Willmar tribune., 1908-10-21
s. N, 0W EN-
| ON JOHNSON
Editor Of Farm, Stock and Home
Tells Why Governor Should
Be Reelected.
I|AS CONF|DENCE N RESULT
Veteran Writer Believes in the
/ Sense Of Justice and Pride
! Of MinneS0tanS.

Farm, Stock and Home has, with
unbiased mind, tried to discover some
good reason or reasons why Governor
Johnson should not be elected again
But 1t has to confess that the quest re
suited in failure. Aspiring for third
term is right in principle, and cannot
be wrong in Republican estimation
since that party has elected third-term
governors in this state, Iowa and Wis
consin, and ardently hoped and worked
for chance to vote for third-tern
president this fall.
No reason for his non.election was
found In his personal ability, but or
the contrary many reasons on thai
score were found why he should be
elected again. When a governor of
state can so discharge the duties
thereof as to call the attention of the
nation to the excellence of his admin
istration, and to regard it an evidence
Of his fitness to discharge the grave
and responsible duties of the chief eN
ecutive Of the republic, the citizens OF
the state ought to feel that they honor
themselves when giving such an Off.
Ger the substantial endorsement i'm.
piled in third election to a station
he has filled SO worthily and so we'll.
No objection was found in his per.
sonality, or ability in unoffi cial lines.
I'm the discharge of the social duties
and Offices common to personages in
his station he has added to his popu-
larity won in the discharge of his
purely official duties. During his
terms of Office he has never failed to
arouse the pride of his fellow citizens
by the addresses he has made before
associations, societies, universities and
churches at home or abroad In COM
mon parlance he has done his state
proud" wherever he has appeared and
in whatever he has had to say, Off
cially or unohicially.
In his party affiliations no objections
were found; but, on the contrary, they
suggested many reasons why his con.
tinuance In office, in this state, Is to
be greatly desired. In this state, be-
cause there seems to be no doubt that
its government will be largely in the
possession of the party to which the
governor does not belong
PROFESSIONALLY, the best laws, insti-
tutions and government, in republic,
are realized when power alternates
frequently between two or more par
ties. The party in power should, for
best results, be in constant fear of
overthrow at the next election. Where
this condition cannot obtain division
of power between two parties is the
next most desirable condition.
This has been proven in three ad-
ministrations of Democratic governors
In Minnesota. Legislatures and com.
missions are less reluctant to ignore
the recommendation or instructions
of a governor Of their own political
faith than those of a governor of op-
posite faith, by reason Of the political
disadvantage that would follow fail
ure to obey or conform to wise orders
or recommendations made by the last
The quest for reasons why Governor
johnson should not be elected revealed
another excellent reason why he
should be. His previous elections, and
the good results following them, have
Increased enormously the number of
Independent voters in the state, and
has introduced into the appointive
power Of governors the principle of
bestowing Office more upon the ground
Of merit or fitness, and less upon the
ground of party loyalty or service
These two factors in our political sys-
tenn should be cultivated until they
become too deeply rooted to be de
stroyed.
And finally, without disrespect to
Governor Johnson's opponent. the
quest failed to find a single point or
quality making him superior to or
more to be desired than the other
II any contrast were to be attempted
# Is feared that Mr. jacobson would
suffer, therefore the attempt will not
be made.
The final result Of the quest was
the unpleasant thought that the love
OF party supremacy might outweigh
every other consideration in choosing
q governor. But confidence in the
sense OF justice and pride of state
possessed by Minnesota voters re-
fused to entertain that thought for
more than a passing moment.-Farm,
Stock and Home for Oct. Is.