Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-21
GOVERNOR JOHNSON
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through It all he preserved his opti-
mism and his faith in human nature.
His character was a series of delight
full contrasts He was conservative
in his personal beliefs and tastes, dis
liking ostentation or display and de-
crying anything like personal adver'
tisement. Yet, so simple was he in
his views, that when he was intro
duced to Speaker Cannon one day in
Washington, while the hcuse was In
session, he took Il is as a matter of
course that he should sit on the
speakers desk, with his back to all
the members, because there was no
extra chair for him.
He was beloved by all the people
os Minnesota for having given then
2-cent railroad passenger rate, and
for having delivered the farmers
from the extortlons of the transport
tation trust.
He was one of the greatest fight
ers ever known, when he believed
the public was being victimized, but
he could cast from his mind all
thoughts of the serious side of life
when the umpires decision caused
excitement.
Whenever the st. Paul team played
at home, the governor was In the
grandstand, cracking peanuts and
roofing for the team like mad. If.
perchance, some matter of state kept
him from the game, his private sec
retary knew II was his business to
get the score by telephone, and cbm-
munlcate Il to the governor as soon
as the last "out" had been called.
In the winter he would slip of from
his office, his skates under his arm.
and skim across the ice for hours at
time. When he was at Old Point,
Va, he got into the water without
anyone being aware who he was. But
he could not resist the temptation TO
turn n back somersault OF the spring
board, and this attracted so much at
tention that pretty soon his Identity
was generally known.
Johnson's love of baseball, skat-
ing and swimming explained his heal
thy mode OF living. He cherished In
his heart as his Idea OF true greatness
the art OF reading and writing.
"As n life work I'd rather be able
TO provide for the needs OF a family,
enjoy the fellowship OF good friends
and god books and write one book
that wuld be read 100 years from
now than to be able 10 amass all the
money I'm the world" he once said.
He read far into the night, keep
ing up this habit since n boy. He
never went to school since that fret
employment.
or late years he often looked back
and recalled that he was distinctly a
product OF the country store, and
that he owed much OF his success
much OF his knowledge OF human ma
ture and all OF his Democracy 10 the
discussion which went on night after
night. when the men OF the village
were grouped about the stove in the
big drug shop.
One OF the many things that twice
helped him. Democrat, TO carry
n1minally Republican state. over
whelmingly for the governorshiD.
was his early history He started to
work at $40 a month. and as soon as
he was getting s12. he could no long
ger let his mother work. From that
time on he supported HIS mother and
the other children OF The family.
Later he turned down an offer 10
play with a professional baseball
team az a tempting salary. Then he
was offered the editorshlp OF the 81.
Peter Herald.
Like "The Gentleman from Ind'-
ant" he built his future as he sat in
the little Office OF the towns paper,
chronicling the comings and goings.
the births and deaths OF his fellow
men and women. And he made the
editorial column OF his paper a real
mower In that and adjoining coInt'es
Also. like "The Gentleman from In
diana" he became a finished public
sneaker, end a deep thinker on po-
litical subjects.
Thus n cpmo about that the peo-
nle turned 10 him as deserving po-
litioal honors
In 1895 he was elected state sem
ator. and again In 1900. In 1904 he
was elected governor bv plurality
NJ 5000, while Roosevelt carried the
state by 1G1 0O0. Two wears later
he wa reelected by IS 900 Again
he was made governor last year.
Johnson was not n Society light"
Both he and Mrs. Johnson long ago
made mp their minds that there was
nothing much - be gained By drink
ing afternoon tea in unlimited guam
ut'e7. Although they met all the
social demads that go with the gu
bernatorial ONCE, they have stopped
there. Mrs. Johnson is as much OF
a reader and student as the governor.
and when anything of moment came
up II was to his wife that he turned
for decisive counsel
When he was talked OF for the
presidency, the subject OF his max
ing a speaking tour throughout the
country - show himself 10 the people
was brought mp. His friends thought
II would be an excellent plan. But
right away the Johnson modesty step
ped In. and the plan was doomed be-
fore IL had been half outlined.
I've been elected governor OF
Minnesota I'm employed to work