Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-10-13

fellows.
The other evening Erman Ridgway,
his good wife and myself were in the
bus with this great man on our way
to hear him lecture. We'd had jol-
ly good dinner and he was snuggled
into the corner muffled in his big fur
coat. and we thought he wanted to be
alone to tell over his great speech,
when, as he neared the church where
his lecture was to be delivered, he
said, "I'm nervous tonight, Lawson,
for Pm going to make my lecture the
simple story of how pardoned boy
and gave him back to his old mother
and father. want you to hear it,
but know I'll cry and make coun-
try BOBBY of myself, and then these
eastern people will wonder what my
great state was thinking of in elect
ing such a governor"
Twas big audience, big in intel
ligence, big in sympathy with this
latter day Abe Lincoln of the people
and Governor Johnson told his story
and the tears trickled down his
cheeks and his gentle voice was
gentler than its wont, but we, his
audience, yes, all of US, men, woman
and children, we cried, and at the
close of the story said to the big,
strong mannish governor of New Jer-
sey, who had sat with bowed head,
as John johnson, the man told the
simple story of how Governor John
son of the great state of Minnesota
gave their boy back to the old father
and mother, Governor. 1 notice that
you, too, forgot that Governor John
son was of the enemy"
Eyes, yes, forgot everything but
the story and the man, who was tell
ing it," and he tried to sneak away
the trail the story had left on his
cheek, "And if all democrats were
like Governor johnson, there'd be nc
enemy"
That night at Ridgway's home, af
ter the family had retired, sat in
front of the open CRATE with this, the
all-around best big man had evel
met, until the gray dawn was tap
ping at the panes and time and time
again, as i listened to his clear analy
sis of times and things and humans
and their goodness, / would break il
and try to make him put on m.
smoked glasses and see the out-ther.
black, but he met each attempt witt
his merry laugh. Eyes, yes, I'll agre
that there is lots that might be mad
better, but, on the whole, Lawson
it's good world and good people
can never bring myself to believ
but the world and the people ar
getting better all the time" All, bu
he was such man, such good maj
God was good to John Johnson. H
/ endowed him with all those richie
which made for happiness, here an
hereafter. Birthed from the womb Z
the common people, Graded in thu
greatest of all world Injuries, po
erty, he came to the starting liz
a moral Hercules, bursting with 10,
Of mother and alteration of wife bris
ling with affection for humanity ar
charity and forgiveness for his en-
mics and muscled with q superb no,
esty and veneration for God and n
ture. The starters bell was to hi
joyful "go". AS he ran he saw I
mire, no boulders, no bitches, on
Gods great blue; he felt only God
warming sun rays, and as he ran fl
them, not himself, it's no wond'
, | that his track was fast and his fe,
winged.
Those who were blessed with. I'll
privilege of his presence is left Il
e consolation that he was, and is We
6 Let us rain our tears, but not #
him. Let us weep for her whose 81
is set and for the nation, which /.
sorely needs her valiant sons, al
for humanity, whose champion h,
i gone over yonder. For myself, n
I sadness is mellowed by the thong
a that knew him and by the fai
that his shadow will for ages be
dream-cradle for countless despairil
souls.
),