Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-20
new RECORDER TO
Be MAN
President to Put issue of Fed
eral Service Up to the
Senate for Action.
SUCCESSOR TO JOHNSON
TO BE NAMED SHORTLY
Opposition of Southern Senators is
Expected, But Extent Of Sup
port Is Not Known.

A colored man. not vet selected will b,
named for recorder Of deeds Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, succeeding Henry Lin
coin Johnson. who has sent his resigna
ton to President Wilson at the Request
of the White House. Johnson has helc
Office much longer than he expected ano
made no objection to resigning when re-
quested to do so. The democratic admin
istration has been in office more thar
fifteen months and johnson would moi
have been surprised had he been relieved
from his job a year ago. He was ap-
pointed to his place as reward for po'
litical services to the republican party.
President Wilson would have named g
successor to Johnson long ago, it is said
but for the threats Of Senator Vardamar
and other southern senators that the!
would fight the nomination of any coloreG
man named for federal office. The Pres
ident did not wish to raise an embarrass-
ing issue pending the passage by Con-
gress of important laws that he had rec
commended. and deferred action upon the
question of colored men in federal po-
sitions until the nomination of Judge
Terrell to succeed himself upon the Mu-
nicipal Court bench Of the District OF
Columbia was confirmed.
Resignation Effective July l.
Johnson's resignation is to take ef-
feet July ]. by which time the Presi-
dent hopes to name his successor. No
charges of a serious nature were filed
against johnson. it is said. but COM
plants were made at the White House
against his manner of running the of
fee of recorder of deeds. These conn
plants involved the personnel of the
office q Nd
noyance at the White House johnson
acted Immediately when his resignation
was requested
The knowledge that the President will
appoint colored man as successor to
johnson will bring clearly to the front
number of southern senators ard
their attitude on the recognition Of the
colored man to appointment in the fed
eral service.
The President is. evidently determined
10 test the question now and knows nc
better way Of doing SO than putting up 9
nomination to the Senate for action.
Senator Vardaman OF Mississippi who
strongly opposed the administration on
the tolls repeal issue. will make good his
threat of opposition, 1t Is said, but how
much support he will get Ia not, known
Senator Hoke Smith OF Georgia has
strong views on the subject. and is said &c
nave objected to the continuation Of John.
son IN office. johnson halls from Georgia
Senator Smiths state.
Was Ready to Resign.
Mr.. johnson. the retiring recorder. was
appointed to the position by Presiden,
Taft, and qualified as recorder May .
1910. having served slightly more thar
the usual four-year term.
Speaking of his resignation today, Re-
corder Johnson stated that, while deeply
approaching President Wilson's considera
ton in permitting him, partisan. repub-
lcan, to continue in office to more than
the completion of the usual four-yeal
term, he has been ready and willing to
tender his resignation at any time the
President expressed a desire for it. Mr.
johnson further stated that he expects
soon to resume the practice of law at his
home in Atlanta, Ga.
1t is understood that Recorder John
sons friends expect next September to
make him the head of the negro Odd Eel
lows in this country by elevatng him
from his present position of deputy grand
master to that of grand master of the or
der 1t is said to be the most numerous
negro fraternal organization in the Unit.
ed States.