Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-04-29
life, but the life led y ali his friends

|
and neighbors.
The turning point in Gov. Johnson'I
career-the point from which he begar
to be public man--came with the op
portunity to become editor Of the vii
lage paper-the st. Peter Herald Thai
the opportunity was given to him, q
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 a
man provided with a natural equip
ment which qualified him to undertake
almost any responsibility. The owners
Of the paper picked him out az the
man they wanted for editor. He i'm
mediately arose to the opportunity. H+
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 doA.
trines from the local politicians who
had congregated there, and, as time
went on, he became fixed in his belief
In Democratic political tenets and a
loyal adherent of the party Johnson
had a natural gift for speaking, and as
he had now become man of note in
his little home 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 80 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 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 SEES
sions of the legislature, and his legis-
lative career was chiefly notable for
the leadership Of his party in the sue
cessfu1 contest for gross earnings
tax on the Minnesota railways. At the
end of 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 honor. Instead, he
took the nomination for state senate
again. But this time he was defeated
by a small majority, 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 "a counties of the state, and these
speeches were remarkable for the fact
that they were positive rather than
negative. He did not attack his OPP
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 1t 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 Of
his native village. Although President
Roosevelt carried the state by the
unknown plurality of 161, 900,
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 Az days This time, without any
presidential canvass to distract them
from state issues and personalities,
The governor was reelected by plu-
rality of 1900, being the largest plu-
'ality ever given to gubernatorial
candidate in Minnesota. And it is by
virtue of that handsome public verdict
IF approval that Gov. Johnson today
sits in his office in the magnificent
marble capitol at st. Paul perhaps
he finest specimen of state architec-
.ure in America, outside of Washing
on looked up to with genuine love,
and confidence by the 100000
people of Minnesota.
A Great RAnnrh
In the four years that he has been
governor, John A. Johnson has accom-
Slished great things in Minnesota. He
md his tax-reforming appointees have
increased the assessed valuation OF
he United States Steel corporation
rom $32 ZOO, 900 to 100000, 900, and in
leu Of further increase Of taxation, the
teel corporation is now building q
20, 0O0,0 900 plant in Duluth.
Owing to his energy railway rates
ave been reduced, partly voluntarily,
nd partly by warehouse commission
equation and legislative enactment,
rom 10 to 30 per cent The two-cent
ailway passenger ate was secured in
Minnesota. Largely due to his initia-
I've, the system OF taxation was re-
ormed, and an expert commission OF
hree able men appointed to deal with
- @awa&gnv, ~4@nhfn,,o. anx.x~ 1885,. |