Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-09-26

John A. Johnson opened his campaign
for reelection at the Sheldon Memoir
ial auditorium. here tonight. The gov
ernor was greeted by an immense
audience and spoke for an hour and q
half. His address, which is the key
note speech of the campaign, was al
most wholly a review Of his admins
tration and of state departments OF
state government under his control.
Observance of the law was the dom1-
nant theme, and the Governor showed
conclusively that his administration
has fulfilled every pledge made for him
two years ago. His address was
punctuated by enthusiastic applause
and was concluded amid an ovation
never before accorded a candidate for
office in this Republican stronghold.
Governor Johnson's speech in full
follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentle
Two years ago the people of Mime
sofa, departing from their usual GUS
tom, chose representative of the
minority party as governor of this
commonwealth. It was my fortune to
have been named by the Democracy
as their candidate for chief executive,
and their choice was duly ratified by
the people of the state at the polls.
The close Of my official term now be-
ing near at hand, come again before
the people asking the Endorsement OF
a reelection at their hands.
The time has arrived: therefore,
when it is fitting render an account
of my stewardship. The people who
elected me have a. right to know
whether or not have been worthy OF
the confidence reposed in me; whether
have fulfilled my pledges to them and
have been loyal to their interests;
whether have been diligent, compel
.ent and efficient in the performance
of my official duties; in short, whether
I have kept the faith and fought: the
good fight of and for our common
wealth. - ~. :1,:- -, <: X = =,
Enforcement Of Law. r. s,;sS. :,::=
Two years ago I made the promise
that, If Twas. elected governor j
should abide by and enforce the laws
Of our. state as they. stood upon the
statute books, for the protection OF
the. rights and the zharitage OF the peo-
pie. I maintained that, II the laws
were wrong, they should be corrected;
but that no public officer; I'M the dis
charge Of his official duty had a right
: to assume that his position or authors
" was greater than the law Of the
state ); that the institution was more
than + q convenience that II: was a
sacred Instrument, and that III It's de-
.c1arations the people; and their SER
wants must abide Nj Sa5z s &$:
S* here are number OF achievements
! of which i and my asso ciateszare JUST
~ proud $: but standing higher and
above all these, we are proud *of this
fact, that we have rabided by the
laws OF the state that /. we have en-
forced the: laws as we found them upon
F tie statute books. and that, Z to- The. best
55,:of our knowledge#a and belief, there has
been on 6our part !: no. =Vi olaf on 81 the
spirit or letter aS single law upon
the statute zbo oks 81. our tie. ..
5Governmen q divided b into three
separate and distinct parts: the ex-
5tecutiYe, the gislative. and the JUDICIAL.
1T .is@ the roYinee Soff the Legislature to
lay down the rule of conduct for the
governments q. the peo pie Tie
proVincesand the func e Ion sc the. judlc-
larry fo i1lterpre these; laws. &c issstle
Yincez and the duty of the executive
y TO g asainister the laws without tearSor.