Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1908-05-02

to be public man-came with the op- portunity to become editor of the vii. lage paper-the St. Peter Herald. That the opportunity was given to him. man who had been without any news paper training or preparation was proof that early in life he began to impress those who knew him as q man provided with natural equip. ment which qualified him to undertake almost any responsibility. The owners of the paper picked him out as the man they wanted for editor. He i'm mediately arose to the opportunity. He developed great aptitude for the new work, and with it took on a larger ser vice in the community.
 Sitting around the big stove in the drug store during the long winter eve nings, he had imbibed Democratic doc trines from the local politicians who had congregated there, and, as time went on, he became fixed in his belief in Democratic political tenets and a loyal adherent of the party. Johnson had natural gift for speaking, and as he had now become a man of note iE his little home community, he had many opportunities to exercise this gift, and soon came to be recognized as fluent, easy, adaptable speaker, al ways certain to say the right thing at the right time, and always sure to say something worth hearing. Between his speaking ability, his ability as an editor, and his remarkable mixing qualities, he was scarcely 30 years old when he was recognized as the lead ing Democratic editor of Minnesota,
 First Political Contest.
 The governors first political contest came in 1894. when he was nominated for the g ate senate, but although he made d gallant fight he was not able to overcome the Republican majority. In 1898, nominated to the state senate again, he made a lively campaign on state issues, and this time victory was with him. He served through two ses sions of the legislature, and his log+S lative career was chiefly notable for the leadership of his party in the sue cessful contest for a gross earnings tax on the Minnesota railways. At the end of his legislative term, the Demo- cratic leaders of the state wanted to nominate him for governor, but John- son considered the situation hopeless and declined the honor Instead, he took the nomination for state senate again But this time he was defeated by a small majority. In 1904 he was persuaded. however, to accept the Democratic nomination, and, after be- ing nominated by exclamation, he plunged into a whirlwind campaign He made 1O3 speeches in "A out of the S4 counties of the state, and these speeches were remarkable for the fact that they were positive rather than negative He did not attack his op- pOnent or indulge in personalities, but spoke always of state affairs and need ed reforms This was in presiden- tia year, when Roosevelt enthusiasm was at it's height in every Republican state But when the votes were count ed in November it was found that the people of the state at large had learned to love, honor, admire and respect John A. Johnson, as had the people of his native village Although President Roosevelt carried the state by the hitherto unknown plurality of 161 .000. Johnson was elected by about 5000.
 After an administration of two years, which made good every prediction promise, Gov. Johnson came once again before the people of Minnesota with the slogan, One good term de- serves another" making 119 speeches in 42 days This time, without any presidential canvass to distract them from state issues and personalities, the governor was reelected by plu- rality of 77,000, being the largest plu- rality ever given to a gubernatorial candidate in Minnesota. And it is by virtue of that handsome public verdict of approval that Gov. Johnson to-day sits in his office in the magnificent marble capitol at St. Paul--perhaps the finest specimen of state architec- ture in America outside of Washing ton--looked up to with genuine love, respect and confidence by the 2,0000 900 people of Minnesota.
 A Great Record.
 In the four years that he has been governor, John A. Johnson has accom-, plished great things in Minnesota. He and his taX-reforming appointees have increased the assessed valuation of the United States Steel corporation from $32, ,0O0, ,OOO to $190,00O 900, and in lieu of further increase of taxation. the steel corporation is now building a $2O,OOO, 900 plant in Duluth.
 Owing to his energy railway rates have been reduced, partly voluntarily, and partly by warehouse commission regulation and legislative enactment, from 10 to 30 per cent. The two-cent railway passenger rate was secured in Minnesota. Largely due to his inita- tive, the system of taxation was re- formed, and an expert commission of three able men appointed to deal with the taxation problem; laws were passed providing for the equitable tax
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