The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-10-15
JOHNSON THE MAN.
Human Side of Minnesotan Twice
Elected Governor.
HARD WORKER AND STUDI0US

Instance That Depicted His Great Love
For Readins-Devotee of Baseball.
One of His Witty stories-How He
Settled Strike Without Riots.
Much has been written of the polit- |
ical career of John A. johnson, gov |
ernor of Minnesota, but very little has |
been said of the man himself. little |
that is descriptive of his personality. |
his earlier career, his traits and habits
in short, nothing that gives a con-
crete idea of the man himself.
The term "self made man" can be
applied to Governor Johnson in it's en-
tirety At the age of twelve years the
burden of the home devolved upon his
young shoulders. and he even then
demonstrated that he was made of the
material of which the heroes of the
United States have been fashioned.
Lincoln in his hardest days never had
to endure more as boy than did the
governor Of Minnesota. The boys life
was filled with the thorns of life, and
the roses were sadly lacking. His
parents, who a short time before his
birth left Sweden and settled at st.
Peter. Mimi. small town in the south
ern part of the state. were Shiftless
and improvident. At the age of twelve
he was taken out of school and ap-
prenticed to a printer Here love for
learning developed, and he arranged
to attend the country school during
half sessions until he finished. Two
terms at the high school finished his
education, but for years afterward he
studied until he mastered the speech
Of four languages and became one of
the best read men in the state.
After finishing school he remained
with the country publisher who aided
him in life's battle and learned the
mechanical end Of the newspaper busi-
ness. For years his life was a weary
struggle. Hard work and domestic
misery were all young Johnson knew
during his boyhood days, but his love
for literature opened to him land Of
delight and golden promise.
His Love For Reading.
A story is told of him at St. Peter
which shows his love for reading.
When he was first apprenticed to the
printer he slept in the rear of the
shop. His employer was kind hearted,
but thrift often got the better Of him.
So, seeing that his kerosene bill was
about doubled with the advent of
young johnson, he called the boy to
task and forbade him burning the lamp
at night for reading purposes. John
son solved the problem by buying a
supply of candles. This went well un-
til one night he went to sleep and left
the candle burning. A small fire was
the result. When the man asked him
the cause of the fire he confessed the
entire affair and further added that he
would gladly work and pay for the
damage if he might be permitted tc
still burn candles so he might read al
night. This touched the employers
heart. and the boy was provided witt
lamp for his own private use.
AS a boy Governor Johnson was 8
dull scholar and did not love work any
more than any other boy of his age
but when he came to the age of reason
and realized that his life would b.
what he made it himself he devoted
himself to his task with ardor. Whil
he made many friends. he made n
enemies.
Baseball Enthusiast.
Young Johnson left school to hell
his mother. She took in washing ant
John delivered the washing. Tw
years later he got job as clerk in
grocery store and then prevailed upo1
his mother to quit her job and let hir
support the family.
One would think that an early ez
perience Of this sort would have hard
ened and soured the boys character
But there was one fact that saved hiI
from an excess Of ridicule and perst
cution. There wasn't lad Of his ag
in st. Peter that could beat him play
ing baseball. He would come froI
his work day after day and make hi
brother stand up against the wall !
the back yard while he practice
straight arm pitching.
Fond of good. clean, witty stories
the kind with a laugh In them, Gov
ernor johnson on one occasion wa
asked If he proposed to be cand
date for the Democratic presidents
nomination.
All Ready For . Strike.
IT can best answer that" he r
sponded, "by telling you of the exp
rience of a Minnesota farmer. Th
man Of the soil took load Of grain
the city and exchanged it for fe
barrels Of rye. the liquid variety. R
turning home. he transferred part I
the load. and by the time he arri
ed at his place he was feeling vel
comfortable. Walking toward b
house. he ran into a rattlesnake cole
up ready for business. He stuck Of
his leg. Strike, gol durn ye! he e
claimed. I'll never be in better shaI
for We than l am now!"
The way Governor johnson settled
strike one summer shows his power ,
a conservative official. The miners
the Mesaba range went out, and the
was imminent peril of violence. /