Bisbee daily review., 1908-04-09
HE JOHNSON BOOh OPENS
 HEADQUARTERS
Campaign Literature Is Being Sent Out of Chicago Where Suite Has Been Taken at the Grand Pacific.

The Minnesota democratic commit tee has opened headquarters in Chl- cago at the Grand Pacific hotel from which campaign literature, urging the nomination of Governor John A. John son of Minnesota as the democratic nominee for president, is being sent. This paper is in receipt of leaflet set out by this committee from which is taken the following extract:
 Johnson the Man.
 John A. Johnson was born in St. Peter. Nieollet county. Minnesota, July 2S, 1861, of Swedish parents. His childhood and youth were passed m great poverty. At thirteen years of age. he was compelled to leave the public schools of his native city, in order to support himself and the pa rental family Though his formal ed ucation was thus early cut short, his self education never stopped. A stu dent at all times, wide reader and a thoughtful one, MT. Johnson, after some years of obscure toll as drug and grocery clerk and railway time Keeper, became at the age of twenty four editor of the St. Peter Herald. He soon became known as one of the ablest of Minnesota journalists and was recognized as one of the leaders of Journalism in a state remarkable for the number, vigor and influence of it's periodical press. As a country intendent becomes effective.
 editor he was gradually drawn into politics and in 1898 was elected a member Of the senate of the Mime sota legislature, and his first public political work was as a member Of that body. From the first, he was identified with various reform meas ures, which have since become laws in Minnesota
 Quiet, unassuming and accom- plishing his ends without violent er- fort, he did not attract any special nos tice during his career in the legissa- ture, but he was laying the founda- tions of a knowledge of statesman ship and politics that fitted him well for the opportunity that came in 1904, when the democratic nomination for governor of Minnesota was literally thrust upon him. Two years before, the democratic nominee for governor in Minnesota had been defeated by a plurality of nearly 56,4S7. Only once in forty years before this time had the democrats elected a governor in Minnesota So uniformly had demo cratic candidates gone to defeat in this normally republican state, that as rule party leaders who accepted the democratic nomination to office took it far more from sense of par ty loyalty, and from a feeling that they should do what they could to keep up the party organization, than with any hope of success. Even those rrrt,r, Tlns- quaintance with Mir Johnson realized his capacity for making friends and | enlisting supporters did not dream that he had any hope of success. But much to the astonishment of his friends, as well as his enemies, the republican candidate was on the de fensive from the very start. and. not withstanding the tremendous handi- cap of presidential year in a repub- lican state, with all of Theodore Roosevelt's popularity with the rank and file of voters regardless of party, Johnson was elected by plurality of about 5000; while Mir. Roosevelt car ried the state by plurality of 161 900. Rarely, if ever, has there been sucn a striking demonstration of personal popularity and vote-getting ability.
 Then followed two years of sucn successful administration of the Of flee of governor that Johnson, re-nom- mated in 1906, carried the state Dy a plurality of nearly 73,000, and this, too, in the face of the fact that the metropolitan press of Minnesota, be- ing republican with two exceptions, opposed him as fercely and bitterly as was possible in view of his spIen- did administration of the duties of his office and his evident popularity.
 These two striking victories made Governor Johnson far more than a state celebrity. They attracted to him the attention of democrats eyery- where and of people generally obser, want of political matters. He was much sought after for addresses on occasions of national importance in many states and these addresses fn- variably strengthened the opinion of all who were following his career, even in most casual way, that the people of Minnesota had discovered a man of great ability and unswerving integrity
 Wherever Governor Johnson has gone, he has impressed men as being man of the Lincoln type. He has the faculty of making friends and few enemies, and yet, as his record shows, ne IS in no sense a trimmer never conceals his opinion on public ques- tions, is always frank and outspoken. There is no trouble with him, as with some politicians and even statesmen of a certain stamp, to tell where he stands. His capacity for getting re- suits without friction is most remark ably demonstrated by his success in securing legislation in Minnesota, aI- though confronted by a legislature overwhelmingly republican. It is doubtful whether Governor Johnson could have been more successful in securing the passage of measures re commended by him had his legisIa- ture been democratic. Practically every important legislative enactment