The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1908-06-19

Mr.. Tolan has summed up briefly
one side of the great governor of Min
nescta. He is most lovable mana
man who makes friends of all whom
be meets. In this respect. as in some
others, he has been compared to the
great Lincoln.
Gov. Johnson Is q 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 10 the thoughtful members Of
his party. because he is prominently
qualified to unite and blend its discord-
ant elements into a competent, enthu-
siastie, well-organized militant political
force
Gov Johnson appeals to the people
regardless of party. because he has
q record Of achievement behind him
that guarantees that II he IL choseI-
10 the great office of president he
would I'LL it In a manner wholly salts
factory to q vast majority Of the plain
people of America
Poor Swedish immigrants.
Gov. Johnson's mother and father
we're POOR immigrants from Sweden
the former arriving in st. Peter, Mimi,
In 1852. and the father a 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 a small blacksmith shop
in the country near st. Peter. Later
the family moved into the village, and
II was here. July 81. 1851. that the son
John was born. The father was cursed
with the drink habit and. in conse-
quence. after a few years of prospect
~. 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 to 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 q general
store In the village at $40 q 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 mo her 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 $l2 month; soon he was get.
ting more. From this tine on the
mother was not 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
vent into drug store. where he
stayed for about twelve years and be-
came q licensed pharmacist. Later he
vas employed by railway contractor
II Minnesota and Iowa. and at that
tine. in his early eos. his income av-
efaged about SIS a month All this
tine. whether at home or away. he TO
xarded himself as the head and main
stay Of the family. and provided funds
p addition for educating the brother
nd sister who survived early child
hood.
Not Emhlttered by Poverty.
Although John had thus to leave
ochool so early In life, he did not cease
. . educate himself He became
ereat student and soon read every
eook in the village library. II Is note
uozthy that the first three books he
rad after leaving school were Pres
cots two histories OF the conquest OF
reu and Mexico and SCOTS Ivan
"a While thus extending his knowl-
eese and intellectual horizon. he at all
unes grew In the other fields Of life.
kznrd as his struggle had been. he did
- become embittered by II. but took
large a part as possible in the vii
ne social life. He seldom missed .
011ce He attended church and be-
sd to the choir He Joined the
nous fraternal lodges. after tbs
~ OF men In small villages. He
known to everybody In the village.
everybody was his friend He
3 1serssted In NE. not ealy he eva