The Newark journal., 1908-05-15

school In order to help her. She re-
luctantly consented. fearing that her
son would never be able to return to
school This fear was fully justified.
for after that time the future governor
of Minnesota knew the four walls of
the schoolroom no more.
The boy went to work in a general
store in the village at $40 month.
and every cent of this generous salary
was turned into the family treasury
His spare moments from the store
were still devoted to delivering laun-
dry for his mother and the earnings
of mother and son were sufficient to
keep the little establishment going. AS
time went on their condition improved
with Johns increasing salary Two
years after going to work he was re-
eeiving sf2 a month; soon he was get
ting more From this time on the
mother was not compelled to work for
the family maintenance. The son
provided the entire income. and the
mother returned to her proper work
of housekeeping and caring for the
family. From the general store. John
went into drug store, where he
stayed for about twelve years and be-
came a licensed pharmacist Later he
was employed by a railway contractor
in Minnesota and Iowa, and at that
time, in his early EOS, his income ay-
eraged about SIS a month All this
time, whether at home or away, he re-
garded himself as the head and main
stay of the family, and provided funds
in addition for educating the brother
and sister who survived early child
hood.
Not Embittered by Poverty.
Although John had thus to leave
school so early in life, he did not cease
to educate himself. He became a
great student and soon read every
book in the village library 1t is note
worthy that the first three books he
read after leaving school were Pres
colts two histories of the conquest of
Peru and Mexico and SCOTS Ivan
hoe While thus extending his knowl.
edge and intellectual horizon, he at all
times grew in the other fields of life
Hard as his struggle had been. he did
not become embittered by it. but took
as large a part as possible in the vii
lage social life He seldom missed
dance He attended church and be
longed to the choir He joined the
various fraternal lodges. after the
habit of men in small villages, He
was known to everybody in the village,
and everybody was his friend He
was interested in life. not only his own
Fife, but the life led by all his friends
and neighbors.
The turning point in Gov Johnson's
eareer-the point from which he began
to be public man-eame with the OPP
pCrtunity to become editor of the viii
lage paper-the St Peter Herald. That
the opportunity was given to him,
man who had been without any news
paper training or preparation was
proof that early in life he began to
impress those who knew him as
man provided with a natural equip
ment which qualified him to undertake
almost any responsibility. The owners
of the paper picked him out as the
man they wanted for editor. He inn
mediately arose to the opportunity. He
developed great aptitude for the new
work, and with it took on 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 doe
trines from the local politicians who
had eongregated there, and, as time
went on, he became fixed in his belief
in Democratic political tenets and
loyal adherent OF the party. Johnson
had a natural gift for speaking, and as
he had now become a man of note in
his little homo community, he had
many opportunities to exercise this
gift, and soon came to be recognized
as a 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 1898, 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 ses
sions of the legislature, and his legs
lafipa 90 chiaHN nnfa bile Tor