The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-25
GRIEF KILLED HIN
JOHNSON COULDN'T SUR
WYE DISAPPOINTMENT.
Paterson's Mayor well-Known in New
ark, Was Ambitious and Felt
Defeat Too Keenly.

Mayor John Johnson. of Paterson
who died in st. Joseph's Hospital, IN
his home city. yesterday, after an i'll
ness of several weeks. was well known
here. He had been chairman of the
committee on Passaie River purifica-
ton for his city for several years. and
| figured in all the conferences that re-
suited in an agreement to support a
bill in the Legislature this year thai
would provide for stopping I'LL rollu-
ton by December, 1912.
Mayor Johnson had a record as an
official and political leader that forms
a page of interest in the history of
Jersey Democracy. He served w
years in the Assembly as a representa-
tive of Passaic County. He was active
in the Common Ccurcll OF his city
when an Alderman representing tine
Ninth Ward, and prior to his election
as Mayor served for a long time as
head of the law department of Pater-
son.
1t was the ambition of his young
manhood to be Mayor of HIS city. He
worked for the interests of the city on
every OCCASION and as he advanced.
slowly but surely along the path OF
political preference, he never lost sight
of the goal at which he aimed. -Four
years ago he was defeated by Belchef
the Republican nominee, by.less than
200 votes. Belcher was then one of the
most prominent and popular of Pater-
sonians His record Of peculation and
Irregularities is a familiar story.
When the Republicans selected an
other man to succeed Belcher two a
ago, johnson was nominated again 10
oppose him at the polls. He made a
whirlwin6 campaign and carried the
city back into the Democratic column.
His term would have expired on jan
uary /.
The Mayors friends say that he die
of a broken heart because the man
ayers of the party in Paterson told him
that he could not again be nominated.
He lar given the city a clean, business
administration, they say, but had not
supported his party in every case.
The lead man al 50 years old. He
was a member of all of Paterson's
prominent clubs and a lawyer of some
note. He is survived by a widow and
a son and daughter.
Former City Counsel Joseph Coult,
former Mayor Henry NJ. Doremus, and
others of his city who were the head
and front of the Newark movement for
the publication of the Passaic River,
said last night that they felt the loss
of a fair-minded, honest citizen of
New Jersey, and a friend of his city
and her people, in the death of Mayor
Johnson.
1T often happened" said former
Mayor Doremus, chat Mayor Johnson
and 1 could o agree, but he was ever
inclined to be fair. to be considerable.
and abhorred unpleasant incidents such
as sometimes marked inter-municipal
negotiations"
PATERSON, Sept. 25.-President Will
lam Berdan, of the Finance Commission,
was sworn in as Mayor today by City
Counsel Merry. and his first official act
was to call a meeting of the Board of
Aldermen, members of the commission and
city officials for this evening in the City
Hall, where formal action will be taken on
the death of the Mayor.
The funeral will take place on Friday at
10 o'clock from st. Johns Roman Catholic
Church. Mayor johnson was the first chief
executive of this city who ever died In
office.