New Ulm review., 1913-09-24
johnson M0nu-
ment Dedicated
W ta.Fesota's Late Governor is
Y Honored at St. Peter
Sunday.
Many People Gather to Take
IS Part in Impressive
Ceremonies.

His native city and county paid
honor to Governor John A. johnson
last Sunday afternoon, when the
splendid memorial statue, erected on
the grounds of the Nicollet county
court house to commemorate his
! services to the state of Minnesota,
was formally dedicated. The exer-
cises and ceremonies in connection
with the dedication were most ap-
propriate, and it is estimated that
a crowd Of 5000 people braved a
chill northwest wind to witness the
nnyeiling.
The North Western road ran a
special train from New Ulm, and
more than hundred of our people
journied to our neighboring city to
be present at the dedication. Ac-
companying the New Ulm delegation
was the Second Regiment band, and
soon after noon the band and Com
pany K of St. Peter, commanded by
Capt. Frank Magner, marched to
the Omaha station to act as an es-
cort for Governor A. o. Eberhart
and the members of his staff. This
train was an hour late, and the dedi-
catory exercises were delayed just
that length Of time.
Invited guests of the St. Peter
Memorial commission assembled at
the armory building just before 2
o'clock, and were escorted to seats
on platform that had been erected
on the court house lawn. Senator
Henry N. Benson, chairman Of the
St. Peter Memorial commission, pre-
sided at the dedication, and after the
invocation had been asked by Rev.
D. j. Moran of St. Peter, the men,
orial statue was unveiled by Cover
nor Johnson's little nieces.
/ Some time ago the St. Peter COM
mission selected Helen Johnson,
daughter Of Mr. and Mrs. Fred w.
|9ahnsoR. of this city, and Viola John
son, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed
ward C. Johnson of St. Peter, to
unveil the bronze figure of Governor
Johnson, and their little ceremony
provided one of the prettiest Incl
dents in connection with the dedi-
cation. Prior to the unveiling
the statue had been draped with
a large American flag. The upper
end of the color had been weight
ed with a temporary staff, and was
held in place by cords fastened to
the ends of the staff. The two little
girls were stationed near the granite
benches at either side of the semi
circular area on which the statue
stands, and at the appointed mo-
ment they walked slowly toward the
statue and gently lowered the flag
until the figure was exposed to view.
1t was moment Of intense interest,
and there was an impressive hush
as the statue was unveiled.
When the flag had been removed
Senator Benson formally presented
the memorial to Nicollet county. He
gave an outline of the work of the
commission, and expressed pretty
sentiment when he said: "This statue
has been placed facing towards the
West, expressive of the hope and
cheer that always abounded with
him. His figure has been placed in
a standing posture as if about to
address the people and though that
statue is silent and the lips of that
figure sealed, this statue should speak
the influence of his life and charac-
ter unto each succeeding generation
as the years go by. This statue has
been prepared of stone and metal
that it might endure and also be-
cause this stone and metal are en-
blematic of the strength and endu,
ance of his character and influence
for good"
Claus A. Swanson Of Lafayette,
chairman of the board of county
commissioners, spoke briefly, in ac-
cepting the monument, and then
Governor A. o. Eberhart paid trib-
ute to his predecessor. 81 can say
declared the chief executive, "that
no other man influenced my life so
greatly as did Governor Johnson. |
was brought into contact with him
in daily life, and he taught me so
many beautiful things that had
never known before. Governor John
son possessed the two things needed
more than anything else to rise to
high position among his fellow men
and service. No sue
cessful career was ever achieved
without them. Without service per-
sonality is of no avail, and without
personality service cannot endure"
Fred B. Lynch of St. Paul, demo-
cratic national committeeman, spoke
of johnson as National figure"
"Of Governor johnson as national
figure much has been said," remark
ed Mr.. Lynch, "but the time since
his death is too short for his place
in affairs to be settled. Few will
deny that he would have been one
Of the leading, if not the leading,
candidate of his party for the nomi-
nation for the highest office in the
land last year. All the logic of pol
itics pointed to such a nomination,
and, nominated, nothing would have
prevented his election"
Senator Julius A. Collier of Shake
pee, with whom Governor johnson