Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-04-03
SENATE Sen At :: AND v The ! F.
(Continued from Page ~

worlds labors. He died in the city
OF Fargo on the 21st of October last,
after a very brief illness.
Senator Martin Nelson I johnson
was born in Racine county, Wiscon-
sin, on the Sd day of March, 1850.
He was married to Miss Stella White
on June 10th, 1879, ana is survived
by her and by his daughter Edith
(Mrs. S. G. Skulaso1), his daughter
Nellie Mrs. s. NJ. Hydle), his
daughter Florence, and his son
Ralph.
Senator Johnson's father and
mother were both natives of Norway
the former emigrating to this coun-
try In 1889. In the year of his birth
his family moved to the state OF
Iowa where he was reared to man.
hood. After attending the Upper
Iowa University at Fayette, he en-
tered the: State University OF Iowa
and graduated therefrom In the year
1873. Then followed two years as
instructor in the California Military
Academy at Oakland. In 1875 he
returned to the state of Iowa. The
same year he was elected to the state
legislature. This was his first entry
iato political life. Since that time
he has held the following positions:
In the year 1876 he was presidential
elector on the republican ticket.
From 1877 to 1881 he was member
of the state senate of Iowa. From
1886 to 1890 he was district attorney
in North Dakota In 1889 he was a
member of the Constitutional con-
ventioa which framed the constitu-
ton of the state of North Dakota
From 1890 to 1898 he was congress-
man at large from the state of North
Dakota At the primary election OF
1908 he received the nomination for
United States senator and was elect
ed by the state legislature on the
goth day of January, 1909, and held
that position from March 3, 1909, to
October 21st, the day of his death.
His public services to the state OF
North Dakota were most important.
A firm believer in the cause of tenn
perance he was the strongest advo-
cate for, and the most potent force
in securing, constitutional prohibi-
ton against the manufacture and
sale of intoxicating liquors in the
state. Later when an attempt was
made to transfer the Louisiana lot
terry to the state Of North Dakota,
Mr.. Johnson was the leading figure
and power in the battle against that
attempt.
In politics he was republican. a
firm believer in the protective policy
of that party and an earnest advo-
cate of its sound money principles.
In the 54th and 55th congresses he
was a member of the ways and
means committee of the House and
was an influential and an important
factor in framing the Dingley tariff
law As, a member Of congress he
introduced as an amendment to the
military appropriation bill q provi-
sion for abolfshing the canteen in the
United States army, and thus plant
ed the seed of sentiment which
grew until it became law upon our
statute books.
During the campaign of 1896 he
made many addresses in favor Of the
gold standard, and his presentation
OF the subject had much TO 90 Win
lining up his own state in favor of
that policy. Although for nearly
:line years he held no public position
he nevertheless took leading part
in every political campaign in his
state.
His previous experience in tariff
legislation was a valuable asset and
had its influence upon his actions
and votes in the last congress, where
after securing what he considered
the best bill that could be passed
he supported by his vote on all occa-
sions the report of the committee on
finance, and gave his hearty adher-
ence to the present administration.
Thus his public career has been
ever one of high ideals and unflinch-
ing fidelity to principle. But Mr..
President, I doubt very much if the
public career Of any man, however
great, is ever so potent in its influ-