The Newark journal., 1908-05-15

ed reforms This was in presiden-
tial year, when Roosevelt enthusiasm
was at its 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 az days. This time. without any
presidential canvass to distract them
from state issues and personalities,
the governor was reelected by d plu-
rality of $1,000 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 100000
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 ,000, 900 to $190,000000 and in
lieu of further increase of taxation, the
steel corporation is now building a
$4,000, 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 80 per cent The two-cent
railway passenger rate was secured in
Minnesota Largely due to his initia-
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
alton of sleeping car companies;
modern law of mortgage taxation was
also enacted: reciprocal demurrage
laws were adopted; orders of the rail
road ard warehouse commission were
made Immediately effective In the in
/ L.
ment bureau was created and is con-
Quoted with the best results A great
system for the drainage of state
swamp lands was inaugurated law
was passed providing for municipal
ownership of public utilities The
state of Minnesota has long conducted
a twine factory with prison labor, the
object being to supply the farmers of
the state with binding Irvine for har-
Yesting their crops at reasonable
n1ice and protect them from the ex-
eessive charges of the cordsge trust
"a compete with this factory the trust
constructed a twine plant within the
state Gov Johnson's answer was a
request % TIE legislature for authority
TO sell the product of the state Irvine
plant outside as well as within the
state At Gov Johnson's suggestion
railway passes were abolished in Min
nesota.
The governors part in the insurance
reforms of recent years is too we'll
known to require attention here, be-
yond allusion to the fact that Presi-
dent Roosevelt publicly recognized
him as the leader in the nationwide
campaign for reformation of the great
insurance companies.
Gov. Johnson is a man of strict adj
herence to political principle, but he
does not believe in confusing every
passing fancy or fad with political
principle. He believes that there are
a few basic political ideas which char