The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-08-06
ONE GOVERNOR that STANDS
FOR FAIR PLAY IN STRIKES
MINNESOTA'S CHIEF EXECU-
TIVE A GOVERNOR WHO
DOES THINGS AND HE RE-

| DOES THINGS AND he HE'
FUSES TO sHIRk GREAT
IRON MINING STRIKE.
Special Correspondence to The Press
ST. PAUL, Aug. John A
| Johnson, 46 years old July %, the
youngest governor Minnesota ever
had, is a man who does things.
| He is now serving his second
| term. To make himself governor
| the first time, at the election In
| November, 1904, he, democrat
had to carry in presidential year
/ a state which gave Roosevelt ma
jority Of $4,000.
1t was a big job, but he did it
| When he ran the second time he
got away with it by a majority OF
10000.
Just now the governor who does
| things has set himself another big
| task.
He is going to see that the $4,000
miners out on strike on the Mesaba
range, who have tied up the iron
output of the United States, con
duct their fight in lawful manner
If they don't the "do things" gov
ernor of Minnesota will do same
more things.
Likewise Gov. Johnson intends to
see that the strikers get fair
break.
When the big strike broke out
there were all sorts of rumors
about the likelihoodof trouble and
possible bloodshed.
One strike leader is credited with
| the declaration that before the
| strike ended there would be 5000
dead people on the range"
Governor Johnson Immediately
determined that there should be nc
such thing.
! Not content with secondhand in
formation about conditions at the
scene of the strike, he threw down
the reins of government at st. Pau
and hoped on train and clatter
ed away to Duluth. He told both
miners and mine owners exactly
what was what, decided that no mi
litia would be necessary, and
then skipped back to st. Paul TIC
be more particular. here is exactly
what he did:
At Duluth he heard the plea Of
the mine owners for the immediate
dispatching of state troops to the
range to awe the strikers.
Then he listened to representa-
tives of the strikers, and supple
mented this by personal investiga
ton on the side.
From this preliminary probing
Governor Johnson told the ricl
mine owners he saw no need TO-
troops, and declined to order on
the soldiers. To the strikers HI
said there would be no state inter
ference unless the strikers trans
crossed the law.
| Then Governor Johnson hireC
himself a special train-the rail
roads offered him l gratis, but he
does not accept railroad favors--
and hurried out on the Mesabs
range to look further into the
strike situation. He visited Hig
ging, Eyeleth and other towns
where conditions had been report
ed ominous, and talked to citizens
and strikers alike, He saw the
strikers marching with brass bands
and read the resolutions adopted al
a mass meeting decploring the
strike,
Everybody wanted Governor
Johnson to do something for his
particular side of the case. Bu
the governor did nothing excepting
what seemed right and necessary
in his own eyes.
There is no need for troops, ant
they will not be ordered out" il
what Governor Johnson told boil
sides. 81 believe from what ! hav,
seen and heard that the strike will
be adjusted peaceably and I'm &c
ing to try help along the peaceabl
solution. II there should come
time when the range authoritie
need assistance in enforcing tn,
law, that will be another question
But that time has not yet come
| After delivering this ultimatun
Governor Johnson hustled back t,
l. n