The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1908-06-19


Inc turning point in Gov. Iohnson.s
eareer-the point from which he hag.n
10 De public man-came with the On
portlnity to become editor of the vii
rage paper-the st. Peter Herald Tba,
'he opportunity was given to him. a
man who had been without any news.
paper training or preparation wa.
prooi that early in life he began IN
impress those who knew him as a
man provided with natural eouin.
ment which qualified him to undertake.
almost any responsibility. The owners
OF the Taper picked him out as the
man they wanted for editor. He i'm.
mediately arose to the opportunity. He
developed great aptitude for the new
work, and with II took on a larger ser.
vice in the community.
Sitting around the big stove in the
drug store during the long winter eve.
nings. he had imbibed Democratic doc.
trines from the local politicians who
mad congregated there, and, as time
went on. he became fixed I'm his belief
In Democratic political tenets and a
loyal adherent of the party. Johnson
had a natural gift for speaking, and as
ne had now become a man of note in
his little home community, he had
many opportunities TO exercise this
GIT. and soon came to be recognized
as fluent. easy. adaptable speaker. al.
ways certain to say the right thing at
the right time. and always sure to say
something worth hearing. Between
his speaking ability, his ability as an
editor. and his remarkable mixing
qualities. he was scarcely 30 years old
when he was recognized as the lead
Ing Democratic editor of Minnesota.
First Political Contest.
The governors first political contest
came In 1894, when he was nominated
for the STATE senate. but although he
made a gallant fight he was not able
to overcome the Republican majority.
In 1893. nominated to the state senate
again. he made a lively campaign on
state issues. and this time victory was
with him He served through two SEES
sions of the legislature. and his leg:s-
lative career was chiefly notable TO-
the leadership of his party in the sue
cessful contest for gross earnings
tax on the Minnesota railways. Al the
end CT his legislative term. the Demo
cratic leaders of the state wanted to
nominate him for governor, but John.
son considered the situation hopeless
and declined the homer. Instead. he
took the nomination for state senate
again. But this time he was defeated
by a small mssrity. In 1904 he was
persuaded. however. to accept the
Democratic nomination, and, after be
ing nominated by reclamation. he
plunged into a whirlwind campaign.
He made 103 speeches In "A out of
the 81 counties of the state. and these
speeches were remarkable for the fact
that they were positive rather than
negative. He did not attack his op-
ponent or indulge in personalities. but
spoke always of state affairs and need
ed reforms. This was In a presiden
tial year. when Roosevelt enthusiasm
was at ITS height In every Republican
state. But when the votes were count
ed In November II was found that the
people Of the state at large had learned
to love, honor. admire and respect
John A. johnson. as had the people o.
his native village. Although President
Roosevelt carried the state by the
hitherto unknown plurality Of $4,000.
Johnson was elected by about 5000.
After an administration of two years.
which made good every prediction
promise. Gov Johnson came once
again before the people OF Minnesota
with the slogan. "One good term de-
serves another" making 119 speeches
in ~ days This time. without any
presidential canvass to distract them
from state issues and personalities.
the governor was reelected by a plu-
rality Of 1900. being the largest piu-
rality ever given to gubernatorial
candidate In Minnesota. And 1t Is by
virtue of that handsome public verdict
of approval that Gov Johnson to-day
sits in his ONCE in the magnificent
marble capitol at st. Paul-perhaps
the finest specimen Of state architec-
ture In America. outside OF Washing
ton-looked up to with genuine love.
respect and confidence by the 100000
people OF Minnesota
A Great Record.
In the four years that he has been
governor, John A. Johnson has accom-
plished great things in Minnesota He
and his tax-reforming appointees have
increased the assessed valuation OF
the United States Steel corporation
from Ss2 200. 900 to $1s0. 0o0. 900. and In
lieu of further increase Of taxation. the
steel corporation il now building q
$40, O00. 900 plant In Duluth.
Owing to his energy railway rates
have been reduced. partly voluntarily
and partly by warehouse commission
regulation and legislative enactment.
from 10 to 80 per cent. The two-cent
railway passenger rate was secured In
Minnesota. Largely due to his initia-
tive. the system of taxation was re-
formed, and an expert commission OF
three able men appointed to deal with
the taxation problem: laws were
passed providing for the equitable tax
alton OF sleeping car companies:
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