The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-07-07

cl' Idui, mhhh', Juiy ~ i"i
the best medicine that ever came
out of drugstore
This is the way Frederick B. Lynch
treasurer of Minnesota state DEM
ocratic Committee, a few days age
described John Albert Johnson, gov
ernor of Minnesota. He referred to
Johnsons early employment In a
drugstore at st. Peter, Mimi, and his
subsequent achievements for the peo-
pie OF his state.
johnson who was put out In the
eleventh hour to run against Bryan
for the Democratic nomination for
the predicency, has been clerk in a
dl ugstore, auditor for lumber
company, editor OF a country news
paper, state senator, and, finally,
e. vernon. He rose from the most
Affect poverty, being Obliged to
leaves school in his twelfth year and
yo to work so as 10 keep his
mother from continuing the labor OF
tLking in washing to support the
FAMILY.
But through 1t all he preserved
his optimism and his faith in hu-
T.an nature. Today his character
Is series of delightful contrasts.
lie is conservative in his personal
beliefs and tastes, disliltng ostenta-
ton or display and decrying any
tling like personal advertisements.
Yet 50 simple is he in his views
that, when he was introduced 70
Speaker Cannon one day in Wash
|i.gton while the House was in ses-
sion, he took II as matter of course
that ne should sit on the Speak
e's desk with his back to all the
members because there was no ex-
ira chair on the dais for him.
He Is beloved by the people OF
Minnesota for having given them a
2 cent railroad passenger rate and
foi having delivered the farmers
from the extortions of the twine
tlust. He As one OF the greatest
fighters ever known when he be.
lieves the public is being victimizeo
bit me can cast from his mind al
thoughts of the serious side of Life
when the umpire "Play Ball" rings
up to the grandstand. And he knows
no greater pleasure than ice skating
He is distinctly "base bal
crank" Whenever the st. Paul team
plays at home, the governor is OF
the job at the stand, cracking pea
RI Is and "rooting" IN for the team
like mad. II, perchance, some mat
tor of state keeps him from thu
game, his private secretary know!
| 4. is his business to got the score
| by telephone and communicate 1t u
tnt governor as soon as the las
out has been called.
In the winter he slips off from
hrs office, lhis skates under his arm
ana skins across the ice for hours
a. time. When he was at Ole
Point, Va, last spring he got intC
the water without anyone being
aware who he was. But he could moi
~ ist the temptation to turn a bach
|somersault off the springboard into
the waves and this attracted sc
much attention that pretty soon his
Identity was generally known.
Johnson's love of baseball, skating
end swimming explains his healthy
h.cde of thought and his calm
bright outlook on life. What he
oherishes in his heart as his idea OF
tue greatness is shown by the fsl.
lowing remark he once made to q
friend:
"As a life work, would rather
b. able to provide for the needs
|oi a family, enjoy the fellowship OF
good friends and good books, and
write one book that would be read
a hundred years from now, than to
be able to amass adj the money in
the world"
The governor has been a great
student and reader all his life. When
he was twelve years Bold and got a
pace In the drugstore In the little
town OF st. Peter, he pored over his
books far into the night. He ha.
kept up the habit ever since. The