The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-01-19
N. n. JOHNSON ELECTED UNITED STATES
SENATOR ~ 10y !A9RIH Ri! DAKOTA LEGISLATURE


borhood. He prepared for college at
the Upper Iowa university at Fayette,
and entered the state university of
Iowa, graduating in 1873. He then
took up the study of law in the same
institution and graduated from the
law department in 1876. While he
was still persuing his studies and
for the purpose Of obtaining funds to
complete his university course, he ac-
cepted the position Of instructor in
the California military academy at
Oakland, CAL. where he remained for
a period Of two years. For time he
was a teacher of German in a German
Lutheran church school in San Fran
cisco. Following his work of teach
ing he took up the practice Of law in
Decorah, Iowa, continuing this work
for six years.
Came to North Dakota.
It was in 1882 that Mr.. johnson de-
cided to cast his lot with the people
of North Dakota and that year he
settled on government land at Peters,
burg, Nelson county, where he still
resides. Ever since taking up his res
idence In this state he has lived upon
and personally operated his farm,
which consists Of two sections. He
also owns and operates grain ele-
vator at Petersburg. In 1886 he was
elected prosecuting attorney of Nell
son county, being reelected two years
later. He retired from the practice
OF law several years since.
The election Of Mr.. johnson to the
United States senate today is the
crowning victory Of years of work in
the political field in North Dakota, as
we'll as in other state. Since 1876.
when he was elected Republican
presidential elector from his district
in Iowa, he has been actively engaged
In politics. He was elected to the
house Of representatives Of the Iowa
assembly and served one term; and
subsequently he was elected to the
state senate and served through two
sessions Of that body.
In the making of the early history
Of the state Of North Dakota. MP.
Johnson took prominent part. He
was member Of the constitutional
convention for this state and as chair
man Of the committee on corporations,
drew up that portion Of the state con-
stitutions relating to corporations.
The first Republican state conven-
ton was held in Fargo in 1889, and
Mr.. johnson was It's chairman. It
WAS in this convention that John Mil
Ter was nominated for governor. At
that time Mr.. Johnson was a member
Of the Farmers Alliance, and had be-
come known as an able and fearless
advocate Of clean politics and good
government.
Sent to Congress.
When the first legislature of the new
state of North Dakota met in 1889
Mr.. johnson was a candidate for
United States senator but in joint
convention was defeated. In 1880 he
was nominated by the Republican
state convention for member of con-
gress from this state and was sub
sequently selected, being reelected in
1892, 1894 and 1896. In 1899 he was
again a candidate for the United
States senate but was defeated. Dur
ing his term of service in congress,
this state had only one congressman.
In 1890 Mr.. johnson took a prom
inent part in the fight against the
Louisiana lottery bill, being named by
the people of Nelson county to come
to Bismarck for the purpose of work
Ing against the proposed measure.
During the time Of his service in
congress the great fight on free sill
yer was waged, and as a member of
the committee on weights and meas
ures, he took an important part in
the discussion Of this great question.
He was opposed to the free coinage
of silver, being the first of the west
ern congressman to take such a
stand, and his action did much to
stay the free silver craze In North
Dakota and other northwestern states.
When the Republicans gained con-
troll OF congress again in 1895, Mr..
Johnson was placed on the important
ways and means committee, on which
he served for period Of four years.
He took part in the work Of framing
the Mckinley tariff bill, and the result
of his work on this gave him q won
derful amount of information on the
tariff question which will serve him
we'll as member of the senate with
the tariff question again In the public
eye.
The election of Mr.. johnson today
comes as a result Of the splendid en-
dorsement given him by the people
Of North Dakota in the primary cleo
tions Of 1908. In the first of these
with four candidates in the field he
stood second while in the second elec-
ton he was first. the choise of a ma
jority Of the members of the Repub-
lican party for the United States SEN
ator.
Though since the election the pledge
taken by the members of the legisla--
ture to the effect that they would sup
port their party's nominee for senator
has been declared unconstitutional
and not legally binding upon the men,
bers elected, the fact that Mr.. johnson
was today named shows that the leg
islators did not consider their pledge
lightly, and by SO doing thew have