Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-21

ond time he would have been ineligible
for the governorship for four years. the
length of his term AS 1t was, however,
Johnson was able to avail himself of a
shift in the politics of Minnesota which
came about in 1904.
In that year the republicans faced in
ternal disruption. One wing Of the par
ty leaned toward radicalism and the
other was suspected of subservience to
corporations. Johnson. who had stood in
the senate for an increase in the tax
upon the gross earnings of railroads. was
we'll calculated to attract such of the re-
publicans who revolted against the idea
of corporation influence in politics. Fur
ther. Johnson was of Swedish descent
and was therefore bound to attract the
great Scandinavian vote to the democ-
racy. Roosevelt's plurality in Minnesota
in that year was 161, 1000. but Johnson,
aiming at the governorship. cut down the
republican lead and won by 1900 votes.
Two years later johnson, candidate for
reelection, increased his plurality to
in Minnesota to be chosen governor.
A Radical Administration.
John Johnson's administration saw
many acts of sort verging upon radi-
calism. He signed a bill providing for
maximum railroad fare of 2 cents
a mile and was the first to urge IT..
Freight carrying charges. furthermore,
were reduced some 10 per cent, and the
railroads were prohibited by threats of
severe penalties from contesting the va
lidity of the law, a provision which the
United States circuit court denounced as
vicious The legislature also passed q
measure providing for the initiation and
referendum. In his first inaugural ad-
dress he argued for an income and an in
heritance tax.
Gov. Johnson was instrumental in in
creasing taxation Of property owned by
corporations. The assessed valuation OF
the United States Steel Corporation's
holdings in Minnesota increased from
recovered from the same corporation
large ore fields
Gov. Johnson spoke In June. 1907, at
the commencement of the University Of
ceiving the degree of doctor of laws.
DO you ASK said he. for a catalogue
of patriotic opportunities? Do you ask
to have the problems of the republic. the
enemies of the people labeled and mar
shaded for your inspection? You will find
them on every hand among the hosts of
special privilege, wherever a public law,
public right, public trust, a public
treasury. the public property. powers and
privileges are devoted to private end,
or wherever the public interest is SUBJ
ordinated to that of a class.
6OSSlO1c 1IcS1Ocutld1 Nduu1udLc.
"You will find them in the great ques-
ton of trust domination, giant born and
flourishing under a control of law which
at one and the same time prohibits it's
existence and yet protects and fosters
its development. Or in the great problem
of transportation, with railroad corpora
tons enthroned upon $4,000. OOO, 900 of
capital securities, endowed by the govern
ment with the sovereign power of emf
nent domain. collecting tolls now aggre-
eating $4,000. 100000 per annum, or more
than three times the aggregate revenue
of the government, and the nation only
feebly and imperfectly able to control its
means of transportation"
Democrats looked to John A. Johnson
year and a half ago as a possible NOM
inee for the presidency instead of Will
liam Jennings Bryan. In March. 1903.
the state convention OF Minnesota gave
his candidacy full Endorsement, notwith-
standing his assertion the month before
that he was not in line for the nominal
ton. He maintained place in the race
for the nomination and his name was
voted upon at the Denver convention.
The Bryan fever took hold of the dele
gates, however, and johnson received
only 40, against 1924 for Mr.. Bryan.
August IS, 1908, Minnesota democrats
nominated him for third term as Gov
ernor with the utmost enthusiasm, and
the next day Gov. Johnson accepted the
nomination. He was elected.
The acceptance, according to state.
ments made by his friends. was rever-
sion to a plan to make him presiden-
tial candidate in 1912, with the interval
between his term as governor and the
campaign passed in the United States
Senate. He was determined not to stand
for a fourth term as governor.