The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-09-21
$.,l and returned TO

IN that e-estiSl anu returned TO his
newspaper work.
When the Democratic nomination
for governor was rendered him In 1904,
Johnson, believing there was a chance
for victory, in spite of the large Repup-
lican majority in the state, accepted
the offer. When the votes were count
ed 1t was found that Johnson had been
elected with a plurality Of 5000 at the
same time the state was giving Roose-
welt plurality OF 1000.
Honored by Pennsylvania University.
Two years later he was reelected
and last fail again was chosen as the
governor of Minnesota. He was men.
toned In 1908 as the Democratic candi-
date for president and had large fol-
lowing in the north central states.
Among the many things accomplish
cd during the Johnson administration
in Minnesota were the creation OF an
expert tax commission, the increase
on the assessed valuation OF the United
States Steel corporation from s32 ,0OO,-
900 to $l90,0o0000, the reduction of
railway freight rates, the Introduction
of the 2-cent passenger fare on rail-
roads. domestic insurance reforms and
many other reforms that were needed
and Of benefit to the state
In 1907 Governor Johnson was
awarded degree Of L. L. D. by the
University of Pennsylvania.
Following the insurance scandals OF
1906 he was chairman of the interstate
conference to investigate the insurance
problem and was also a member and
vice president of the international pol
icyholders' committee the same year.
Man Of Great Patience.
The complacency with which John
son viewed the proceedings of the
Denver convention was characteristic
of the man. Standing out prominent
ly as candidate for first honors, he
saw that Bryan had swamped the con.
vention. Johnson heard the news
with equanimity.
The convention then set about And
ing running mate for the Nebraskan
and the Minnesotan was prominently
mentioned. He had previously stated
that he would not accept second
place on the ticket He was urged by
his friends and kilograms were sent to
him from Denver which reached him
at ct. Paul, where he had been visit
ing and at Minneapolis. He replied
that he positively declined to accept
the place. Minnesota had presented
him az the candidate for president and
he would not accept second honors.
The governor was a man of great
patience and fortitude. During the
hours following the last operation,
when corps of surgeons and physi.
clans were struggling to save his life.
he complained very little. In fact It
was said he displayed great hopeful
ness and endurance. The doctors spoke
of his wonderful nerve" and he joked
freely with them about his condition.
To one surgeon the governor said:
I'VE had a close shave, didn't we,
Mac?'
Governor Johnson was upon the op-
Grating table for two hours and fifty
three minutes and at noon, as soon as
he had recovered from the effects OF
the anesthetic, his first words were for
Mrs. Johnson, who came to his bedside
when she heard that her husband was
conscious.
DR.. H. H. Witherstein OF this city
also state senator, is known to have
given the governors private secretary
Frank A. Day. a gloomy view of the
case, s ing that it was zone of the
most trying operations of the kind he
ever witnessed"