New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-02

Tammsny Hall had had a talk with the
Mayor, and is said 10 have been duo IN
great measure to tho solicitations of tho
Democratic boss" Arthur !. OKeeffe,
who has been Deputy Commissioner IN
charge Of Broor.yn and Queens. had the
lacking Of the Kings County organization
| for tho Office. and II was believed AT one
time tina, he would win.
Commissioners Waldo. however. was anX-
ious that Mr. O'Keefe should accept the
office of First Deputy Police Commissioner
to succeed Clement J. Driscol. and he still
hopes TO no able To persuade him To- take
the place. II Is considered doubtful, how
over. whether Mr. O'Koefe would he willing
10 leave the comparative quetude of tho
Fire Department for the strenuous work Of
the Police Department. even At an increase
in salary Of $1,000 A year
Commissioner Johnson will get $500 a
wear az Fire commissioner. an increase of
g, 500 over his salary ~ deputy. He said
after his appointment that he had no plans
tor the future except To carry on the work
Of Commissioner Waldo.
There are number Of applicants for the
llace left vacant by Commissioner John
sons elevation, but tho Mayor was too
busy Yesterday to take up the matter. lie
told the Commissioner 10 see him about II
| in a few days.
Police Commissioner Waldo said last
night that there was nothing new in re-
gard TO the appointment Of a First Deputy.
and that. while no might be able 70 make
an announcement almost any time, he
could make no predictions.
commissioner Johnson has nirted with
political affairs a great deal since he came
here from Georgia fifteen years ago. Born
! in that state, he was educated in North
Carolina and the University Of Alabama.
He became a reporter for The Atlanta
Journal" and followed the same line OF
work when he first came TO New York. In
/ 1893 Commissioner Johnson got I'm the pub
! lc eve by organizing the Order OF Acorns.
ostensibly a non-partisan political organiza
! ton. As the head OF the movement Com
missioner Johnson held the euphonious APP
pellation of Great oak The Acorns took
part in the campaign IN 1875, when SETH
/ Low was elected Mayor.
| \ year later Commissioner johnson got
in the limelight again as the manager OF
| the Subway Tavern. designed TO be poor
mans saloon run IN a respectable manner.
/ Ii had the sanction Of Bishop Potter and
the financial backing Of K. Fulton cutting,
but the venture languishcd and died.
In 1895 tho Acorns came TO the front
again. hut this time they supported the
Tammany candidate for Mayor George Il.
| Mcclellan. As reward for his activity IN
! that campaign Commissioner Johnson was
rut in the Finance Department As an aud
tor. lie held this place until soon after
/ controller Prendergast took Office. when he
resigned. and almost Immediately was
taken care OF by Tsmmany IN the Fire De-
| partment.
| In the lest municipal campaign, when
Navor Gavnor was elected. commissioner
Johnson revived the Acorne The principal
work pas m maintaining an exhibit IN
Union SQUARE. which rss designed 10 nul-
ufv The effect Of the damaging evidence
against the Tammany administration "a
hibited a few doors away under tbs su-
spices Of the Committee Of one Hundred
| The Acorns' exhibit vas variouslv known
a. the Musee and the Chamber Of Horrors
Commits sioner Johnson Is forty years old
and lives ~ No 55S West 18Th street.