The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-05-11
CARTOONS OPEN
PRISON DOORS
FOR E. JOHNSON
When Convict Refused To Work
and Drew Pictures, Gov.
johnson Freed Him
CREATED ART GALLERY
FOR WARDEN'S OFFICE
Dead Leaves" and Chewing
the Cud of Reflection" Car
ried Strong Moral

SAN FRANCISCO, May Evan
Burton Johnson, a newspaper cartoon
ist and writer. whose drawings depict
ing his views OF penal conditions ana
politics attracted the attention OF GOV.
Hiram W. Johnson and resulted IN
the Communication OF his four-year term
Tor forgery, arrived in San Francisco
recently EN- route 10 a job.
"Aiy time was not without profit.
he said. What sort OF work did they
put me to? ! didn't work simply
refused. When ! was sent out to the
prison farm drew picture OF a COW
In convict stripes called II 'CheW-
ing the Cud OF Reflection
'When | was told that ii dldn
work | would be thrown into a hole,
said. All right. I'll draw that. too.
They finally gave me up as a bad Jop.
Il began cartooninC my way out at
the end OF my first week was nat
urally bitter over the lam ! had got
into, and started IN satiricalN on
some OF the officials As time went
on they got 10 playing the cartoons
against each other and the drawings
OF which | completed something like
200, were hung on the walls OF the o.
fees. Visitors always wanted to see
them and when, al first, there was
disposition 70 make He work instead
OF draw, and the usual contributions
were not displayed on the walls. there
was protest from the visitors 80
that art gallery began to grow
Dead Leaves for Hiram Johnson.
The first cartoon sent to hoy.
Johnson was entitled Dead Leaves,
showing hundreds OF leaves, each in
dIcating a calendar day, hutterng
-aewH 10 ehliterate me-ln the course
of time other cartoons, some OF "A po-
litical nature, found their way to the
governor, who eventually investigated
my case,
81 left Folsom with the friendship
OF the officials and had 10 refuse OF
fers OF help. | MEAN TO hoe my own
row. In few days ] Will leave Tor
Portland, Ore, where will take
charge OF the copy desk and art de
partment of big advertising agency
"In gratitude to Warden JACK
Smith am working on cartoon ior
New York magazine. II Is called
Jack Smith--1is Brothers Keeper
During my stay at Folsom. besides
the art work. | put in my time to ad'
vantage. | have completed three
act play which deals partly with the
crime question, bat more particularly
with how circumstances control ones
life.
al have also turned out several
playlets. supplent ting a play which
wrote Ave years ago and which was
produced In London by Currie Stew
art AID later In New York. Besides,
| conceived Johnny Con, a miniature
comic doll appropriately decorated In
stripes. This | plan TO market, each
doll being accompanied by a jingle
giving advice TO little boys and girls
on how TO keep out OF Jail.
Comedy? Say, there was more
real comedy in Folsom than In any
other institution, not barring some
theaters. that have visited.
Johnson Is 80 years old and OF a
muscular build, deep tan belying the
popular conception OF prison pallor
He entered the field OF art when he
was 10 years old as a stan member
OF the Philadelphia Enquirer. Later
he was In turn employed as artist
specializing on sociological and poliu.
cal cartoons, on the Denver Rocky
Mountain News. the Philadelphia
Press and other newspapers
ut was while a member OF the stan
OF the Rocky Mountain News that at
the direction of the owner, Senator
Thomas Patterson" said Johnson. !
drew cartoon entitled The Political
Slaughter House directed against
the supreme court OF Colorado. which
resulted In the citation OF Senator
Patterson for contempt and the impo-
sition OF a fine OF $l,755.
"The case was carried twice TO the
United States supreme court and IN
the end fine was paid"
The offense for which he was sen
fenced from Stockton, said Johnson,
was committed when, under the intu-
ence OF liquor. he signed check
which he was unable TO make good.
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