River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-09-23

the greatest luck Johnson ever had,
for it left him eligible for the guber-
material nomination in 1904.
Campaign of 1904.
Out of the campaign of 1904 J. S.
Johnson had his real political birth.
Both political parties in Minnesota
were absolutely demoralized. The
democracy was in chaos, while the
republican party was split in twain by
bitter pre-convention fight. The
railway interests pushed forward R.
G. Dunn, the eX-state auditor who had
openly defended the Northern Pacific
and Great Northern merger. With
plenty of financial resources back of
him, he wrested the control of the
convention from the Van SAINT organi-
cation. Mr.. Dunns methods shocked
even the republicans and large num-
Der of the anti-Dunn men bolted. This
made party wound which one or two
hopeful democrats believed would not
heal and they began to look for a
strong man to head the ticket.
The Johnson boom for Governor be-
gan on July 4th, 1904, in conversation
at st. Paul between himself and sew
eral republican colleagues of the senate
who urged him to run as an independ-
ent candidate. These men were H.
J. Miller of Luverne, r. E. Thompson
of Preston and A. o. Everhart of Man
kato who succeeds Governor Johnson
as governor. After caucus of dem
ocratic leaders was held at the state
capitol in which the situation was care
fully canvassed, it was decided to go
into the campaign for a fight and the
meeting ended in endorsing John A
Johnson for Governor. The proposition
took like wild fire and in a short time
hundreds of letters came to Mr.. John
son from men of both parties urging
him to make the race but he told his
friends that he could not accept as he
did not feel able financially to go into
it right. 1t became apparent, how
ever, that the convention would NOM
mate him whether or no.
The Message That Never Was Sent
Johnson realizing this, prepared a
telegram to the st. Paul Globe which
would have made his nomination i'm
possible and then informed Frank A.
Day, another editor of Fairmont and
the leader of the Johnson boom, that
he had written it. Day wired him to
hold the message until he reached ST.
Peter and after an all night talk, the
telegram was not sent and Johnson
accepted the unanimous nomination.
Johnson set new mark in state cam
paigning. In forty-two days he made
103 speeches and covered all but 10
counties of the 81 in the state, jump
ing from meeting to meeting three
times day as fast as special trains
could carry him. Mr.. Johnson had
only recently recovered from his
third operation for appendicitis but
the cheering of the crowds sustained
his spirit even while he suffered bod
lily. Johnson did not attack Dunn, as
the insurgent republicans were doing
that, and devoted himself to getting
acquainted with the people with the
result that it is stated of him that he
made vote wherever he could reach
a voters ear.
A Campaign Without Party Issues.
There were no strong party issues
that year, as the platforms were es-
sentially the same and the conduct of
the state government had always been
so clean that there were no grave
abuses to stir the blood of good cit
izenship. Practically the entire state
was involved in the anti-railway ag-
itation, and the trespass of the lumber
interests on the timber land but these
matters were not factional as both
platforms agreed upon them. For this
reason, Johnson made his campaign
with Johnson and not party, as his
issue. He simply promised to be hon
est and sincere if they should give him
the election and gained a reputation
among the republican leaders of being
absolutely square and q man who
would not resort to tricks.
When the votes were counted the
wisdom of his campaign was demon
strated. Roosevelt carried the state by
216,651 to 55,1S7 for Parker. Governor
Johnson on the same ticket with Park
er pulled through by plurality of T.
S62. 1t was the most extraordinary
personal triumph in American political
history and projected HIM at once be-
fore the nation as presidential pos
sibility.
Begins Administration Wisely
The new governor began at once by
making high grade and non-partisan
appointments, his idea being to get
the best men in all departments, and
he has carried out this policy during
his three terms, thereby gaining the
confidence of the public. The first big
fight was the state university row in
which the attitude of Governor John
son was in doubt from the first, until
finally he summoned President North
| rup to his Office and told him plainly
that the university would be kept out
of politics while he was governor and
that he expected Northrup to remain
| as its president Indefinitely.
By virtue of his Office the governor
| is member of a number of the state
boards, but Mr.. Johnson's conduct
/ rs such has set a new precedent in
such affairs. He has not been merely
| a figurehead in their meetings, but has
| taken a very active part, not as a
| governor or an overload, but as a
member on equal footing with his as
| SociateS.
During the three terms as governor
he has maintained the most cordial re-
II - Al 0I% Il,