Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-09-21

tite within him. And Caroline Hay
den welded him ii complete ignor-
ance of that fatal lesion in his char
acter.
John Johnson at the age Of 1S met
the first great crisis Of his life. He
had risen superior to difficulties tina.
would have crushed less courage
Gus and self-reliant lad, and had as
sumed the headship of the family
brevly and well. incidentally, too.
there was thrown food of light on
the character Of a mother who could
and did keep her family together I'M
der such circumstances, who could
and did raise them to useful citizen
ship, who could and did make home
that produced man like John John
son.
1t was at Is that the lad, despite
his mothers entreaties and her ambi-
ton to have him secure a thorough
education, insisted on leaving school
and beginning the self-appointed task
of supporting the family. His first
job was in a grocery store. but his
wage was not large enough to keep
the domestic machinery moving, and
SO his mother took in washing. Two
years later, however. he had gone to-
work in a drug store and had done
we'll enough to enable him to put a
veto on this drudgery. The good wo-
man resisted his demands and de-
clared that the money thus earned
was sadly needed. But John had
come upon the days of his leadership.
He prevailed. And his mother, wo-
man-like, was proud and happy that
he had prevailed. The family had a
new head, stanch, outstanding young
fellow who meant to get along in the
world.
Then came the second important
event In his life, his selection as edl-
tor the st. Peter Herald by the own
ers. So far as was known he had no
talent for writing, but those who
chose him knew his capacity for de-
velopment and they were sure of his
ability to gather the news of the
town and make friends for the week
ly. The event justified their judg-
ment for johnson developed rare
aptitude for his work. He took a
larger place in the community, he
managed the county fair, he organ
lied a lecture bureau, he became cap
tain of the local militia company
and he got into politics.
His first nomination to Office was
In 1894. He was 33 and had Just
wooed and welded Miss EieanoT NJ.
Preston, a young drawing teacher OF
20, lately arrived, and they had set
up a modest home together. The
democrats of the county named him
for state senator, but despite his gen.
eral popularity and the valuable asset
of his Scandinavian birth, he was not
able TO overcome the normal repub-
lican majority. Named again In
1888, he made a campaign largely on
state issues. He reasoned that a
state senator had nothing to do with
national questions and much to dc
with matters of state interest He
talked to the voters with that win
ming and frank friendliness that en-
abled him to capture any audience
and always about subjects nearest
. their hearts. He was elected and
served at two regular sessions and
one special session OF the legislature
The year 1904 found the repub
lican party of Minnesota rent by fac
lions and the democratic leaders saw
! that the opportunity was ripe fol
: them If they could but select thu
right man.
At q conference they decided tina
John johnson was that man. The!
I reasoned that. to start with. he wa
OF Swedish parentage, and that 70
I very pride the Swedish votes woul'
: go to him, as they had to John Lind
/, Next, he was a native born MinnesO
: tian Of the best type.
5 1t was characteristic Of the can
: didate that in all the 1O3 speeches b
I made, reaching "A out Of 80 eoun
r ties in the state. he never once at
2 tackled the rather vulnerable reeor'
OF Dunn. his opponent. This was goo
q sense and good politics. He knes
D the Collins men would see to It tina
: Dunn was smitten hip and thigh. HI
e business was to get acquainted witt
r the people and to that task he de
n voted himself with an ardor and ei
y feetlyeness unparalleled in Minnesot
4 political history.
o The result was a surprise. partieu
S larry to Dunn. Although Mr.. Roose
t welt carried the state By the tremend