Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-10
GOVERNOR FIRES
PRISON CHAPLAIN
Rev. c. P, Johnson Resigns Place
After Heated Session with
Executive at Lincoln.
SHOWS MINISTER THE DOOR
Administrative Order, Governor
Censures Chaplain for Activ-
tiles Against Warden.
lFrom . staff correspondent.l


LINCOLN. March 9-(special Tele-
graml-James pelchunty. warden Of the
penitentIary. drew first blood In the fight
to oust him from his position as warden
OF the penitentiary. The participants In
the battle royal which was pulled off In
the governors office late this afternoon
were the governor, G. r. johnson OF Te-
cumseh. chaplain OF the pcnitentlary, and
several OF the latter's friends. johnson
was sent through the ropes and out early
in the contest.
Tho climax today came as a sedpei to
the action OF the governor in issuing the
order against women teaching In the
prison Sunday school. This order was is
sued WITHOUT consulting the chaplain and
a. soon as he heard Of II he came 20 the
governors sffles 40 irsetsst-
The interview between him and uov-
ernor Aldrich was short but spirited. He
no sooner made his protest than the gov
ernor took johnson to task for WORKING
against the governors political Interests,
intin.atlng that he was dealing double,
and also calling johnson for opposing
Warden Delahunty and conspiring 20 get
him ousted from office. The governor
asked him why he did not come to him II
he had any complaints TO make against
the warden instead OF spreading stories
around about conditions at the prison.
Johnson denied the charge, but the gov
ernor insisted II was true and johnson
handed in his resignation. which the gov
ernor accepted TO take place instanter.
shows Him the Door.
The heated interview ended with the
governor pointing out TO his clerical vis-
i,or the location Of the door and intimat-
ing polntedly that II would be a good
plan for johnson TO take the shortest
route 10 the outside. which he did.
Johnson started for town with steps
several inches longer than the army regu-
Iatlons prescribe and It was only few
minutes more before his friends com
mepced 10 arrive at the capitol TO bring
pressure to bear against the governor
but the latter Informed all his visitors
that he considered Deiahunty a capable
official and that he proposed to stand ny
him. The callers who answered the dls-
tress call OF Rev. Mr.. johnson we're rev.
/, II. Roach, pastor OF st. Paurs Metho-
dist church: ]. l.. McBrien. former state
A. S. Tibbetts, c. 8.
Alien. W. r. Hardy. J. Z. Miller and Rev.
4 l., Weathely They were closeted for
a long time with the governor and the
latter. so far as could be judged BY the
sounds which came from the inner room,
was doing a considerable portion Of the
talking and vas doing II In an emphsue
way.
Reclamation 10 stick.
When the men came out they all denied
any special business had called them 10
the capitol and that they we're Just talk
ing politics, Judge Tibbetts joculariy re-
they we're trying TO induce the
governor to switch from his allegiance
10 Roosevelt. II was evident. however,
from the attitude OF the governor that he
Rad not changed his mind and that Rev.
Mr.. Johnson would stay resigned and that
ne intended to stay with the warden In
The fight.
IL has been common knowledge for
some time that a movement was On fooS
20 oust Warden Delehanty. but today
was the first time that anything has
,ome to the surface His friends insist
that the dope deal last week was q
lart Of the plan 10 discredit him and that
several OF the parties at todays con-
terence hzd Heen putting stones in his
,ath.
As the penitentiary is without a CHIP
ain Rev. ]. II. Presson Of the govern
RS office Was requisitioned TO III the
,Ozitlon SIeSAy. The governor would
Tot say who he would appoint 20 the
or when he would name john
on's successor.