Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1909-10-28

west ana taken from US man nun
ored in his day and generation. 1t
would seem that the periods in which
great men are called away travel in
cycles. One can call to mind dozen
Americans prominent in their re-
spective spheres who have passed
away within few weeks.
Great was the surprise and sorrow
throughout the state when the news
was flashed from Fargo last Wednes
day evening that Martin N. John
son. senator from North Dakota in
the congress of the United States.
had died suddenly in the states me-
tropolis. Few knew that he was
sick; none knew, outside of the few
at his bedside, that he was danger
ously i'll.
Senator johnson was one Of those
men whose character will receive
its fairest criticism from those who
live after him. AS the years go by
and a thoughtful consideration is
given his record. it will gain. He
was man entirely without those
native peculiarities of character
which are cIassed under the head
ing, magnetic" He was not such
a man as the late Governor john
son. of Minnesota, whose personal
attraction was something abnormal.
The senator was a man whose strong
personal following was not procured
by that subtle something known as
good fellowship. He possessed
that following. however. And for
what reason? For the reason that
the people of this state had come to
believe i'm his absolute honesty of
purpose. The honors he obtained
from the people of North Dakota
were not secured through the medi-
UNI of the time server and the dema-
gogue. His constituents always
knew where to find him on any and
every question. If he believed a
thing was right, the fact that he
was with the minority made no diff
ference to him. When William Jen-
nings Bryan's free-silver idea was
new and was sweeping through the
New Northwest like a prairie fire,
the voice of the Petersburg farmer
was hearG above the turmoil, coun-
selling his countrymen not to forget
the precepts of justice, and Impress
ing upon them the fact that with
nations, as with individuals. honesty
is the best policy. No man in tins
state did as much as M. N. johnson
to discourage the free-silver craze
that was possessing many republi-
cans, as we'll as democrats, i'm 1896.
Again. at the recent session of con-
gress. his action was pronounced for
what he thought to be the best in
terests of the nation. He was a re-
publican. He did not believe in free
trade. or anything approaching free
trade under another name. Amid
all the clamor for bedrock tariff,
Senator johnson stood true to his
convictions. He had seen this coun-
try almost continuously prosperous
under forty years of republicanrule.
He believed the policy of protection
was the main cause of that prosper
ity. He knew that under the cloak
of the demand for low tariff could
be seen the cloven feet of free trade.
He believed ina tariff readjustment.
but he did not believe the reduction
should reach the depth that the radi-
cal tariff reformers demanded. He
had been an associate of Nelson
Dingley on the house ways and
means committee when the Dingley
tariff bill was formulated and enact
ed into law He had carefully stud
led the tariff principle in all its
bearings, and was admitted by all
to be the best authority in North
Dakota on the tariff. He believed
the best policy of this country was
the policy of a tariff not only for
revenue. but for protection. There
fore he stood with his party major
ity in the senate and voted for the
Payne bill, believing with President
Taft that it was not the part of wis
dom to join in the assassination of
the republican party, and that fur
Their tariff reduction. if found TO
be necessary, could be made at fu-
ture session.
After the adjournment of congress
he came home, eager to defend his
record in that body. But it was not
to be. The destiny that shapes our
ends took him from his labors. Men
may now accuse; but the voice OF
the defender is silent.
The one great source of strength