Willmar tribune., 1909-10-13
LETTER FROM ME-
MORTAL COMMISSION
Urges that all Contributions Ia
Gov. JOhnSOn'S Memorial
be In by Nov. 1.

IL t0e IeOple Ol Minnesota.
The members of the board ap-
pointed by Governor Eberhart to
take charge of the Johnson Memoir
ial Fund met at St. Paul, October
4, and affected a permanent organi-
zation under the title The Governor
John Albert Johnson Memorial Com
mission.
1t was evident that no practical
consideration could be given to the
question of the form of the pro-
posed memorial until the amount at
the disposal of the commission
should be approximately deter
mined. As this is essentially and
peculiarly popular and spontan-
eous movement, it was felt that no
solicitation should be used, but that
an opportunity should be given to
every man, woman and child in the
state to contribute. The memorial
will have it's profoundest signifi-
canoe as an expression Of the uni
versal respect and affection in
which Governor johnson was held
by his fellow citizens. For this
purpose it is not so important to
secure the greatest possible sum of
money as to secure the widest pos
sible participation. Therefore the
commission reafirmed in it's articles
the original policy of the movement
as begun in the newspapers that
individual contributions shall in all
cases be limited to one dollar, and
that smaller amounts will be well
coined. But due credit is to be
given not only to the individuals
but to the localities from which the
contributions are received, and to
the organizations and newspapers
through which they are transmitted.
Thus the final tabulations will show
the amounts received from each
county, town and city, and also the
amounts paid in through each asso-
citation, business firm and the
amounts transmitted to the trea-
surer through each newspaper.
1t is important that the campaign
be closed at the earliest date con-
sistent with the necessity of unlver-
sal publicity. The commission there
fore invites and requests active and
immediate cooperation in Offering
the opportunity to contribute. In
each locality systematic work should
be done, and lists should be circu-
lated by those who desire in the
testimonial expression. Churches,
schools, labor unions, fraternal and
other associations, women's clubs,
commercial organizations, employ
ers of or,-above all the news
paper guild of which Governor
johnson was a loved and honored
member, are invited to see that
the opportunity to contribute is
given to each person in these sew
eral spheres of influence.
The Commission adopted a reso-
luton expressing the desire that
not less than $25, 900 should be con-
trlhuted promptly, in order that
the Fund may be closed on or about
November /. 1t was thought that
this would be the minimum sum
necessary to provide a worthy men,
orial. and it is to be hoped that
the amount contributed may large.
ly exceed that amount.
Finally, it is requested that all
contributions be forwarded prompt.
ly through local newspapers (which
will make public acknowledgement
of them) to the treasurer, B. F. Mel.
son, 728 Security bank building,
Minneapolis.
Governor John Albert johnson
Memorial Commission.
| C. D. O'Brien, President.
c. w. Ames. Secretary.
St. Paul, October 5. 1909.