Lewiston inter-state news. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1905-1906, 1905-08-01
JOHNSON
GETS the PLUM
Named and Qualified as U. S. Al.
torney for Northern Section
of Idaho

no;ntment as Deputy u. s. Attorney
a. the northern district of Idaho. He
..ceived his commission yesterday and
.,,o,ified before H. K. Barnett and is
n,uy duly installed in the office. His
onnointment at this time came as
,,rnrise to most people. though he was
nrominently mentioned for the place
before the appointment OF Stillinger of
1atah county and when the latter's
name was withdrawn last week the tip
vas sent out that Mr.. johnson would
receive the appointment.
Mr.. Johnson served the county in the
capacity of attorney for a period of
four years and is prominently known
throughout the state. He was a can
didate before the county convention Il
wear ago for endorsement for the po-
sition Of attorney general on the state
ticket but he was defeated after one
Of the most bitter contests within party
lines that the republicans ever had.
Rv strange coincidence the convention
defeating him was on August 1st one
wear ago and he takes a new office
on the anniversary of that memorable
occasion.
In the general comment made yester-
day concerning the appointment there
was no question concerning the ability
of Mr.. Johnson to fill the position;
there was a rumor however Of a pro-
test being filed because Of the old fac
tional fight and the fact that the domi
nant faction in party politics was
turned down in the appointment Mr..
Johnson was the recipient of many
congratulations yesterday. He enters
upon his duties when the most import
ant matters for consideration before
the department are the Idaho land
fraud cases and his first attention Will
be directed to the work of Sitting the
great mass Of testimony that is before
the department in reference to these
cases which viii come up for trial at
Moscow in the October term
Following is the Associated Press
dispatch sent out from Boise:
Miles s Johnson. of Lewiston Tor
four years prosecuting attorney of Nez
toned last fall for the republican nom :
nation for attorney general, has been
appointed assistant United States dis
trict attorney for northern Idaho, ana
will assume that position on August l.
His commission was mailed him by n.
M. Ruick, the district attorney for
Idaho. on Sunday and should reach
him tomorrow Lewiston has beer
designated as his official residence, ana
the salary for the present fiscal yea'
will be $l200 per annun. 1t seems like
ly to be increased beginning with the
next fiscal year on July !, 1906
District Attorney Ruick in speakini
Of the appointment, declared emphati
cally that Mr.. Johnson was his owl
selection and that the appointment hat
not been made at the suggestion o.
through the influence of any other per
son.
Mr.. johnson is member of one o
the two factions in Nez Perce repub
licanism.' said ne, land the other WI
doubtless charge that he was appointe
at the behest of Senator Heynnr
among others. This is not SO. Will
Senator Hepburn has Endorsed Nj
Johnson for the position he declined
do so until after ! had recommende
him for the appointment.
The contest between the Thomr
son-Johnson faction on the one han
and the Kester-Kettenbach- ch West fac
ton on the other has been very spirit
ed In Nez Perce county. and the Kes
ter-Kettenbach side has made strenu
Gus objections to the appointment
Mr.. Johnson. I don't regard the pos
ton as in any degree political now
ever. Mr.. Johnson being selected he
cause Of his admitted qualifications ff
the place and his experience. In II
contest that has been waged again
him there has not been one word Sd
against him. either as to his profe'
sional ability or his honor as q ma
1t was only urged that he did not pla
fair in politics last fall and that
failed to support part Of the ticket.
the matter of the grand Jury In tn
city recently. Of course did not col
slider there was any evidence connec
ing either Mr.. Kester or Mr.. Kettel
bach with the alleged land frauds
the north; but since both these M
who lead the faction that has oppos
the appointment Of Mr.. Johnson ha'
been indicted by the grand jury. the
objections are robbed OF most Of the
weight az 1t Is necessary to secure
man to assist the United States alto
ney In the north who would not har
per the government by any spec'