The Washington times., 1913-12-14
JUDsON AND JOHNSON.

So long as Col. William " Judson was in Wash
ington, clothed with the powers of Commissioner of
the District his enemies comparatively respect
full in their attitude toward him. Judson was fighter
of the first caber, and his long career as Govern
ment engineer in charge of big operations, on the
Mississippi, the Great Lakes, and finally in Wash
ington, had established his reputation for both
efficiency and integrity at high point that none
cared to attack him.
But when he was transferred to Panama the ele-
ments that had been fighting him by every means
possible, and that had long been anxious to get him
out of the District service, pricked up their ears
and their courage and became more open in their
attacks and innuendoes. Now it is announced that
the chairman of the House District Committee wants
Judson brought back here to testify about District
government affairs.
1t is strongly to be hoped that he will be brought
would do so much or do it so effectively, to show up
the Ben Johnson regime, its incapacities and its
follies, as to put Colonel Judson on the stand and
give him chance to tell what he nows about the
administration of this jurisdiction.
Colonel Judson made a long string of enemies
while he was in Washington. People who knew most
about the inner for his troubles, loved him
for the enemies he made. They we're highly credit
able to him. They were the living evidence that
Judson had tried to give the District a better gov
ernment than his enemies wanted it to have.
While he was making his fight for better things
in this city, Judson handicapped by the fact that
the Commissioners were compelled to rely upon the
good will of certain men in Congress if they would
get anything whatever for the District and this in
effect tied his hands and padocked his mouth as to
many things that ought to have been better under
stood. Judson was misunderstood, misrepresented,
and scandalously lied about. He will have the
chance, if he is brought back here to tell what he
knows without fear Of getting into feud that may
injure the District government.
All this, of course, in the face of the bitter
which are being leveled against Judson
at this time, is mere assertion; but it is assertion
based some knowledge of the real inspiration of
the opposition to Judson. The prediction is ven-
tured that if Colonel Judson is ordered back to Wash
ington and given a fair chance to answer and also
submit some charges, there will be one of the most
intimate lluminations of dark spots in local govern
ment affairs that has ever been known. The real
behind the government Of the town will
come be understood they have not been before.
The interests of certain Congressman and Senators
in patronage distribution within this District will be
made very clear.
Colonel Judson is not a man to accept with
equanmity assaults his personal integrity. These
have been reserved until he should be few thousand
miles away from Washington. Nobody more than
his friends will desire that he be given the chance to
tell what he knows, to explain his administration as
Engineer Commissioner, to present an inside view of
local affairs 1t may be worth while to observe in
this connection that any effort to "try Colonel Jud
son before packed and hostile tribunal will fail.
Tie case, if that is attempted will promptly get sol
hi that q change Of venue will be forced