The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-21


In his strongly republican state. IN
1900 Johnson was the most prominent
candidate for the democratic presi
Dental nomination second TO Bryan.
Governor Johnson died as a result
OF the fourth operation for appendi-
citis, or, more correctly, the adhesions
resulting from the former operations
for appendicitis the first Of which oc-
CURED fifteen years ago. He was born
in Minnesota in 1851, the son OF poor
Swedish immigrants.
The last notable utterance of Gov
ernor Johnson was an appeal for the
west to stand together and look out
for it's own interests. which President
Taft regarded of sufficient Importance
to refer to in his Boston address, made
at the very time that Johnson was pre-
pairing to undergo the operation which
resulted in his death.
Nominated for Governor.
In 1904 the democrats of Minnesota
nominated for governor country edi-
tor, the st. Peter Herald man. John
Johnson was a pretty good country
editor, too, but there we're some 700
others in Minnesota. st, Peter is a
small town, and The Herald is a small
paper. But ii is not necessarily true
that small paper in a small town had
a small man at the head of 1t. Plenty
of instances to the contrary might be
cited, but Johnson's is enough. For
fifteen years Editor Johnson had run
the editorial end of The Herald, while
his partner Henry Essler, had run
the mechanical end. Both took
hand at the business end Jonnson
became secretary and then president
of the state editorial association. So
the other editors knew him, and they
liked him.
Johnson had served one term as
state senator, and some of the politi-
clans knew him and liked him too.
But he was defeated for reelection,
being democrat in a republican dis
trict, and when his party placed him
at the head OF the state ticket he was
plain John Johnson, country editor.
Minnesotas normal republican ma
jority is between $4,000 and 10000.
The democrats had little or no expee-
tation of electing johnson. One reas-
on they picked him for the candidacy
get the Scandinavian vote, which in
Minnesota is a considerable factor,
They hoped ne, at any rate, would
make decent showing, and most of
them would have been satisfied with
that. But Johnson, having accepted
the nomination, made a systematic
campaign. His opponent, State Aud
itor Dunn, was not altogether popular
in his own party. Dunn's unpopular
ity helped Johnson, against whose
record nobody had anything to say.
Johnson's popularity. increased as
Dunn's decreased. Something had to
be done for Dunn.
Ten days before election some boom
erang thrower in Minnesota printed
and distributed a circular setting
forth that Candidate Johnsons father
had been drunkard and had died in
the poorhouse and that his mother had
taken in washing You cannot find in
political boomerang. Most likely he is
and was then an inmate Of the asylum
for the insane.
Some supporters of Johnson, too |
much excited to know a golden oppor
tunity when' they met it face to face,
we're perturbed by this circular and !
urged the candidate to make a strong |
1enial of the statements.
Il can't" was Johnson's quiet reply. |
Story Quickly Went the Rounds.
The reason he couldn't was that
what the circular said about his pa |
rents was true. A st. Paul newspaper |
which supported him sent a staff cor
posthaste to the little town |
Of st. Peter. The staff man investi- |
gated the immediate antecedents Of /
Tohn johnson. The repertorda1 assign |
nent would have delighted any good
lewspaperman. It is not often thar a |
Exporter strikes such human inter- |
sst" color. The story OF John John
on of st. Peter. as published in the
st. Paul paper quickly went the |
'ounds of the Minnesota press; also
t went the rounds of the corner
groceries and drug stores and the |
hotel offices, where governors
rom raw material.
The st. Peter reporter discovered |
hat Gusraf Johnson, blacksmith, |
lad emigrated from Sweden about I
fifty years ago. settling in st. Peter. |
He had been heavy drinker In his I
lative land and came to America ia
he hope that he might reform. He |
lid reform for few years. He mar
led Caroline Haden, Swedish girl. |
llso an immigrant She was utterly /
lone in America. The blacksmith in
stalled her in a two-r ON house near
st. Peter. For few years the brawny
rms of GUSTAV Johnson armed q liy- |
ng for the wife and the little ones /
Who came, John being the first baby
,orn in 1851. Then REQUIRED an attack |
IT the old nialady, the old disease,
which in the system Of the village /
blacksmith demanded alcohol. The
blacksmith became a drunkard. Like
many others of his unfortunate class, !
le went from bad to worse" Finally /
he local authorities placed him in
The poorhouse, where after some years
he died.
Mrs Johnson was left with six chill /
iren to support. John was only 10 \
Years old. but he arose to the occa-
sion. He insisted upon quitting school
10 that he might help. He got JOB /
n grocery store A grocers hoy has
40 snap OF job, but some Of them
nave snaps as individuals. John
they probably called him
Johnny then got $40 month which !
he turned over to his mother. He I
'ound time to deliver laundry washed
Ind ironed by his mother, his splendid,
heroic mother. and also deliver pa /
oers on the carriers route--the town |