Willmar tribune., 1909-09-22


years old. but he arose to the occa-
sion. He insisted upon quitting school
SO that he might help. He got a job
in grocery store. A grocer's boy has
no snap as job, but some of them
have snap as individuals. John John
son-they probably called him Johnny
then-got $40 month. which he turn
ed over to his mother. He found time
to deliver laundry washed and ironed
by his mother. his splendid. heroic
mother. and also to deliver papers on
the carriers route-the town paper.
After two years of this grocer's boy
life he got job in the drug store at
slightly higher rate Of pay. From this
time on his mother quit taking in
washing. John supported the family.
In the years following three of the
little sisters died. and John Johnson
was in debt to the undertaken. The
boy studied hard while working in the
drug store. The little public library
was in the same block. He read many
books from the library, being chiefly
interested in history. Meanwhile he
studied pharmacy, too, and eventually
he became registered pharmacist.
Real Journalist With a Real Job.
After nine years in the drug store
John johnson became journalist. In
the cities journalist is sometimes de-
scribed as a newspaper man out of
job. In st. Peter John johnson was
a real journalist with a real Job. pay
ing for half interest in the Herald,
for which friends who believed in him
had put up the money. johnson had
paid of the undertaken. He had bought
In the two room family homestead.
which was about to be sold for taxes,
and he had added other rooms and
improvements.
So this was the story discovered by
the st. Paul reporter. It was so mag
ni1cently true that American Mime
sofa arose gloriously to the occasion.
President Roosevelt carried the always
Republican state of Minnesota by q
majority Of 161, ,462-a hundred thou
sand above the normal majority. But,
hold! John Albert johnson, Democrat,
was elected governor by majority of
7,SO0. Not a very large majority that,
and yet be turned 4.400 votes to get it.
The country editor closed down his
desk at st. Peter. probably saying to
Henry Essler: III be back in two
years. Try to keep the subscribers in
line. and don't let the ads. get away
from you. Keep the jobwork going"
Then he went to work at bis new
job in st. Paul, his Office being in Min
nesota's fine new state capitol build
ing. Did johnson as governor Of a
great state pose as sickly sentimen-
tai friend of 1.-The common peepul?''
Not a bit of it-not he. johnson made
no pretense of being ultra democratic.
He wore good clothes. the prevailing
style. and cut just as dignif1ed figure
at gubernatorial reception as be had
cut in the editorial sanctum at st. Fe'
ter. He had sense enough to adapt
himself to his environment.
He Made Good.
| johnson also had the moral and men
tai backbone to make him Johnny-on
the-spot With his new job. He had
had no experience as an editor when he
took hold of the St. Peter Herald. But
be made good. He made good also
as governor of Minnesota. Do you
want proof? Then read the election
returns OF 1906. Normally the Repub
lcan candidate should have won BY
about 10000 majority. As matter
Of fact. johnson won by $4,000 major
fly. Somebody asked how he did it."
II only tried to make good" replied
Johnson.
No boomerang was thrown in th'
second campaign. Ii johnson had no
made good In bis two years. term Al
governor be would have been sen
back 10 the st. Peter Herald Office
The washerwoman circular promulgat
ed by the unidentified asylum inmat
made him governor. but as governo
he made good himself. Those year
Of struggle. Of self effacement. of moth
er love and brotherly devotion In 81
Peter gave him the stamina to max
good. When some one asked him wha
he considered the most important r
suit Of his administration as governor
he replied:
Law enforcement. We have brough
about conditions by which the state oi
ficers obey the law themselves and e1
force It"
Made Tax Dodgers Vince.
But Governor johnson did not sto
at enforcement Of the laws on II
statute hooks. By his influence &
brought about the enactment of ne
'laKl.toane condition., One thing.h
8! u -. s .