The Virginia enterprise., 1909-09-24

| tlon OF the authority OF law and his
refusal to allow the state to be used
for the coercion of the miners had a
wholesome effect, and order was
preserved without mastering sol
dier.
Human infallibility has not yet
been found, but it is no more than
the simple truth to say that through:
out his administration of his Office
he maintained high average of
official performance. On practi.
caily all Questions of public policy
affecting the state he has been
right, while his relations with the
other elective state officers, all of a
different political faith from that
which he professed, as we'll as with
an opposing majority in the legis:
lature, have been cordial and char.
acterized by a spirit OF cooperation
that could not have been realized if
we'll defined purpose to promote
the public interest above personal
or political considerations had not
dominated his official conduct on
every occasion. Again in his man.
ly veto of the tonnage tax bill he
showed that he dared to do what
was right although the majority Of
his party ana his personal friends
we're against him on this question.
! n hkaf RI of ri,
the range loses strong and loyal
friend.
But, after all, it is not John A.
Johnson the public official, the chief
executive of the state, leaving be-.
hind him an admirable record,
leader of ii great political party,
possibility for higher honors and
yet more distinguished public ser
vice, that we as a people mourn to
day, so much as the kindly, love-
able, warm hearted man, democrat
ic in his tastes, whose very face re-
tlected the good will to all that
dwelt in his heart, whose genial
; smile disarlned alike the reserve Of
the stranger and the hostility of
his tiercest political rivals, whose
cordial greeting was his natural at
titude toward everyone, whose clean
life and wholesome conversation
we're proverbial, whose magnificent
personality and facility in graceful
utterance captivated all with whom
he came in contact The state
, which he served was proud of him
and enjoyed the comfortable assur-
ance that he would reflect credit
upon her name in every place on
every occasion.
Minnesota will cherish his mem:
ory as that of one of her finest pro-
ductians. a native son, product Of
our public schools, a splendid ex-
> ample Of her efficient manhood, Gu,
off in the first fruitage of his high
and worthy ambition.
The mortal in him is dead. He
died as he had lived, quiet and una
fraid, Christian gentleman. He
fought a noble fight. and he met
his one great defeat as he had met
victory, master of himself. With
every hit of strength in his wircy
body, and every dyne of energy in
his clean, clear mind, he met the
onslaughts of the Grim Reaper and
when he saw that the end was inev-
ita bic he turned his face to the wall
and went to meet his Maker. He
had lived mans life, done mans
work in a world of men. He did his
> work we'll, and died a mans death.
What better could anyone ask of
life?
He gave to the world the best that
he had, and the best came back to
him. In material things John A.
Johnson was rated as a poor man
in this age of nillionaires. In the
honest esteem and genuine love of
his tellOw-men he was richer than
Carnegie, than Rockefeller, than all
the kings of the financial world
combined. He gave to the world
his esteem; and love returned to
him hundred fold. He looked for
the heart under the coat of man,
and he judged the man by it. The
world looked for the heart under
the coat of John A. Johnson, and
the world found it clean, and hon.
est, and manly.
There was nothing of the charla.
tan about him. He rang true. He
made good. Other men have preach
, ed the doctrine ;of fellowship and
equality; Governor Johnson prac-
> ticed it. Other men have fought
for honors, and riches, and power,
and popularity, and have found
them rainbows, ever. receding be-
fore them. Governor Johnson fought
to keep his honor unsullied, his
soul clean and his conscience clear,
and honor and esteem came to him.
His character was the one priceless
jewel which he guarded, and right
we'll did he guard it. He had his
temptations and his weaknesses in
common with other men, but to him
they were obstacles to be overcome,
not to be succumbed to. He met
them with a steady eye, and unre-
lenting will.
The perfect Christian gentleman