The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-09-23

rup to his office and told him plainly
that the university would be kept out
of politics while he was governor and
that he expected Northrup to remain
as its president indefinitely.
By virtue of his office the governor
is a member of a number of the state
boards, but Mr.. Johnson's conduct
as such has set a new precedent in
such affairs. He has not been merely
a figurehead in their meetings, but has
taken a very active part, not as a
governor or an overload, but as a
member on equal footing with his as
sociates.
During the three terms as governor
he has maintained the most cordial re-
lations with the legislatures, although
they have been about three-fourths re-
publican. His first message outlined
as his conception of the vital needs
of the state at the time, a four year
term for governor with a n term
limit; reduced freight rates; abolition
Of railway passes; an employers liza
bility law; a liberal forestry policy and
a ~non-partisan judiciary.
The Insurance investigation.
Early in his first term when the
wave of insurance investigation was
sweeping over the country, a Mime
apolis company became involved and
Governor Johnson Immediately took a
hand and forced the resignation Of its
officers, placed the company in the
hands Of a committee of business men
and pursued the matter until he land,
ed one of the guilty officials in states
prison. From this he became a leader
in the movement for uniform state
laws on life insurance and upon his
suggestion to President Roosevelt the
insurance commissioner of the Dis.
trict of Columbia called a meeting of
governors and insurance commission
ers and drafted a model law which has
been adopted by a number of states.
The Campaign Of 1906.
The campaign OF 1906 opened with
the republicans having some difficulty
in selecting a candidate for governor
and finally nominating Cole who was
believed to have the support of the
corporations altho such was not the
case. Mr.. Johnson made another rap.
id-fre campaign making 119 speeches
in seven weeks in rs counties of the
state paying his fare himself for every
mile travelled. The result was not in
doubt from the start but this plurality
was a surprise as he polled 16S,480 to
96,162 for Cole while all other repub'
lican candidates were elected by a
plurality as high as IS, 900 on attorney
general. This time with the legisla,
ture again strongly against him polit
ically Governor Johnson received more
consideration for his ideas and among
his recommendations which were
adopted were:
A maximum schedule of freigh,
rates.
A two cent passenger fare law.
Abolition Of railway passes and
franks.
Reciprocal tonnage law.
Increased taxation for sleeping cal
companies.
Permanent tax commission with
wide powers.
Registry tax on real estate mort
cages.
Uniform life insurance laws.
Abolition of private banks.
A "Muellar law"
To facilitate municipal ownership.
Increase state drainage operations
Better salaries for the state ynivers
fly faculty.
This made a good grist for \ single
session. The permanent tax commits
sion was a vastly more important in
stitution. Johnson named on thi!
commission one republican, one dem
ocrat and one university professor
all men Of ability and special fitness
The announcement of their names haC
the spontaneous approval of boil
houses and in less than a year the!
justified his selection by adding SIP,
600, 900 to the assessed valuation O
iron properties. Governor Johnson's al
titude toward the iron interests was no
/ one of antagonism but one of fairness
as was shown in the 1909 session o
the Legislature in which he vetoed tn,
proposed tonnage tax law which b,
believed to be exhorbitant, unfair an,
unconstitutional. after 1t had passe,
. both houses by a strong vote Of bot
n
The Governor had some other sus