The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-09-29
THE LATE GOV. JOHNSON.

ter, Mlnn.-JOnn A. Johnson, thrice
elected governor of that state His
brave fight against death attracted
national attention and elected ad-
miration and sympathy from all
classes, from the highest to the
lowest of American people. But
two days before the end came
the chief executive of the nation
stood with barred head before a great
assemblage in Minnesota's capital
city and in reverent and earnest
tones said Il pray God to spare
your governor. You need him and
the country needs him" 1t is a fit
epitath those words, to engrave on
the tomb of the man who, with such
scant opportunity, rose from the
ranks of the lowly to fame and pow
er-"His Country Needs Him" 1t
many of us who read of John John
sons struggle and success be able to
hope that even in the most modest
way our country needs us-that we
are of some use and account in the
scheme of God to our kind and our
time.
Along severely practical lines the
life of the dead governor was cast;
yet, the story of that life reads like
a romance. He came from sturdy
Scandinavian stock, the descend
ants of the vikings who braved the
mysteries and dangers of unknown
seas and conquered land as well as
seattle adventurous race who had
reached America centuries before Co.
lumbus
Governor Johnson had a remark
able record. The editor of
modest little weekly newspaper in
his home town, he was nominated
for governor in 1904 with little hope
of election. A prominent republic
can assaulted the democratic standard
bearer as unfit and of obscure and
mean surroundings. He was pict-
ured as the son of a washerWoman,
and the statement was added that it
would never do to have such rep
resentative of poverty fill the guber-
material chair. This contemplate
assault upon honest labor aroused
the manhood of Minnesota. Up to
that time a nomination for the office
was equivalent to election on the re-
publican ticket. Yet the voters of
the dominant party left it in suffi-
cient numbers to give Mr.. Johnson
the victory. He defeated Mr.. Dunn,
his antagonist, his lead being 1852
in a poll of nearly 100000. Not
much of margin one unfamiliar
with Minnesota's political leanings
would say. But when it is stated
that Roosevelt swept the state at the
same election by 161,464, the pro-
portions of Johnson's triumph be-
gin to dawn upon the none-too-well
posted political leader. Running
nearly 171,00O ahead of the ticket
in poll of 100000 is unparalleled
in our history, and it made Johnson
a national figure at bound. To
Wrest Minnesota from it's rock-ribbed
republican moorings was glory
enough to spread over the country
and make glad the followers of dem
ocracy.
He made so good an official that
the stamp of public approval was
manifested in an astonishing way
when he was reelected two years
later, his plurality over Coleman, re-
publican, rising to $4,000. Last
fall he was pitted against Jacobson,
republican, and defeated him by 90
600. This was also a marvellous
victory, for Taft carried the state by
nearly $4,000. And it was the third
appeal of Governor Johnson to the
electorate of his state.
1t was the pride of his life that
the mother who shaped his course,
a poor and humble Swedish widow,
lived to see him governor of her
adopted state.