The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-07-31
Gov. Johnson, of Minnesota, Came
From Low Rank.
FATHER A DRUNKARD.
He Is Now Prominent Democrat
and May Be His Party's Nominee
for the Presidency Next Year-He
Is Very Popular With All Glasses
And Was Elected Governor of His
State Twice.

Gov. John A. Johnson, of Mime
sofa, is the son of pauper father.
He is now serving his second term as
chief executive of the state and is
one of the most popular officers that
Minnesota has known. He is a Dem
ocrat in state that is overwhelming
ly Republican. In his election Roose-
welt carried the state as a candidate
for the presidency by majority Of
161, ,464. Johnson ran 92,453 ahead
OF his ticket and was elected by a
majority of 1926. In the election
last fall his opponent was not in the
running" though all other Republic
cans on the state ticket were elected.
Gov. Johnson is "A years Of age.
He started life handicapped by odds
that would have proved insurmount-
able obstacles for man or boy with
less stamina and direct ambition. His
father was blacksmith, descend
ant of the peasantry of Sweden. In
1858 he emigrated to this country in
an effort to get away from his old
habits For several years he lived
without touching whiskey and mar
ried, but it was not long before he
began to drink worse than eEer and
his family became burden on the
community. FinallyJehnson was de-
clared pauper, and taken to the
poorhouse, where he died from al
coholism. Tnen the mother began to
struggle for the life Of the family.
1t is a matter Of record that in Gov.
Johnson's first campaign for the gov
ernorship his opponents carried signs
which read. "His Father was Pau
per-" and tHis Mother took in
Washing"
While a boy Johnson aided his
mother before and after school hours,
until he reached the High school, at
13 years of age. Then he declared
he would learn trade and prepared
to become a druggist. From that
time he was the chief support of the
family. In all those years the un-
dertaker was the only creditor OF the
family. Three deaths served to take
all the spare money from the family
and ruined Johnson's opportunity or
taking course in pharmacy. Later
he sought employment in depart
ment store, a position which yielded
better pay, but less opportunity for
study. At cne time he sought en-
ployment outside of his home town,
the village of St. Peter, but he de-
clared he would live down the repu-
tation of his father and remained at
home with his mother. The day
came when he was enabled to pay on
the mortgage on his fathers old cot
tage and pay for the education OF MS
brother and sister.
After several years a friend inter-
ested Johnson in the st. Peter Her
aid. Democratic newspaper IN a
Republican community. Johnson took
up with the proposition and became
editor of country newspaper. he
became an officer in the State Press
association. Here began his political
aspirations. Twice he was defeated
as candidate for state senatorshlp.
On his third trial he was elected. HIS
record as a minority member brought
him into prominence, and later lnto
the chair of the ceief executive. He
is the idol of the people OF the state
he is serving, simply, because as ne
puts TT just tried to make sooo.