Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-04-29

| one side of the great governor of Min
nesota. He is most lovable mana
man who makes friends Of all whom
he meets In this respect, as in some
others, he has been compared to the
| great Lincoln.
Gov. Johnson is man of the people.
Not even Lincoln came up from great
er obscurity and greater poverty than
the virile governor of Minnesota He
understands the people as perhaps no
man in American public life since Lin
coin has understood, them-and the
people understand him,
AS Democrat, Gov Johnson ap-
peals to the thoughtful members of
his party, because he is prominently
qualified to unite and blend it's discord-
ant elements into a competent, enthu-
siastic well-organized militant political
force.
Gov. johnson appeals to the people
regardless of party because he has
record of achievement behind him
that guarantees that If he is chosen
to the great office of president he
would fill 1t in a manner wholly salts
factory to a vast majority of the plain
people of America.
Poor Swedish immigrants.
Gov. Johnson's mother and father
were poor immigrants from Sweden
the former arriving in st. Peter, MINI,
in 1852, and the father year later.
They were married in 1858. The father
was a blacksmith in Sweden, and took
up his trade in his new home, conduct
ing at first small blacksmith shop
in the country near st. Peter. Later
the family moved into the village, and
it was here, July 81, 1861, that the son
John was born The father was cursed
with the drink habit and, in conse-
quence, after few years Of prosperi-
ty, the family was reduced to desper-
ate straits. So dire was their poverty
that the mother had to take in wash
ing for a living, and the son, John,
acted as her delivery boy. When in
his twelfth year, the restitution Of the
little family, consisting Of the mother
and father and three children, had
reached such point that John begged
his mother for permission 20 quit
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-
ceiving $40 month; soon he was get
ting more. From this time on the
mother was-nNt 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 licensed pharmacist Later he
was employed by a railway contractor
In Minnesota and Iowa, and at that
time in his early eos, his income av-
eraged about SIS 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 Addison FOR educating the brother
and sister who survived early child
hood.
Not Enbittered BY Poverty.
Although John had thus to leave
school SO early in life. he did not cease
10 educate himself. He became
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
sotts two histories Of the conquest Ok i
Peru and Mexico and SCOTS Ivan
zoe. While thus extending his knowl-
,dge and intellectual horizon, he Al ali I
lines grew IN the other FIELDS of life.
Hard ~ his strukgle had been. he did
lCt become embittered BY 1t. but took
y large 4 part 40 possible Ia the VII
age social life. He seldom missed
lance He attended church and BE-
onged 10 the choir. He joined the
'arious fraternaI lodges. after the
labit cf men "A small villages. Ho
Vaa known To everybody III the villaEe,
ma everybody was hts friend. he