The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-04-24
FROM PAUPER's SON TO GOVERNOR.

- The leading article in Success March is From
Paupers Governor" telling how Jonn A. Johnson
aged A. recently the highest office in Minnesota
as democrat spite of $4,000 majority for Roosevelt
hewed his way to fame. Sitting in the executive office
days in the marble palace which has been con-
structed for Mnnesotas capitol he asked How do
you account for success?"
Il just tried to make good" answered.
John A. Johnsons father common drunkard-
reproacn the governor. His mother sturdy,
upright, God fearing woman took in washing GUSTAV
Johnson was strong handed drinking blacksmith
tried to divorce himself from
habit of drinking by changing his surroundings He
America to find that environment has little in
fuence appetite whskey of the Minnesota
prairie potent for evil the alcohol punch of his
He did strive for time against temptation
during sober period met and
Hayden, immigrant girl from his
native land Sweden He took his wife to ST. Peter
marriage built the cottage in which
the governor born opened blacksmith shop,
prospered for few then took to drink and there
after figured only tremendous and sometimes brutal
handicap to his wife and children. He shuffed his
ST. Peter time then disappeared,
back, a nuisance eventually disposed
of by authorities by being sent to the house He
could not be allowed to remain burden the struggling
whose efforts to take of her little brood had
attracted the attention of the townspeople.
beginnings present governor of Min
spring. "Old Man. Johnson byword in ST.
sturdy boy who helped her with the work, Who,
few occasions found it to set down the
basket of clothing he carrying to from the home
of mis- mother to that of patron and the
toplefty young persons respon-
sbe for his father rather proud of mis- mother
Young Johnson thirteen years old, a shambling
country boy lanky then he is opposition speak
in the last campaign described him being six
handles the back inches wide"-aready in the
high school when he made his mind that his mother
had the family long enough. He took
his books home Friday cried all night because
gered for education that is born of knowledge of
limitations of the unearned and the day
and got job in general at $3.50 week. That
night when he the basket of washing home he
to- lis mother that he would bring none back he was
tC AXE of the family. Since that she has
= or for hire.
~ Ali tt cold winter John thin alpaca coat
rather than go into debt for a linked
the press the little newspaper village
night and pumped bellows in the blacksmith shop
order to little extra From the general
ne to drug store with the idea of studying phar
and by hard he his certificate Three
sisters died and John had the doctor
taker He struggled five before these debts
fully paid.
Next he accepted job paymaster railroad being
built in receiving per gave up
few months as he could not be from his mother
and his remaining brother sister. returned
he offered half interest in the ST. Peter Herald
terms and he accepted the offer and became editor
1t is not exactly the life that would choose who
sought life of pleasure-the nky of democratic
editor of country weekly territory iercely repub
But Johnson continued make good He wrote
and still directness
spoken language He did write much. but the
point. In five secretary state press
associaton-whihc is eighty per republcan-and
three years he president association.
Twice Johnson ran for the state de-
feated.
Il think get along because it gel
licked, ne said Il really that doesn't
least. can chum with the He
chummed with the and against him
Then he beat other fellow popular
and influential, though member of the minority.
Last democrats about for candidate
for the governorship dozen who had observ
NOVELTIES IN JEWELRY Easter Cros-