The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-04-01
Mr.. johnson ana the old Charter.

q. P. 0avanah. OWensviile. Gibson %.
Mr.. johnson and the Old Charter.
1t has often been a matter of surprise to
US that the people attach SO little impor-
lance TO the Office of Mayor, and the kind of
men necessary to successfully fill that posi-
ton. Many Of them appear to think ths'
the Mayoralty is a mere sinecure-that the
city government is SO organized that it viii
run itself, no matter who ia at the head Of
atfairs-and that one man can fill the posi-
tion of Mayor about as well as another. It
is this indifference Of theirs, this neglect to
look into the qualifications Of individuals
who seek their SURFACES, that have cursed
our offices with incompetent officials, and
loaded the people with excessive taxation
An Individual acquires a small smattering
of law, attains a position as a third-rate
practitioner, and then turns his attention
to ofiee-seeking. He is always on hand
for every emergency. II the merchant, the
manufacturer, or the accountant ia too busy
to accept the positions rendered them by
their neighbors, this class of lawyers, more
patriotic and selfeacrihcing, never find 1t
10 their heart to refuse, We lay this down
as a general rule. Mr.. Johnson, we regret
to say, has not proven an exception.
About the time the small cabal In the
council had determined on creating stir
among the people by agitating the question
Of a change of charter, they wanted can
didate for Mayor. The individual was hard
to find. One man they approached gave
them to understand that MFR. Baker was
good enough Mayor; and he thought 1t I'M
advisable to make any change. (He was a
property holder, and interested in decreas-
ing the taxes.) Another felt incompetent
for the position. Another believed that it
would be too great sacrifice of his per-
sonAl business to accept the position, If
elected. Almost despairing of candidate,
and meeting with as many rebuffs In their
search for one, as befel Japhet in search OF
a father, they finally stumbled upon Mr..
johnson, who CHANGED to come In their way.
After no little persuasion, and with great
deal of reluctance, he consented to relieve
the committee from any further trouble on
that subject by making the race. Then
MFR. johnson wasn't so certain about the
old charter. That very day, as we under
stand, remonstrance against agitating the
charter question was presented him, and he
refused to sign it. We say refused, be-
cause be knew the remonstrance was to go
before the council that night, and asking
time to consider the matter under the
circumstances, was, to all intents and
purposes, a refusal Mr.. johnson says
in his card announcing bis name-"I
have always been decidedly an old
charter man." Was he very decided in
this instance But he urged time to COM
pare the two chartersI If be has aEoays
been decidedly old charter advocate, why
would he want time to examine the ones
ton when be was asked to sign a remon-
stance against disturbing the old charter
But waving that view of the question
can it be possible that lawyer of Mr
Johnson's well-known studious habits, In
defatigable energy, and untiring industry
has been resident of the city for SONS
years, and yet has never examined THU
charter question until be is spoken Of as g
candidate for Mayor2 Is that the kind Of
man the people Of Evansville desire to pre-
side over the destinies of their city A man
who has been 30 Indifferent to question:
which have agitated the corporation from
ceEter t. circumference as not even 10 ex
anime into their relative merits3 The
thing is absurd. Mr. JOhnson's conteu,pti
bic dodge of ono time will hardly serve hi,
purpose. 1t is unworthy tho ingenuity of /,
ffth-rate cross roads politician, aud cauuo
deceive any body who is not anxious to b,
deceived. ia
Mr.. Johnson's most earnest supporters ar
known TO be most violent opponents of ID
old charter and the schools. The men VIII
brought him out were the men who hav
urged the adoption of the new charter In
deed bis nomination seems to have bee
part and parcel of an infamous scheme {
crush the city at one blow by the destruC
ton of its schools, and fastening upon
an incompetent, time-serVing Mayor
These men are now his companions by da
and by night. Is it likely that they ar