The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-10-25

great concourse of people by his
eloquence and mastery logic. He
may put brush to the canvas or
, chisel to the stone and produce the
[ masterpiece of a genius; he may
command great battalions on the
battle field or fleets of iron ships
upon the sea; he may found or 60
tablish great institutions of learn
ing or of scientific research; he
may point the way the steel rails
merce of a nation.
"a tall, rather awkward boy, rear
ed in poverty and obscurity, became
one of the greatest and best loved
governors of Minnesota. -.
"The editor of a newspaper Yields
great influence in the territory in
which it is read. His views are
generally accepted as the sentiment
of the community in which he lives
He chronicles the greater events
and the minor happenings Of inter
est to his readers. He learns the
opinions of all classes upon the sub
!jects most discussed and considered
He is often critic, often an adyo-
cate, and always in touch with the
people about him. He frequently
meets the publishers and editors of
other newspapers and through ex
changes and these meetings he be-
comes acquainted with them and they
begin to know him. Before Governor
Johnson was elected state senator
he was well and favorably known
by the newspaper men in the state,
and through them to greater or
less degree, to the people of the en-
tire commonwealth. More than once
shrewd political observers saw in
him an ideal candidate for governor,
. and no doubt he familiarized him.
self with the political situation.
ut is unnecessary to explain the
political conditions preceding the
campaign of 1904 or to set out the
reasons for the belief that the can
didate of the minority party might
be successful in that campaign. 1t
is enough to say that of all the
good and able men of that party,
John Albert Johnson was selected
unanimously it's leader; but it is
proper to add that the one thing
that more than any other thing con-
tributed to his victory never en-
leIcu III HIS VI HIS lileHuS Cdlculd'
tons.
He Was a Genial Gentleman.
| "He was known to be genial
man of winning personality, honest
and straightforward, a gentleman in
every sense of the word; a good
speaker, entertaining and attractive,
of tolerably wide acquaintance, sue
cessful in his chosen vocation, Ca
pable, and not without experience
in state affairs; native of the
state Of Minnesota and, if elected,
the first governor of Minnesota born
within the state. All these things
suggested themselves to those who
urged his candidacy. N
But early in that campaign pub
licity was given to statements re-
f1ecting to some degree upon the
candidate and laying bare the weak
nesses of his father. Nothing SO
dangerous, they say, as half truth,
and had not this half truth, while
being circulated, brought out the
whole truth, the result. of the cam
paign of 1904 might, have been en-
tirely different. When, however, the
whole truth was made public and
the people saw in this cultured man
the youth who gave up his school
ing that he might work with and
for his mother; who worked long
hours for small wages and fastened
to put his little earnings in his'
mothers hands; who found his first
great happiness and joy of heart
in an announcement he made to her
that his wages had been raised so
ron1D nO
hard; who assumed mans labor
when mere lad; who went about
his work cheerfully and met all diff
ficulties with a smile; who never
lost heart; who was always loyal
and true to her who gave him birth );
when they heard the whole, sad pitt
full story, John Albert Johnson be.
came more than candidate for a
high office
His Life Struggles.
This is the thing undreamed OF
by the shrewdest politicians; this is
i, the thing that drew the people to
Governor Johnson and to this may
his first great victory be attributed
The unfolding of the story of his
life struggles. to those who saw and
admired the man, made him hero
as well as candidate.
But it may be generally said that
/. Governor Johnsons policies and ad.
, ministrative acts indicated broad
: ness of view and accuracy of judg.
/ ment, and in addition to these things
sense of the relative Importance
| of policies, legislative measures and
> official acts that seemingly directed
: him to press hard upon the few
: that were really of great Importance
| and pass lightly over those that were
. OF minor sig lificance. This sense
5 closely allied to genius, was es.
= pecially pronounced in Governor
t Johnson, and it is a faculty that
l means much to him who has it.
| There is limit to human effort
e beyond which, no matter how great
. the need, it cannot go. Hence the
: necessity for concentrated endeavol
D for the achievement of a great re
4 suit. Effort widely distributed is
: necessarily weaker at a given point
! A man or woman with a single
5 aim or purpose who can put aside
;, other things of lesser moment and
\ devote himself to the one important
1 thing will, generally speaking, ac
Y complish the most.
= Was Man of Attachments.
t ! America has produced great
: many brilliant men and, indeed, in
!, every community NAV he found one