The Mankato free press., 1908-11-20
PARADES; LOTS OF RED FIRE
Spssches BY Many Folks, Bouquets
in Profusion; Sweet Singing BY
Nine. Olive Fremstao.
From Fridays Daily.

nomination in 1912 was launchedS
All speakers, and there were many
took occasion to call attention to the
possibilities of 1912, and badges on
(which was inscribed the sentiment,
'Johnson in 1912" were worn by every
body.
The affair was under the auspices
of the Commercial club of st. Peter.
The exercises of the day began with
the welcome extended the govrnor and
his party when it arrived on the special
train that left Minneapolis at ten
o'clock. The train itself was loaded
with about 500 persons from the Twin
Cities.
When the governor stepped from the
train in his home town it seemed as
if bedlam had broken loose An old
brass gun on the hill back of town
doomed out the governors salute of
thirteen guns. .
Several hundred pupils of the public
schools, under the charge of their
teachers, waved flags and cheered,
while the grown-ups added in every
way to the din. An impromptu parade
was formed, headed by two bands
and the G. A, R. fife and drum corps
of Minneapolis. Three companies of
National Guard and the entire student
body of the Gustavus Adolphus college
formed the escort of honor just ahead
of the governors. carriage.
Mime. Fremstad Sang.
With the governor were his wife,
Nine Olive Fremstad, the famous pri-
ma donna; Mrs. Fred B. Snyder of
st. Paul, Miss Mary D. McFadden of
Duluth c. G. Snulz, Mr.. Sutphen and
P. H. Nelson of Hibbing. The carriage
containing the city's honored son was
driven to his home, where the party
stayed few minutes and then left
for the Gustavus Adolphus college,
where reception was held to both
the governor and Mime. Fremstad dur
ing the day. Nine. Fremstad shared
the honor paid the governor. She is
also a native of st. Peter, having
been born in the same block where
the governor lived as a boy.
The famous singer accompanied the
governor on this occasion to show her
friendship for him and also to revisit
the scenes of her early youth. She was
well repaid for the trouble, if out
pouring of well-expressed praise of her
old townspeople could compensate her.
1t is assured that no more hearty re-
ception could have been extended to
any person, not even the governor
The audience gathered in the opera
house during the afternoon, stood up
and cheered the talented songstress
after she had answered to repeated
encores, and when Governor Johnson
took her hand and led her back to
the 'front.' of the stage, after she had
taken her seat, the applause for both
her and the governor continued for
several minutes.
Exercises at the Opera House.
The meeting in the opera house be-
gan late in the afternoon and the
program was curtailed on that account.
Several speakers were scheduled, but
only three spoke, the governor, Con-
gresham w. S. Hammond and Con-
gresham c. X. Davis being the speak
ers, and Nine. Fremstad sang several
songs.
The governors speech dealt princi-
pally with the great position at pres
ent occupied by the state of Minnesota
and the greater future in store for it..
He thanked the assembled people for
the welcome and honor that had been
extended to him, saying:
81 freely acknowledge the great debt
owe to the moral support of the peo-
pie of ST. Peter and l thank you for it.
If 1 have been of any service to the
state it is because your sympathy and
the inspiration gained by daily contact
with you has fitted me for the pur-
pose"
The governor spoke briefly of the
adversity which surrounded his youth
and stated that his rise was due to
the excellent school system of this
country and the other opportunities that
surrounded the boys and girls of this
country.
In conclusion, the governor paid a
high tribute to his friend, Nine. Frem-
stad, in which he spoke of the diff
culties she had overcome in making
great singer of herself. Her ability
and great willingness to work were
the reason he gave for her success
and he used this to point a moral in
his general remarks about the neces-
sity of all working hard at something.
Start the Presidential Boom.
Congressman Hammond followed the
governor. He devoted the most of his
time to picturing conditions at the
ratification meeting of 1912 when
Johnson will have been elected to the
highest office in the gift of the Amer
can people. That the governor is
bound for the White House is the firm
belief of Hammond, according to his
remarks.
He was followed by Congressman
Davis of the Second district.
Congressman Davis is resident of