So. Peter
to St Paul since he was elected. An old
appealed to him 10 help hey of the cars when the
train reached ST. Paul Certainly" said the Cow
ernor. II will assist you" When the train reached
the station Mr. Johnson arose (his Identity was un-
known to the passengers) and aided the old woman
with her dozen or more bundles to alight. shs
then gave him her trunk check. and. though Il do
layed him. he felt bound to the woman
through rs this your trunk2'' asked the bag
gageman. Yes" replied the Governor. "You win
have to wait and have it inspected" said an ON
cial near by; 'It is from foreign port" Il was
then that friends who had called TO meet the Gov
ernor, found him and explained the situation. Tho
trunk was released. and the old woman remarked
as she was informed that her champion was the
new governor OF Minnesota, He bay nice man.
Az governor in America must have a lot o. trou-
BILE looking after the luggage OF immigrants from
the old country
When John A. Johnson boy he secured a
franchise at the county fair by which he was 70
have monopoly Of the retail apple business. A
farmer a few miles away had fine orchard and
johnson conceived the idea Of exploiting the
farmers fruit. and at the same time replenishins
his exchequer. He hired a team and drove TO the
fruit farm. where he induced the farmer to give
him twelve barrels OF fall pippins. he agreeing to
advertise his apples so that on the following wear
pippins- Johnson got his apples for nothing but
true to his promise. he advertised them. He pro-
cured several thousand tissue wrappers and had
the growers name printed thereon. adding "These
apples can be procured only from John A. John
son. sole agent" The apples he sold at the county
fair netted him $780, but this was the least OF the
transaction The advertising had done its work
and orders for dozens OF barrels OF those apules
came to Johnson. who finally bought the entire
crop from the farmer and sold the fruit to St
Paul jobbers at a big profit.
At another time. when Johnson was Office boy
for certain railroad contractor and in the alb
sence OF his employer there came telegram from,
St. Paul which read. Wire az your price
for grading seven miles from -- to -
Johnson. without a moments hesitation. tele-
graPned oacS, VIII DO the work for s3EOOo A
reply came hack 70 the firm, Contract awarded
you" When his employer returned johnson
showed him the telegram and reply .aJ'SaT's All
right my boy said he and here Is a check fo,. e
$3.50. We can do the job for SlS0o0." With the
newspaper he now owns at St Peter
The remarka6le @ victory Of this Democratic
diaaIe Tor Governor OF minnesota. In election IN
which every other candidate on his ticket was
SnbIicn1 az b osG MI ee 5eGIy, ana Minnesota he
Various things contributed to Mr., Johnson's sue
most important was the reaction in his favor Soi
lowing an attempt to discredit him because his
had taken in washing This story was scattered
broadcast over the State in circular days be-
lore election and was promptly taken up and in
NO one KNOWS VINO printed and distributed the
slUrring circulars The plain intent was to lead
voters 10 believe that Mr. Johnson had left his
father to die a pauper when he could have sup
ported him.
1t found that Mr.. Johnson's father had IN
deed been IN pOOrhOuse. but he had been vut
there by friends Of the family for the atters sake
Mr.. JohnSOn's mother obliged to take in wash
ing to keep her family from starving. and her SON.
then ten years old. had left school to 90 to work
to help support his mother.
The elder Johnson Swedish immigrant and
the family was In abject poverty while the father
proved worthless and did nothing to support his
wife and children When fourteen years old young
Johnson was the sole support OF his mother who
hao grown feeble So well did he do his work
that by the time he twenty he had reached
position OF trust in his home town, st. Peter AMI
was enjoying a fair income
Wien these facts became known In MnnesotH
tho reaction in favor Of the man who had so
bravely discharged his duty poor coy and
bad fairly won his way to . high standing anaOngs
his feLOw-tOwnsmen spread through the whols
State The people wantel TO vote for a man 81
that calibre for their Governor. and they did 40,
He will be inausuratsd on January