The daily Alaskan., 1909-09-22
JOHN A. JOHNSON OF MINNESOTA,
 MAN AND GOVERNOR.
By Walter w. Lissest.

The death of Gov. John A. Johnson of Minnesota has removed from publtd hfe one of the biggest men of the couutry-perhaps the very biggest If we consider potential possibilities. Johnson was a man of the people, he had risen far, and those who knew him best expected him to rise still farther. His career was to an extent like that of Lincoln's, and like Lin coln. Johnson had an intense grip upon the plan people which might have swept lin into tht presidency had the oppoI ;urity offered. Many careful students of political affairs be heye that Johnson would have been the logical Democratic nominee for president in 1912.
 It was my privilege to know John son. to see him often in the routine of daily work; to observe him, not only as a public speaker, but to be with him and listen to his remarks as he talked to hundreds of people in the state capitol at St Paul during the closing months of his first term as governor. At the time was em- ployed on St. Paul paper and my duties frequently took me on the capitol run"
 The secret of Johnson's popularity lay largely in the fact. just as l imagine Lincoln, too, had his power, that he was interested in people. An his interest was genuine, yirile: not the perfunctory pretence of the pol iticIan. He liked meeting people and he liked talking to them. His man. her was conyincingly sincere, free from affectation. he seemed unerring- ly to hit upon the subject that would most interest those he talked to. I don't think 1t was magnetism" In the general sense of the word; but his kindly eye. his healthful optimism and the sense. of all around "big- ness" and strength, which was fost- cred by his huge frame, gave him a wonderful faculty and facility in mak- ing friends. withal he was a cult ured. polished gentleman. a careful dresser; he was distinguished by an urbane cosmopolitan manner. He could hold his own in any society.
 He was a self educated man, low CT of literature and a remarkable reader. I once heard him say in a conversation that he would rather write book that would live ten thou sand years than be president of the United States. He possessed tact. he was square" yet he formed Judgements quickly and always acted with determination.
 For three consecutive terms John- son, a democrat. was elected goyerno of strong republican state. His first election was largely due to good luck; but even there the dominant personality of the man won for him, for he carried his state in the face of l75.OOO vote plurality for .Roose- welt.
 Once in office he made good and Ee was, not only the most popular, but considered the ablest governor ever elected in Minnesota. He was not theorist,. he was always safe and sane," but at the same time he eIemplified all that is best and most progressive in modern economical and political conditions. He was singu larly free from bias: he had habit of striking at the root of the matter, of sweeping away all ohstructing is- sues.
 To me Johnson will always seem as another Lincoln. There was physi- cal resemblance. for both were tall and angular. both had gaunt. rugged features, both had "the habit and the mien of melancholy" Like Lincoln.
 Na