The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-22

lE FARGO FORUM AND DA
other thirty eight republican vote
were divided among seven competi
tors, who finally combined with tea
democrats and thus secured his de
feat. I'm 1890 he was sent to the Unite.
States congress as q Representative
and was three times re-noninated b,
reclamation. and has served eigh
years in the lower house OF congress
alike 60 has credit and TO the salts
faction Of the people He held promi
nent place In the arena Of politics
and served on some Of the most Inn
portant house committees, amonl
them being those on coinage. weight,
arld measures, and ways and means
He stood consistently for sound money
and a protective tariff.
Mr.. johnson was q, devoted member
OF the Methodist Episcopal church
and served az a member of the gem
eral conference of that church, which
was held in Chicago during the month
Of May, 1909. He and Miss Stella
White were married in 1879 They are
the parents OF four children.
A Practical Farmer.
Mr.. Johnson moved to Dakota terri
tory In 1882 and settled on govern
ment land at Petersburg in Nelson
county, where he stih resides. Even
since settling in Dakota, Mr.. johnson
had lived upon and personally oper-
ated his farm, which consists of two
sections. He also owns and operates
a grain elevator at Petersburg.
Mr.. Johnson was made permanent
chairman of the first republican state
convention Of this state held at Fargo
in August, 1889. This was the con-
vention which nominated John Miller
governor.
Mr.. johnson was at that time an
active and influential member OF the
Farmers Alliance, and had become
known as an able and fearless advo-
cate of clean politics and good gov
eminent.
Fought the Lottery Bill.
Mr.. Johnson took an active part in
thefight against the Louisiana lottery
bill in 1890. At mass meeting OF the
citizens Of Nelson county he was se-
lected to go to Bismarck in their be-
half to oppose the lottery.
When the first legislature of the
new state met in 1889, Mr.. johnson
was recognized as the logical candi-
date for United States senator. At a
caucus OF the republican members Mr..
Johnson received a majority of four
votes over the combined vote OF
seven competitors, but he was de-
feated in the joint convention by
means OF coalition of the republi-
AN minority with ten democrats.
Member of Congress.
In 1890 Mr.. Johnson was nominated
1y the republican state convention for
of congress from this state
and was elected. He was re- elected
n 1892, 1894 and 1895.
He was again candidate for the
United States senatorship before the
legislature in 1899. Although he was
to be the popular choice for
hat position he was again defeated,
the fact that a ma
ority Of the members Of the legis-
allure were pledged to support him.
The so-called machine" was op-
POSED to Mr.. Johnson's election and
defeated him by resorting to the ia
yorite son" device. Five candidates
or the senatorship were In the field
against Mr.. Johnson. Each Of these
rad q few votes from their respective
ocaHties. The aggregate votes for
.hese five candidates constituted
bare majority of the legislature. In
his way enough votes were kept away
rom Johnson to prevent him getting
! majority. Finally the supporters Of
hese five candidates were induced to
inter into an agreement to hold a.
aucus against Johnson. The agree
nent was that the anti johnson
aucus was to continue voting until |
me Of the five candidates received a |
majority of the caucus votes, and |
ghen that occurred, united support of |
II the cotes In the caucus.
During Mr.. Johnson's time as con-
ressman, this state had only one rep
sentative in the lower house Of con-
ress.
fty-second congress-there were only
republicans in the house, which
hen consisted of BAG members.
During his second term-the fifty |
bird ongress-democrat SELL con-
oiled the house, and on March 4.
1913, got control of the senate and
Mr.. Cleveland for his
econd term, thereby giving the demo-
rats control of both the legislative
nd executive branches of the gov
During the time one of the
enators from North Dakota was also
democrat
Free Silver Fight.
In the early years Of his service In
Dngress, Mr.. Johnson was a member
the committee on coinage. weights
nd measures. He served four years
a this committee, which was at that
me one of the busiest and most i'm
ortant committees in the house. Dur
g that period the silver question
as before congress; and like most
reat national questions was fought
1T In congress before 1t reached it's
imax and final settlement before the
eople in the campaign of 1895. fli
Mr.. Johnson, besides attending to
le usual routine duties OF congress-
an relative to pensions, land claims,
'pointments and other private or
cal matters Of that character. found
me to thoroughly study the silver
lestion. He took very prominent
trt in the discussion of that question (
and out of congress and became
cognized throughout the country as |
i 1fhnT4fVy IN tho a1rh4an& |
His speech in congress on Silver and
heat was one of the best on the |
object, and 100000 copies OF it were