Willmar tribune., 1909-09-29
The Career Of John Albert johnson
erestn8 Life Story of the Poor Boy of Thirteen Suppor
Mother, Who Became Governor of Great State


ooIa. HIS parents, u. Johnson anu
Caroline Hadens, both natives of Swe-
den, were early comers on that wave
OF scandinavian immigration that has
peopled so much of Minnesota. The
story OF Mr.. Johnson's boyhood was
one that was simple and ideal and Of
5ers one reason for his hold on the
,r-ople. 1t is not strange or an un-
precedented story, that of fathers
desertiOn, of mothers struggle for
her little ones, and boys sacrifice
of school and recreation to help the
family to live. Many have had the
same, but not many had the buoyant
spirit to overcome the handicap ana
turn it to account.
1t goes without saying that the
mother of John Johnson was an excep-
iional woman; in her face appears, In
the few portraits we have of her, the
strong and noble character that helps
to account for the preponderance Of
these qualities in Gov. Johnson In
those days she worked hard for her
young children. John, at the age of
l3, quit the school and became a wage
earner, first in a grocery, then in a
drug store. From the age of 13 he
never had another days instructions,
but has never ceased to be a student,
and was considered at the last as a
we'll educated man, so much SO that
he fully deserved the LID. which
ne was entitled to write after his
name.
In two years the mother was no
,onger a washwoman and the other
children were at school, John worked
hard, read hard in all spare moments
and made friends with everybody. He
was interested in everything. An older
friend gave him start in the right
sort of reading and he followed it up
eagerly, but he had time then for all
the activities of the village, as he had
in later life for the larger activities in
which he was thrown.
He never missed social functions.
He joined societies, sang in his
church choir and in a quartette and
was always the leader among the
young people of St. Peter.
oOSVIuSo q 0SUuVSJaSs
BY inheritance young Johnson was
supposed to be republican, but while
still young man he became con-
vert to the democratic party on the
Issue of tariff reform and when in
1886 the owners of the St. Peter Her.
ald wanted democratic editor and
also little financial help, they induced
Johnson to take an interest in the
paper and become it's head. Although
not writer, and with no knowledge
of the printing business, Johnson was
wideawake and knew people and was
O successful editor from the start.
Following the bent of his boyhood,
fairs and whenever anything was at
Issue in st. Peter, J. Johnson was the
natural leader He finally joined the
national guard and rose to be captain
of the local company. Having had a
taste for oratory, while still boy,
which he indulged by practicing in Sc
cret places, he began to take mod
est part as speaker in politics. In
1894, more as an honor than with any
expectation of success, the democrats
of Nicollet county nominated him for
state senator, but he was unable to
overcome a large republican majority.
He made friends, however, in the cam
paign, and in 1898 was given second
nomination and was elected.
He belonged to the minority and did
not aspire to leadership, his tendency
being to take things easy and see what
the future would bring forth.
Attains General Notice.
Governor Johnson attained some
thing more than local reputation
in 1898. Governor Lind, who was at
the time, a free silver republican and
since became democrat was a bitter
opponent of McKinley's policy of i'm.
perialism. During the legislative ses.
sion, the governor secured the intro.
duction of a resolution condeming the
Governments course in the Philip.
pines. The measure was opposed by
some republicans and few democrats
supported it in desultory way and it
was about to be put to vote when
Johnson secured the floor. His speech
was the sensation of the session
Throwing aside party lines, he de-
nounced the spirit that sought to put
the Minnesota legislature on record as
critic of the national government.
The form of the resolution was fol
the recall of a Minnesota volunteer
regiment from service against the
I)bi1iy,inn inc11rpnntc
son summed up his speech in these
words:
"Deplorable as l believe this war tt
be, l have one belief, that we should
join together to uphold the hands Of
the government regardless of the pol
itical course that may be endangered
by the situation. believe the regi
ment should remain in the Philippine:
as long as the stars and stripes are
liable to insult. If this be politica
treason, make the most of it,
Other Legislative Proceedings.
During this same session there wa
contest on the bill to increase tn,
gross earnings tax on railways from
three to four per cent. Although tn
bill was beaten in the senate by on
vote, Johnson was consistently for it
and in 1901 was largely responsible
for it's passage. In the democratic
state convention of 1900, Senate
Johnson was chosen to place the nam,
of Governor Lind in nomination TO-
a second term. His speech at thi'
convention and his legislative recort
brought the democratic leaders to
realization that new Moses hat
sprung up in their midst.