Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 13, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 30, 1955 Page: 17 of 32
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Wednesday, Mafcfe 30, 1955
VĚSTNÍK — WEST, TEXAS "'
HONESTY IN PUiBLiC
Strana 11
Xt is hard to believe, but he once
broke 600,000 milk bottles, Mr. Charles f
G. Johnson, treasurer of the State of
California, told about it himself.
It all started with his standardizing
of milk bottles and requiring by law
that the amount of content be stamped
on every bottle. As head of the De-
partment Of Weights and Measures it
was necessary for him to make periodic
inspections. This he did, only to discover
that the quarfc bottles, while bearing the
inscription “One quart,” held nowhere
near a quart,
The head of the Milk Dealers’ Associ-
ation was a good friend of Johnson’s,
so he ealled the man in. “How long do
you need to change bottles?'’ he asked
“About a month,” was the reply.
‘Til give you three monthsy? said
Johnson.
When the probationary period was up,
he made anothei; inspection, The cor-
rection had not been made. Again he
ealled his friend and allowed him three
more months to correct the error; but
still no effort was made to remedy the
situation,
Finally Johnson ealled in the men of
his department. “This is the last inspec-
tmn. we’re going to make,” he said. “If
the bottles do not hold a full quart this
time, giving the people the amount of
milk for which they are paying, I want
you to break every bottle.” By the time
the inspection was completed, 600,000
bottles had been brokem
This caused a great furor among milk
iealers. They scheduled a meeting to
protest the breaking of their property.
When Johnson heard of the meeting he
ealled his milk-dealer friend on the te-
lephone and asked for an invitation.
“Invite you?” replied his friend. “Never!”
“Seeing I couldn’t get an invitation I
(By D. A. Webster)
Throughout his long life, Charles G.
Johnson has believed and practiced the
familiar maxim, “Honesty is the best
policy.” He is a first-generation Ameri-
can. Born in Sweden in 1880, he came
to America at the age of nine and was
educated in the public schools of San
Francisco.
In 1901, at the age of twenty-one, he
followed the Klondike Trail to Alaska:
As territorial manager, he opened trad-
ing posts from Norne to the Golofnin
Bay country.
On his return to California in 1903
he engaged in the Wholesale produce
business. “It was hard to be honest and
stay in business,” he told me. “So many
brninessmen were using falše weights.”
Every week a certain gentleman ušed
to buy .thirty-one bags of beans from
Johnson. One day he met him on the
Street. “I won’t be buying any more
more beans from you. Mr. Johnson,” he
said.
“Why not?”
“You’ve been cheating me,” he re-
plied indignantly.
“How do you explain that?” asked
Charles Johnson.
“Another firm. is sellíng beans for
half a cent less per pound than you are,”
he asnwered, “and they deliver, too,”
“We’ve been friends a long time,” re-
plied Johnson calmly. “When the beans
arrive, allow me one favor—let me weigh
them in your presence.” His friend
agreed. On weighing the beans, it was
dfseovered that the other eempany was
using falše weights.
Trus experience inspired Johnson to
write and cause to be enaeted the statě
weights and measures laws which were
adopted in California in 1913. These
decided to go anyway,” he related. “1 laws also became the standard for such
took my uwn chair and placed it beside
that of the cliairman.” Johnson then
asked for the privilege to speak. When
the chairman told him that he could
not do so, Johnson said he would speak
without an invitation. When the chair-
man saw how determined he was, he
granted permission.
There was an uneasy silence as he
rose to speak. No doubt many a milk
dealer felt an inner urge to silence him
foréver with the deft blow of a care-
fully aimed milk bottle. “For twenty-
five minutes I spoke on the subjeet of
eommercial honesty,” said Johnson.
When he ended his speech, the silence
was broken by prolonged applause, and
he was made an honoráry member of
the Milk Dealers’ Association.
laws throughout the United States.
In 1914 Charles Johnson . was ap-
pointed State Superintendent of Weights
and Measures, holding this Office for
almost eight years. Some years later, in
honor of his contribution to California
and America, he was presented with a
certificate of honoráry life member-
ship in the department.
In 1922 he was elected statě treas-
urer of California, and was subsequently
reelected in 1926, 1930, 1934, 1938, 1942,
1946, 1950, and 1954, serving in all for
more than thirty-two consecutive years.
His long experience as a financial au-
thority, extending through the terms
of six governors, has gained for him
natiónal recognition on governmental,
financial, and tax proWems.
Johnson also organized the Sciots
Foundation for erippled children. He
has handled more than $100,000 in ad-
vancing it. “Wo háve never taken on a
čase without efťecting a cure,” he said.
He then told of one čase. He made
arrangementy for a erippled girl from
Marysville to enter a hospital. She had
already been confined to her bed for
more than a year with tuberculosis of
the hips. In fact, her hips had been
eaten away almost completely, Johnson
took an outstanding bone specialist to
see her.
A.s they leťt the hospital, the specia-
list said, ‘Tm sorry, but I canfptake this
čase.”
‘Tm sorry to hear that, doetor,” he
replied. “Do you feel that you háve
reached the height of your profession?”
“No,” said the doetor. “Why do you.
ask?”
“You say that you can guarantee this
girl deatli without pain, but you are
not willing at least to try to effect a
cure. Why?” *
“Mr. Johnson, I know my work and
what I am capable of doing,” he re-
plied. “T carmot také this čase, because
there is no hope for it.”
“I feel that that is rather a cruel at-
titude, doetor,” answered Charles John-
son “espeeiaily when you háve dedi-
cated your life to helping the sick.”
When they parted company the doc-
tor did not even say goed-by. Johnson’s
words had angered him.
But the following day Johnson re-
ceived a teleplione call. It was from the
bone surgeon. “I am going to look at
that girl again,” he said. ‘Tve chang-
ed my minci. IT1 také the čase, but it
will cost a lot of money.”
“Expense does not concern me,” was
Johnson’s quick reply. I’U suppiy the
money if yoiťll suppiy the cure.”
And it did cost a lot—$20,000, but it
was worth it. Today that girl is com-
pletely cured. She walks without the
aid of crutclies or braces. She has been
restored to health.
Johnson has not doně all this to re-
ceive praise. Rather, he has gone about
his work quietly, gaining his reward
from the decp satisfaction which comes
lioni a šelf less dedication to the Serv-
ice of one’s fellow men.
—Signs of the Times
-------) ♦ ♦ (-------
Prospective buyer: “This house doesn’t
look too strong.”
Contractor; “I know, but remember,
wc haven’t put on the wallpaper yet.”
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Valčík, Stephen. Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 13, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 30, 1955, newspaper, March 30, 1955; West, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth625540/m1/17/?q=%22United+States+-+Texas%22: accessed July 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas.