Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-08-01
L governor JOHNSON PUBLIC OWNERSHIP
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF A PROMI.
NENT DEMOCRAT.
An Humble Swede Boy Rises to d
Position of National Prominence
Through Force of Character. His
Record is One of Absolute Hon.
eSty of Purpose.

So many new candidates are being
mentioned for the nomination by the
democracy for president, who are COM
paratively unknown by the great ma.
jority OF the voters, that it would seem
appropriate to give brief biographies of
the most prominent ones. AS William
Jennings Bryan has been twice the can.
didate Of the democratic party and has
thus been more in the public eye than
almost any other American, it would be
superhuous to give his biography, for his
pnblic life is an open book to his coun-
trymen.
Among those most frequently men.
toned besides Mr.. Bryan, are Governor
John A. Johnson, OF Minnesota; Gov.
ernor Hoke Smith, OF Georgia Senator
John w. Daniel, of Virginia; Senator
Charles A. Culbertson, of Texas; Gov.
ernor Folk, Of Missouri; President
Woodrow Wilson, OF Princeton Universe
ty; John Sharp Williams. OF Mississippi
Governor Beckham, Of Kentucky; Form
er Senator Carmack, of Tennessee, and
Judson Harmon, of Ohio.
Governor johnson will be first con.
sidered. He was born at st. Peter,
Minnesota, July 2S, 1861, of Swedish
parents. His father was blacksmith
who died leaving his family unprovided
for. In 1873, therefore, John was OBJ.
liged to quit school and work for the
support OF the family. He was employed
in printing office at $40 a month, and
gave all his earnings to his mother.
Afterwards he became clerk in drug
store, and, in 1877 he was getting $75 a
month, though but sixteen years of age.
He joined the National Guard, in
which he served seven years, reaching
tho rank of captain. Returning to the
printing business, he became a member
of the firm of Essler & johnson, publish
ers OF the st. Peter Herald, of which he
was until recently the editor. He has
always been a democrat, and was elect
/ ed, as such, to the state senate, in which
he served one term before he was nomi-
mated for governor by his party, in 1904.
AS candidate for governor in that year
he received IA ma jprity of 1852, in total
vote OF 297 ,592, although Roosevelt car
ried the state by ma jority OF 16l 900.
AS the first democratic governor of Min
nesota since be war, he gave the state
wise, decent, economical admnistra.
ton. He opposed extravaganza and
every kind OF fraud. and successfully
planned and advocated legislation tax.
ing mortgages, and the Steel Trust iron
ore monopoly, sleeping car companies,
etc. He also procured the establishment
OF permanent tax commission to adjust
the burden of state taxes upon the differ.
ent counties. He obtained a reduction
of freight rates in Minnesota; also a two
cent passenger fare, and the abolition of
the corrupt free pass system; and Sc
cured the passage OF statutes regulating
the management of life insurance, which
have proved entirely efficient.
In consequence of these reforms, he
was renominated for governor by the
democrats in 1906, and carried the state
by majority of 1858 votes, showing
greatly increased popularity.
Governor Johnson's position on the
important issues OF the day can be best
told in his own words. For instance, he
has recently said: 81 believe the states
must be absolute in their authority 10
regulate and control railway rates on
business wholly within the states. | be-
lieve that the government should do nc
business which can be done az we'll, OF
better, by private individuals. The time
has not arrived when there should be
even suggestion Of government owner
ship OF railroads"