POPULISM TO INSURGENCY 49 



through the reform measures he desired. His victories were therefore in- 

 complete, but his interest in freeing the state from corporation control and 

 in establishing popular government was fully demonstrated. The fact 

 that the people stood by him in one election after another indicates that 

 he felt the public pulse aright. And, with the spirit of reform riding high, 

 Johnson did accomplish a great deal. Undoubtedly one of his greatest 

 assets in obtaining a certain measure of support from Republican legisla- 

 tures was the fear of the Republicans that the Democrats might get the 

 credit for being more responsive to the current demand for reform than 

 the Republicans. 49 



On the dominant problem of the railroads, Governor Johnson's con- 

 tributions were somewhat less spectacular than those of La Follette and 

 Cummins. A state railroad and warehouse commission already existed, 

 but its members were reluctant to make full use of the powers they pos- 

 sessed. On one occasion, during the summer of 1906, Johnson was obliged 

 to publicly demand action from the commissioners in order to induce 

 them to so much as grant a request of the three principal railroads of the 

 state to reduce their grain rates by approximately 10 per cent. "One 

 speech of his," according to his biographers, "resulted in a voluntary re- 

 duction of ten percent, in certain classes of freight in northern Minne- 

 sota." Finally, after the subject of intrastate freight rates had been fully 

 investigated, the legislature, by law, cut the rates on grain, coal, lumber, 

 and livestock an average of 10 per cent. Other railroad measures enacted 

 during Johnson's administration included a reciprocal demurrage law, 

 "subjecting carriers to the same penalties for delay in furnishing cars as 

 carriers impose upon shippers for delay in loading cars," an anti-pass bill, 

 and a two-cent passenger-fare bill. 50 



The Johnson record of reform extended well beyond the railroad 

 sphere. Johnson was deeply interested in the insurance problem, and in- 

 duced the legislature to pass what "amounted to a code of life, fire, and 

 marine insurance." He also signed measures extending the jurisdiction of 

 the state bureau of labor, industries, and commerce; creating a depart- 



49. Ibid., p. 287. 



50. Day and Knappen, Johnson, p. 159. See also R. W. Oppegard, "Governor 

 Albert Johnson and the Reform Era in Minnesota" (unpublished master's thesis, 

 University of Wisconsin, 1937), pp. 46-48, 52-67. 



