The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-17

TO commend him to decent people or to make
hm mt for any Office of responsibility trust.
But the rumors have been thar Mr.. Springer OF
Limos, with whom johnson has been working
In opposition TO tho admission of Dakota. had
prevailed upon the President to MAKE him Com
missioner of Public Lands. saw Mr. Springer
to-day and he told me there not word Of
truth in the story; that he had not indorsed Mr..
johnson for this Office or for any other; that he
favor OF the appointment of Judge Browning of
Illinois. and had repeatediy urged his name up-
on rne President. He was for Browning first
last. and all the time. and his pros poets were
still good. He had not heard that Mr. johnson
of Dakota a candidate for Commissioners of
Public Lands, and did not believe it.
There seems to be q fabrication som ewhere in
this connection. MIR. Jonnsen went To one Of
his most intimate friends here a week ago and
told him that Secretary Villas had promised him
the land commissonership; that the Secretary
had applied 20 the President; that Mr.. Springer
had strongly recommended the appointment not
only to Mr.. Villas bnt to the President, and that
the only thing in the way his inability to
pledge immediate confirmation. MIR. johnson
asked this friend to certain Senators, nota-
bly, Chairman Plumb OF the, committee on pub
lc lands, and see if he wonid report the nomi-
nation favoraby and early after 1t was sent in.
johnson said to this man. who came directly TO
me with the information, that his appointment
WAS decided upon beyond any peradventure and
would be made as soon as it could be ascertained
that the nomination would be promptly con-
hrmad by the Senate. johnson seemed to
doubt whether there could be that Quick con-
frmation that the administration made a con-
tingency He eaid that the administration did
not want any more DELAYS in combinations and
no more fights over nominations aud that above
all 1t must be arranged beforehand, SO there
would be no delay il the Senate.
This afternoon I went the House to see
Delegate Clifford. OF Dakota. about Johnson's
standing in the Territory. / found Mr.. Clifford
and ex.Dslegare Pettigrew, of Sioux Falls, in
the corridor near the House. They were almost
them that johnson. according to his own state
ment, bad been selected for appointments al
Land Commissioners.
johnson ia simply Infamous" said Dsegats
Clifford. land don't know of any thing more
easyfo accomplish than the defeat of his confrma-
ton if he is nominated. Every good citizen of
appointment. If it were made, would SO deaden
the administration In the Territory that not q
voice could be heard in its behalf"
Mr. Pettigrew who up to this moment had
said nothing to Jonson's reputation, added:
at will be very easy Co get Johnsons record
In the Territory. can get you enough myself
never be found. Why. when was a member or
the Legislature introduced resolution ex-
pei him from the lobby on account Of his ap-
proaches to members If there had been anv
law TO punish him, he would have been arrested
and placed behind the bars. I cannot believe
that anybody would recommend him TOR appoint
ment to any Office much less the land COM
mssionsrship, and il must be mistake. Come
to think Of it, 1t ought not to be surprise if he
is appointed, however. johnson and Springer
have been working this territorial business to-
gether for three or four years. johnson has
done all he could TO help Springer in his 6ght
against division and statehood. hough he has
worked almost single handed and alone. l pre-
sumo Springer feels sense of gratitude. and
would show it if johnson wants an Office
johnson was also mixed up in that capital
removal scheme. and shortly after / retired
from Congress he came to my house in Sioux
Falls and proposed that if would indorse the
scheme to remove the capital to Bismarck he
would let into the real estate speculations
that is would involve / listened to his highly
improper proposition till discovered that he
was crooked as dogs hind leg, and then I
ordered him out OF my house. Two years ago
correspondent for Western paper published
dispatch reiectng upon Johnson's character.
and the latter came into bis Office one night and
threatened to shoot him. The corresponding
said that if he had been misinformed he would
give Mr. johnson tho benefit of retraction, but
he would not do until he had consulted the
gentleman who had given him the origina in
formation. johnson concluded not commit
murder, and consented to wait day two for
vindication The next day the correspondent
met him in the corridor of the CAPITOL and said:
my authority for that publica tion was Judge
Gideon c. Moody. the contingent Senator from
Dakota He this morning gave me permission
to say much TO you, and told me also that he
would furnish the evidence to establish the
truth of every word have said. Do you now
care TO have him Go sol He told me must get
your permission"
johnson then commenced te talk about the
newspapers bounding people. but soon SUNK
off. and has since studiously avoided the corre-
spondent he was so anxious to shoot"