Omaha daily bee., 1909-09-22
GOVERNOR JOHNSON IS DEAD
Continued from First Psse)

AG0ntlnueQ from EirSt FaHesl
prlvates will stand guard by the casket I'M
til its removal from the capitol.
Tomorrow afternoon the Rev. J. J. Law
less. chaplain Of the governors staff. will
conduct services in the capitol. Thursday
the body will be taken to ST. Peters. where
final services will be held under presby-
terial auspices, with the Rev. r. z. Clarke
in charge. Interment will be in the family
cemetery at st. Peter, where Governor
johnson Is to be buried beside his mother.
Honorary escorts viii be state officers,
the St Paul lodge Of Elks and the knights
Of Pythias, who will ompan the spe-
cial train to st. Peter.
The late Governor John A. johnson had
been operated on twice before by the Drs.
Mayo, first for the removal. Of an ulcer and
Afterwards for an abscess OF the bowels.
Both were acute. prolonged cases and the
governor was In a serious condition each
time. There had been Instructions Of the
bowles in each instance, and during the
second operation the appendix was re-
movtd. After the second operation Gov
ernor johnson enjoyed- fairly good health,
but had spells Of indigestion, which later
developed into serious attacks. These came
on with increasing frequency during the
last two years.
The last operation was described by a
surgeon who watched It as follows:
The operation lasted two hours and ten
minutes. The preliminary work disclosed
a small deep seated abscess pocket, which
connected with the seat Of previous opera
ton for the removal Of the appendix to the
small intestines. II required a difficult,
serious and somewhat prolonged operation
" " -. M IT,
unusually numerous and difficult adhesions
Of the smaller intestines to one another
and to the abdominal cavity"
sketch of HIS Life.
Governor johnson was born N Nicollet
county at st. Peter in 1852. His father was
a blacksmith who emlgrated from Sweden
N 1853, He was early a republican. but
later became a democrat. lie established
the st. Peter Herald n 1855. lie was ELECTED
to the state senate in 1SaS ia ~ republican
district.
In 1909 Johnson was ~renominate6 for the
senate, but was beaten by two votes. Two
years later he was nominated by the domo-
Gratis for governor and was elected R'teT
a bitter fight. He was reelected twice ard
was serving his taird consecutive term
when he died.
Personally Johnson wA5 .he kind Of .nsn
who made friends readily. Hundreds Of
people visited the big NV statehouse at
st. Paul, and Governor Johnson met most
of them, only for a minute to say a few
pleasant words and go on with his wCrk.
He disposed OF businss rapidly vet never
was in a hurry. He discussed public quts-
lions in the most FRANK manner.
The New Executive
Adolph c. Eberhart, who, by the death Of
Governor Johnson, becomes the chief exec
utive Of the state, was born in Sweden
thirty-eight years ago, coming TO Minnesota
in 1881. He attended the public schools and
was afterward graduated from Gustavus
Adolphus college at st. Peter, as a minister
of the gospel.
Soon after his graduation, Mr.. Eberhart
abandoned church work and took up the
study of law. He soon built up a large
practice. For many years Mr.. Eberhart
has been interested in politics and has
worked hard for the success Of the party.
He was at one time clerk of the United
States circuit and district courts and later
was United States commissioner for the
district of Minnesota. In 1903 and 1905 he
was elected TO the state senate.
In 1905 he was elected lieutenant gov
- ~ anu "oo AS~NANNNNu III VI
~Eberhart's name originally was Olson.
In Mankato, where he formerly lived,
there we're half a dozen or more Adolph
Olsons, and much confusion OF identity
resulted. So when the future state Off
clal was married he asked the court to
permit him to take the name of his wife, a
petition that was granted.
AdOlph o.. Eberhart was sworn in as
governor OF Minnesota today by Chief
Justice Start of the supreme court.
Taft Sends Coincidence.
LIMON, Colo, Sept 2L-President Taft
today sent the following telegram TO Mrs.
John A. Johnson
My heart goes out to you in sympathy
for you in your present deep sorrow. Gov.
ernor johnson was a national figure OF
great ability and great capacity for use.
fulness to his country, as he had already
demonstrated. and his loss will be felt
far beyond the state that loved him SC
well, l sincerely hope hat the fond re-
membrance in which he is and always
will be held in Minnesota and elsewhere,
and the record of his high and valued
public service may come as a boon to you
in your sorrow. and may in time tighten
the burden you are now called upon &c
bear"
The president also made the following
statement:
The death of Governor Johnson is a
great shock and fills me with sorrow and
with deep sympathy for the people OF
Minnesota, whose favorite son he certainly
was, 1t has been my good fortune to
have had the pleasure OF his acquaint-
ance. and. although We differed politically,
we agreed on a great many subjects. as
I had reason TO know from personal con-
versations. He was a wonderful man.
II added TO a charming personality
q ~frankness and common sense that woI
over his natural political opponents and he
made an able, efficient and most coura.
geous public official. That a man Of his
parts and of his capacity for great public
usefulness should be taken now at the age
Of IS should be, and is, a source OF national
regret, for had the governor lived his po-
sition was such hat he certainly would
have been called upon to fill an important
place and to assist in the progressive move.
ments OF which he was a consistent advo,
cate. Ii was my great pleasure in Wash
ington TO meet not only the governor, but
his family ana nv heart goes nnt To fhoss