The Boise citizen. (Boise, Idaho) 1906-1910, 1908-03-27
THE WORK OF JOHNSON

nation the issue of Everybod Magazine After
viewing his somewhat length and detailing how he
cured the fare his together with 10 per cep
reduction freight rates the article notes these additional achieve
which have made Governor Johnson of strength in
the peoples and then closes with single of admo-
milton should be lost giving estimate of Mnnesoas
chief executive We quote follows:
In the message the governor said that the sleeping
panes doing business Minnesota ought bear their share of the
burden of taxation So bills passed imposing just
such corporations
He said that the annual winter alcon of carortage could
remedied by what he called reciprocal deurrage which
railroads shall pay shippers for failing furnish
shippers have been obliged pay the railroads for de-
tanning So the legislature passed that act of simple and long
deferred justice.
He said that State Railroad Warehouse Commission
which had always been Gas other states dummy
by law providing that the orders
and afcations should go into effect within thirty
days be nued by stays pending appeals by the rail
roads So the legislature vazed the Railroad and Warehouse
Commission.
up insurance which he had always been
greatly interested originator and chairman of the
of Governors Chicago 1906 from which
memorable recommendations of the Committee of Fiji
He desired have the chief features of those recommends
enacted Minnesota So the legislature enacted them
up peculiar form of corporation graft that existed
connection with the iron lands owned by the state Such
genial phanhop the Steel Trust had been paying the state
twenty-five for taken from state lands and much
eghtyve taken from private lands The
said this arrangement absurd and he desired have all
the state ore lands withdrawn from that the might
prices The lands withdrawn accord
ingly
He asked like the Mueller Law of Illinois permitting
municipal ownership of public utilities He got it. He asked for
permanent commission He got it.
He strike the Cordage Trust by amending the
existing that the product of the Irvine plant the state
pentenay might be sold anywhere instead OF only IN Minnesota
He got the amendment.
He took up initiative and referendum while suggest
ing constitutional amendment establish mandatory in
tiative referendum he asked for immediate action within the
present limits of the Constitution that there might be advisory
initiative and referendum He did not get that Perhaps was tool
novel, strange, anil revolutionary for Minnesota.
He wished royalty imposed upon the output of the
mines. He did get that The Steel Trust
headed him off proposing build $2ooooooo plant in Duluth
He secured establishment of free labor employment
bureau fought into good behavior powerful insurance company
that was going badly and bes of all his endeavo) he
ceded abosng in Minnesota that feudal monsosi the Eel
ow-servan act by injured wongnen prevented from
securing damages.
Now how were things done? How possible for
Democratic governor and Republican legislature to harmonic
on so many issues By the of practical politics. by
Tanning fighting brbng with patronage overawng with
superior all These things secured because
Governor Johnson did command hem try to etor them
only showed quiet persuasive way that they we're right
So course the legislature, of which, like majority OF
all men earnestly desired right had hesitation about accept
ing believe that to be the Johnson art He does rot try to
govern Them he does to be trying to eX
hb his own greatness only get things done that the
masses of men will declare ought to be done some
persons say the legislature would have passed all these good
Governor Johnson had not recommended them And
others think he makes little noise he cannot be doing
ANYTHING So Minnesota there sides to the Johnson
picture But passed. that is the main thing the peo
pie got and Governor Johnson rewarded with their
good opinion.
He made of the Republicans the egisature he did
not care how they might be in their party faith long
as they good Nnnesoan He made them believe he was sin
ce when message he proposed that the first object should
be the good They tell that there has never been
time Minnesota party politics and party distinctions were
SO insignificant The legislature testified its regard by increasing
the governors salary abuay confirming his appointments