Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-02-17

| Ordwsy Johnson is not in Washington
| wholly for his health. Neithar is he
there wholly in the interest of the Aber-
deem one state movement. He has am
bitions beyond the suspicious of the
dull piodders who clothed him with
power and sent him forth to make q one
strike for Aberdeen and ten strike for
johnson. 1t is suddenly launched upon
the startled political atmosphere OF
Washington that Ordwsy Johnson is
liable to be clothed with the powers and
emoluments OF commissioner of the gen.
eral land office. Shades of the departed
Sparks rise up and defend the poor
homestesder in this hour of his immi-
nent peril. Protect also with ell the
yigor of thy peerless backbone the pub
lie domain. Unless johnson is lying
(and he has brought an action against
Dakota editor who printed statement
rejecting upon his veracity) he is on the
high road to sudden fame. The WASH
inRton correspondent of the Omaha Bee
fSANSo thAn bChSkou VI WIG CttcS
johnson went to one of his moat init
mate friends here almost week ago and
told him that Secretary Villas promised
him the land commIssionership that the
secretary had spoken to the president:
that Springer had strongly recommend
ed the appointment not only to Villas but
to the president, and that the only thing
In the way was his inability to pledge
imme diate confirmation. johnson asked
this friend to see certain senstors-pota-
bly, Chairman Plumb, OF she committee
on public lands-and ascertain If he
would report the nomination favorably
and early after it was sent in. johnson
stated to this man, who came
directly to me with the informa-
ton, that the matter of ap-
pointment was fixed beyond any perad-
venture of doubt with both Villas ard
the president, and that 1t would be made
assoon as IT could be ascertained that
the nomination would be promptly con
fiEmed by the senate. johnson seemed
to donht whether there cnn!a be s:.as
quick confirmation secured that the ad.
minIstration made a contingency TO
his appointment. He said that the ad.
ni.nistrasion. did not want any more de.
lays IN combinations and no more fights
over nominations, and that, above all, 1t
must be arranged beforehand, that there
would be no delay in the senate,
Springer does not seem to coincide
with the rosy view of the case presented
by his associate conspirator in
the Dakota statehood matter. The
correspondent of the Bee continues his
recital:
1 saw MIR. Springer to-day and he told
me that there WAS not word of truth in
the story; that he hsd not endorsed Mr..
d ohnson for this Office or for auy other !:
shat he had written as strong q letter a "a
he could pen In favor of Judge Brown
ing, of Illinois, and had repeatedly urged
his name upon the the president. He
was for Browning first. last and all the
time, and that his prospects were still
good. He had not heard that Mr., John.
son, OF Dakota, was candidate for COM
missioner OF public lands and did not be.
lieye it.
From Springer the Bee man went to
call upon the Dakota people. He says !:
This afternoon / went to the house to
ses Delegate Clifford OF Dakota, about
Jonnsons standing IN the territory, /
found Mr.. Clifford and ex.DeleRate
Pettigrew, of Sioux Falls, in the corridor
near the house chamber. They were al
most taken off their feet in amazement
when told them that Johnson. accord
ing to his own statement, was picked
out for the appointment to the land Of
ice ommissionership, and said his ap-
poIntment would ruin the administra-
tion In Dakota, and, besides, that John
son could not be confirmed.
So the matter stands. II may be
sscertsined in the end that Johnson's
pretensions are fraudulent or il may .bs
that he is really bigger man than Bill
Springer. Partnerships like the partner
ship OF Springer & Go. on the Dakota
question are sometimes dangerous.