The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-04-03
HANNA And
johnson
Sketches IN the New Congress
Sional Directory
TELLS THEIR LIFE STORY
JOHNSON USED TWENTY LINES.
IN THE DIRECTORY IN TELLING
ABOUT Hlo CAREER - HANNA
USED ONLY ELEVEN LINES IN
TELLING ARobT HIMSELF.

washington, d. c. April S.--More or
less interest always attaches to the
Biographical sketches contained in
each ned edition of the congressional.
directory ana this year is not an ex-
ception. North Dakotans, OF course,
are chiefly interested in the life
sketches of their own congressman
that of Sen. M. N. Johnson and Rep
L. B. Hanna. the latest additions to
washington's smart set. The forF
ner for instance, told his STORY in
little more than twenty lines. which
reduced to words means about zoo
verbum. Still this is not q record
for verbosity. Senator Depew of
New York. INDUCED in ffty-two lines
In informing the dear public about his
oratorical and political capacity but
not a word about his connections with
the New York insurance companies.
Senator Henry Algernon du Pont of
Delaware found 1t necessary to fill the
congressional directory with fifty-six
lines about his gallantry during the
civil war and The Forum correspond
ent is frank to say that careful
reading Of the biography fails to re-
veal that senator's conenction with
the poyder trust and the further fact
taht he was forced to retire from the
Taft campaign last year because of
that relationship. These sketches
therefore, are sometimes more anus
ing because of what they fail to tell
and to knowing ones are positively alb
surd.
Senator McCumber's sketch covers
nearly eight lines, while Gronna uses
sixteen and Hanna eleven.
Because of their newness to senator
ial and congressional life only the
sketches Of Senator Johnson and Rep
resentative Hanna are given herewith
Johnson's Sketch.
Martin A. Johnson of Petersburg,
was born in Wisconsin in TIE year
1850, and moved to Iowa the same
years graduating at the Iowa state
university In 1878; taught two years
In the California Military academy at
Oakland; studied law, and was adj
mitted to the bar in 1876: served a
term In each branch oe the Iowa leg
isIature and was a Hayes elector for
the Dubuque district in the electoral
college of 1876: moved to Dakota in
1882, and took up government land on
which he still resides: was elected dis
trict attorney in 1886 and re- elected
in 1888: was member of the consti-
tutional convention Of North Dakota
in 1889 and chairman OF the first re-
publican state convention the same
year: served on the ways and means
committee in the F'tety- fourth and
Fifty-f1fth congress, while Mr.. Dingley
was chairman; received AZ out OF a
total of 80 votes in the republican
Legislative caucus in November 1889
for United States senator. but was
beaten in the joint convention by
coalition OF democrats with the mi
nority of the republican caucus; was
elected to the FIFTY second, FIFTY
third. Fifty-fourtf and Fifty fifth con-
gress as a republican. In 1899 he
voluntarily retired from congress to
run for United States senator, but
was again defeated in the legislature.
For the next eight years he took no
part in politics, giving his entire time
TO farming and the grain trade. When
in 1907 a comprehensive primary law
was passed in North Dakota he again
became a candidate for United States
senator was. in two primary cleo
tons and received every republican
vote in the legislature, 1875 to IA for
Mr. Cashel, democrat. His term OF
service viii expire March 3, 1906"
About Hanna.
Louis Benjamin Hanna of Fargo,
was born in New Brighton. Pa, Aug.
3, 1861; his father was Jason r. Hanna
captain Of co. G, Sixty-thi Pennsyl-
vania volunteer infantry. eauring the
civil war; was educated in Ohio, Mas
sachusetts and New York: moved to
North Dakota In 1881. Mr.. Hanna is
thirty third degree Mason: is presi-
dent Of the First National bank of
Fargo, the largest banking institution
In the state; is one of the owners Of
Darlington and Casey farm, one OF the
largest farms in North Dakota and has
been prominently identified with large
business interests OF the state for
nnany years: is married and has three
children. two daughters and one son.
He was member OF the house in the
state legislature from 1896 to 1897
and 1899 to 1901: from 1905 to 1905
was a member Of the state senate;
was chairman Of the republican state
central committee from 1902 to 1908:
was elected. to the Sixty first congress,
receiving $3.50 votes.