The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-11-09
B. B. Johnson Today Ac-
cepted Position as Private
Secretary to Governor
elect S. Ralston.
TENDER TO PLACE
WAS UNEXPECTED
Mr.. Johnson Believes the
Next Democratic Postmas-
ter Should Own a Newspa-
per in This City.

Benjamin B. Johnson today accepted
the position of private secretary to
Governor-elect Ralston. Mr.. johnson
was called to Lebanon yesterday by
Mr. Ralston and the position was ten
dered him.
Although Mr. Johnson has been ac-
tive in Democratic circles in this city
and county, the offer came as a sur
prise to him.
Il was not an applicant for the sec
retaryship," said Mr.. Johnson. MIR.
Ralston telephoned me yesterday ask
ing me to come to Lebanon. He then
offered me the secretaryship. The Of
fer came as a surprise and l asked
time to consider it. He said that he
| would like to know by this morning.
before the jolli6cation meeting which
| is to be held at Indianapolis this even
| ing l notified him this morning that I
| would accept
Considered il a Request.
"Mr. Ralston said he wanted a man
of mature age. He said that contrary
| to the custom of other governors he
desired an older man. The governor
elect told me that prominent Demo
cratic leader had suggested some one
else for the position, and he also said
| that no one had mentioned my name.
| "Mr. Ralston and / have been old
friends and when he asked me to &C
cept the position l felt it more as a
request than anything else"
| Mr.. johnson, like Mark Thistleth.
waite, secretary to Governor Marshall
who claims Richmond as his home
city, has been a newspaper man. Mr.
Johnson at one time owned the Koko-
mo Tribune and the Richmond Item
He was also editorial writer ON the In.
dianapolis Press. At present he is Sc.
nior member of the Arm of Rettig &
Johnson, dealers in natural and arti
fetal ice.
II Political Career.
| Mr.. Johnson was born in 1852 in
Starke county, Ohio. his family few
years later moving to Kokomo, Ind
and later was appointed deputy post
master. Later he was appointed depu
ty county treasurer, and in 1882 was
elected treasurer of Howard county on
the Republican ticket. He purchased
the Tribune, but his health broke
down and he was obliged to give UP
newspaper work after four years. He
removed to Richmond in 1891 and pur
chased the Item. After four or five
| CITY hn
per. He was then engaged on the Ipdi
annapolis Press as editorial writer
| When in newspaper work in this
city Mr.. Johnson said he made the first
fight for independent political thought
and action. His first break with the
Republican party, he said. came in
1890 on the Mckinley tariff law.
In 1892 he was elected secretary o.
the Republican state editorial associa
ton, but because his editorials were
so independent, he said, the executive
committee accused him of heresy. Mr.
Johnson declared that he supported
the Mckinley ticket in 1895 because
the money question was the para
mount issue. In 1900, Mr.. Johnson said
he broke completely with the Repub
lican party.
Mr.. Johnson has two children, Fred
Johnson, formerly a newspaper man
now an attorney in Indianapolis ant
Miss Edna Johnson of this city.
Wants Newspaper.
Mr.. johnson was asked whom he
believed would be appointed postmas
ter in this city. He answered that he
did not know and that he had not ever
heard of rumors concerning the mat
ter
Il do think, however, that the post
mastership should be given to some
one who will agree to establish e
newspaper in this city, advocating
Democratic principles" Mr.. johnson
said. Our need of newspaper in this
county was demonstrated in the cam
paign just closed"
1t is rumored that Charles Beck
Sixth district chairman and formerl,
county chairman is leading in the racs
for the postmastership.