New Ulm review., 1913-09-24
Johnson Monu-
ment Dedicated
~ esota's Late Governor q
Honored at st. Peter
Sunday.
Many People Gather to Take
Part in Impressive
Ceremonies.

Part in Impressive
Ceremonies.
J. 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
tcOurt house to commemorate his
services to the state Of Minnesota
i was. formally dedicated. The exer.
Il Gfses and ceremonies in connection
n with the dedication were most ap-
.lpropriate, and it is estimated that
! crowd of 5000 people braved a
chill northwest wind to witness the
Il Jpnyeiling. .s.
The North Western road ran a
Il special train from New Ulm, and
more than a hundred Of our people
i 3ournied to our neighboring city to
/ be present at the dedication. Ac-
companying the New Ulm delegation
i was the Second Regiment band, and
soon after noon the band and Com
pany X of st. Peter, commanded by
Capt. Frank Magner, marched to
1.-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.
2. J. Moran of st. Peter, the MEM
orial statue was unveiled by Cover
nor Johnson's little nieces.
+ Some time ago the st. Peter COM
mission selected Helen johnson.
laughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Fred w.
EnhnsoR 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 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 a 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
q 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
IS the years go by. This statue has
been prepared of stone and metal
hat it might endure and also be-
:ause this stone and metal are en-
olematic of the strength and endur-
ance. of his character and influence
or good"
Claus A. Swanson of Lafayette,
chairman of the board of county
spoke briefly, in ac-
epting the monument, and then
Governor A. O: Eberhart paid trib.
tie to his predecessor. II can say" {
declared the chief executive, "that
% other man influenced my life so
realty as did Governor Johnson. I
,as brought into contact with him c
4 daily life, and he taught me so t
,any beautiful things that l had +
ever known before. Governor John
on possessed the two things needed
lore than anything else to rise to q
Ugh position among his fellow men
personality and service. No sue
sssful career was ever achieved r
ithout them. Without service per- v
'nality is of no avail, and without |,
ersonality service cannot endure" =.
Fred B. Lynch of st. Paul, demo- ;,
attic national committeeman, spoke =
johnson as National Fgure." o
IF Governor johnson as a national "
cure much has been said," remark b
Mr.. Lynch, "but the time since =
s death is too short for his place y
affairs to be settled. Few will "
my that he would have been one .
the leading, if not the leading, 1.
ndidate Of his party for the nomi- :,
ltion for the highest office in the = :.
nd last year. All the logic of pol b
les pointed to such a nomination, fe