The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-05-26
NEGRO NAMED
 AS REGISTER Nathan Alexander Sue ceeds Gen. Johnston. A BID FOR THE NEGRO VOTE Judge Steele Succeeds Alexander as
 Receiver of Msney. ! Believed That General Johnston Wear led of Working. in Montgomery !. and Living in Birminghsm-
 Work of Thompson.
A BID FOR THE NEGRO VOTE

Nathan H. Alexander of Montgomery, one of the best known negroes of the State, was yesterday named as Regis ter of the Land once to succeed Gen. era1 R. D. Johnston by President Roosevelt. General Johnston some months ago sent in his resignation and the vacancy thus opened afforded the Federal administration the opportuni- ty of appointing one of the leading ne- groes of the State to a better ofice than he had held. s%- -s :
 To succeed Alexander as Receiver of Public. Money, Judge John A. Steele, now of Birmingham, but of Huntsville, formerly, was appointed. Judge Steele now holds a position in BIrnineh ann He will leave that place to come to Montgomery to take the place formerly held Dy Alexander. ...
 The two appointments were sent to the Senate yesterday by President Roosevelt, fact carried in the press news of the day. The appoin tn1ents were a general surprise In Montgomery except 10 the inner circle of Republi- cans. They are taken to mean that Referee J. O. Thompson has landed a couple of good places for his followers, that the President wants to recognize the work done for Taft In Alabama and that he wants some of the negroes to forget about the Brownsville affair.
 nt- ments weer announced that General Johnston had resigned. His resiRna- tion was said yesterday to have result. ed from his unwillingness to live away from his Birmingham home. General Johnston Is a veteran of the Confeder- acy and has reached what is considered old age, although he Is one of the most active men in the State, and although he puts in as many hours in the day as any clerk in the ofiice. But he never fancied the Idea of living away from his home in Birmingham. It will be recalled that over two years ago, di- rectly after hts appointment as Reg ister of the Land once, a hue and cry went up from the lawyers of Middle and South Alabama over the proposed removal of the Land offlce from Birm- ingham to Montgomery It was thought at one time that this would be done, but the project was finally dropped. General Johnston continued in the dis. charge of his regular duties in Mont gomery, but spent the week-ends in Birmingham.
 Alexander who succeeds him as Reg ister of the Land once. has been prom inent in Republican affairs in Alabama for a number of years. For six years or more he has been Receiver of Pub lie Money. Before his appointment he conducted drug store in Montgomery and is still interested in the enter prise.
 Judge John A. Steele who will be- come Receiver of Public Money. Is one of the best known white Republicans of North Alabama. He has been one of Thompson's friends. He was Reg ister of the Land Office in Huntsville for several years and held the place when 1t was abolished and consolidated with the Montgomery ofice. He went to Birmingham where he has held one or another of the sub ordinate Federal positions.
 It Is expected that the appointments will be confirmed before the Senate adjourns this week.