The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1908-10-28
JOHNSON'S FAILINGS
IN LEGISLATURE
He Occupied a Seat in the State
Senate-And That's About
All He Did.
LONG RECORD AS A DODGER
Representative jacobson Set Him a
Good Example Democracy's Omis-
sion and the Reason They
Were FOrgetfuI.

Johnson. Strange as it may SEEM
/ this biographical sketch, which must
have received the sanction Of Mr.
Johnson, fails to say one word of the
fact that our governor-lecturer served
as a state senator in 1899 and 1901.
\ Why this omission?
y Such an important link in the
governors political career could not
have been omitted except by inten-
ton, and where a period in the life
Of a public official is suppressed by
himself and associates such period
deserves investigation.
The legislative Journals, which are
the official records of the proceedings
of both Senate and House, tell an in
teresting story relative to Senator
John A. Johnson, our present gov
ernor.
A few days ago IN Northern Mime
sota he loudly proclaimed himself the
friend of drainage. He had one great
chance to prove his friendship to
drainage, during the session of 1899
when the senate considered Senate
File 211-"An act to establish the
State Drainage Commission to provide
for the drainage of swamp lands, and
to appropriate money therefore,
bill of vital Importance to Northern
Minnesota. The record shows the bill
passed, Sc ayes to nays, and that
Senator Johnson voted against this
measure.
In his keynote speech, and many
4 times since, Gov Johnson has pro-
B claimed that he stands for "construc-
tive progress and practical state de-
velopment.'' Actions speak louder
than words.
J AS senator during the session Of
1901, we find Gov. Johnson voting
against Senate File 3S6-"A bill to
increase the state road and bridge
fund to create a state highway
commission and prescribe their
duties, and to provide for the con-
struction of public highways" So
ably did Senator Johnson combat this
important measure for the states de-
velopment that the bill only received
IL votes in its favor to 81 against.
Friends of good roads were only able
to eventually get this measure
through the legislature when Senator
Johnson got out of it.
In his revncta speech Gov Johnson
said, 81 take pardonable pride, l be-
lieve, in the reorganization of the in
surance department" referring to the
revision of insurance laws passed by
Republican legislature while he was
governor In 1901, while he was a
member of the legislature, and in a
position to do something along these
lines in which he might take pardon
able pride" he is recorded in the
able PRIDE" he is recorded in the
official journal of the senate as voting
against Senate File 733-"A bill to
. correct omissions and errors; to har-
monte and otherwise revise the Cen
eral Insurance Laws of the State OF
Minnesota" The bill received but
~ ayes and "a nays on roll call, 81
votes being necessary to carry It
Once more the legislature had to wait
until he got out of it before revision
of the insurance laws could be adopt
ed; and now Mr.. Johnson comes TIC
the front of the stage with pardon
able pride" and says Il did it, The
official journal of the house shows Mr.
]. F. Jacobson supported and voted
for the passage of the bill to revise
the insurance laws. Let the pardon
able pride" go where 1t belongs.
Gov. Johnson stands on party
platform which demands legislative
enactment for the betterment of wage
earners on the subject of liability in
surance, yet the official journal Of the
senate, April IL, 1901, shows this mar
as senator voting against House File
140-'A bill to prohibit employers
from dipping into the wages or thell
employees to secure money TO pay 1ol
liability insurance"
On March rs, 1901, Just two weeks
preyious, ]. F. jacobson, the present
Republican candidate for governor
set the example which the presen
Democratic candidate for governor
,id not see fit to follow, by voting
for this bill and helping to pass it IL
the house.
John A. Johnson was the only mar
in the State Senate of 1899 to vote
against the act to prohibit Dissertation
of Decoration Day by the saloons
This bill provided that saloons bt
closed on Memorial Day from 10 a
m. until 8 o. m. where exercises were
held for the beloved soldier dead. The
hill received So senatorial votes In 1T
favor. the only opposition being thu
vote of Senator Johnson. This bill
had nassed the house some ten day
previous. with practically no opposi
ton.
A. saltwater recently Gov. johnson
nroclaimed his friendship to all legis
iation for improvement of the Stat
prison. Why did he not vote thi
way when q senator In 1899? Tn
oficial journal shows that he was on
Of ave to vote against the bill-"T'
nrovide for the management OF tn
state Prison at Saltwater, and to ar
nronriate for the expenses of said pris
IN any funds arising from the labor o
,risoners." This bill passed, how
ever, receiving SO favorable votes 4
spite of his opposition. 1t also passe
I 4 short time later in the house,
BART through the vote and energeti
L lid of Mr.. J. f.. Jacobson.
While on this subject OF State II
titutions. II II worthy OF note IN pass
nr that this same Senator Johnso
his same session Of 1899 vote
gainst Senate File i31-the bill 70