Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-02
Committee in Charge of Local
Affairs Promises Much.
SKETCH OF "BEN" JOHNSON
Something About the Man Who Will
Have Charge of City Legislation.
THOUGHT CAPABLE AND FAIR
Opposed Many Bills at Last Session
Because He Distrusted
Republicans.

The decision Of the House democrats
yesterday that District legislation shall
| be in order at the special reciprocity
session, which convenes Tuesday. makes
the personnel Of the District committee
agreed upon by the caucus of particular
interest at this time.
| There was some doubt expressed by
democratic leaders during the last couple
| of weeks as to the advisability OF in
Guiding District legislation among the
! few propositions in order for action by
| the House at the special session. But It
| was finally agreed that the District had
| such a poor show during the last session
and so many matters of Importance were
| left pending on the calendars that 1t was
/ essential some attention should be given
| to the subject at this time.
| The District committee of the House
| during the coming Congress Will consist
| of twenty-one memberS-fOurteen demo-
| Gratis and seven republicans. The demo-
| cratic members were selected YESTERDAY
The republicans in all probability will
| be named at the caucus OF their party
| tomorrow night.
| The democratic members of the COM
mittee are Ben" johnson of Kentucky,
| chairman; Wyatt Aiken of South Caro-
| lima, John H. Rothermel Of Pennsylvania,
James 4. Hamill of New Jersey, John "A.
A VI.
Ohio, William A. Oldfield of Arkansas,
George F. O'Shaunessy of Rhode Island
Henry George, jr., Of New york, y. ).
Stack of Illinois. c. o. Lobeck of Nebras,
ka, William c. Redfield Of New York and
George Konig of Maryland.
Most of Committee Experienced.
The ways and means committee devoted
a great deal of time to the selection of
the District committee, and feels that it
did good job. Most of the men named
have had experience In municipal affairs.
Chairman Johnson is admittedly capa-
BILE man of sound views and excellent
business judgment. He is fearless, hon
est, strong and sincere, and is known to
his friends as "the man who has no Sc
| crets." This means simply that Mr. john
son is about as frank as they come and
/ is in the habit of expressing his opinions
I on any and all subjects at any and all
times.
As a member of the District COM
naittee. during the. last Congress Mr..
Johnson came into notice principally
| through his insistence in opposing any
and all propositions advanced by his
republican colleagues on the commit
tee. This naturally gave the impress
| sion that he was against the District
and its interests and led to many un-
official protests by citizens when 1t was
| first announced some weeks ago that
he was to be selected for. the chair
manship of the committee which has
| most to do with local affairs
Mr.. Johnson's friends say, however.
| that he is as sincere a friend of the
| District as could be desired and his
( opposition to much of the legislation
during the last Congress was due en-
| tirely to his lack Of confidence in the
| republican members of the committee.
| They predict that as chairman of the
| committee he will be as active in an
Il ho tn tho yoc
Congress in his opposition.
Col y. y. Stealey, the veteran corre-
| spondent OF the Louisville Courier
Journal. recently wrote a pen picture Of
| Mr.. Johnson that gives an excellent
idea OF the man and his character.
What Col. stealey Says.
I'm a national sense" says Col. Steal
ey. Ben johnson does not enjoy the
newspaper distinction which makes the
names Of others Independent Of de-
scription. But that lack comes be-
cause Johnson is a committee worker
and does not employ oratory as a
means to secure his ends When
member of the minority belongs to
| this type OF congressman he is likely
| not to be SO we'll known as a majority
member with similar resources.
One OF the most striking things about
Johnson is his appearance. Over six
feet in height. with a graceful. Slight but
muscular frame, wide shoulders, long
arms and a fine head. His hair is thin
ming, but its sturdy iron gray gives it
an appearance of volume. His eyes are
steel blue and they have the fearless
unfiinching look that the nation likes to
| associate with Kentuckians. His lips
are not thin. but they are set to each
strong. and his skin is tanned by out
door life. He Is smooth-shaven.
johnson began life as a good lawyer
in Bardstown. KY. but politics drew
of the type which interests itself in any,
thing that men are doing, and the stir
ring field Of politics was certain to lure
him. He held state Offices. finally be-
fore he was thirty presiding over the
| Kentucky house Of representatives Then
as state senator and congressman. with
| certain vain attempts to return to pri-
vate life, he gained estimation and favor
in his state.
Is Considered a Worker.
'In the Congress his work has been
of the sober though unusual kind that
does not advertise a man except among
his colleagues. In the SiXty-frst Con-
gress Johnson added himself to the
handful of men who. in the history OF
the country, have ever made anything
! out of their membership on the District
of Columbia committee. What he did
against opposition of all sorts is evil
dent in improved conditions in District
affairs. He is also the foremost author
ity on revenue affairs in the Congress.
his long legal and official experience
with revenue producing industries hav-
ing fitted him therefor.
johnson is one Of the few men In the
world who scrupulously gives one-half his
income to religious enterprises. BY this
time he has become wealthy, but while
his fortunes were mounting. when he was
a young married man with the new re-
sponsibilities of a family. he divided his
. income to the penny with churches, mis-
sions and the like. The best" preced ents
are to give one-tenth. but Johnson thinks
. he has owed enough to his Creator to
foster the works of the Almighty In every
; way he understands.
/ Nor does Johnson discriminate He
calculates from his income how much
he shall give to each denomination, and
|, the first calls that come are first needed,
and so forth. until the appropriation for
|, each denomination Is exhausted for the
year.
Trained Children in Odd Way.
"He believes in his fellow-man. When
his children severally arrived at the age
) OF six. Johnson gave to each power Of
. .