The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-04-21
JOSEPH 7. JOHNSON
BECOMES JUDGE
Sent Resignation to Cow
ernor Monday.
WILL MAKE HOME
IN SPARTANRURG



trict Thanking them for their Sups
port and Confidence in the Past.
Spartanburg, April 20.-Joseph IT,
Johnson, for If years congressman
from the Fourth district, was in Spar
tanburg few hours yesterday morn
ing Ell route to Grcenvillc, where no
will today take the oath as federal
judge Of the Western District of South
Carolina.
The oath will be administered by
Judge H. A. Nj. Smith. of the Eastern
district, who has, up to this time, had
jurisdiction in both districts. a num-
Der OF Mr.. Johnson's friends will go
to Greenville today to be present at
the ceremony. AS soon as he is sworn
in, Judge Johnson will preside over
the present term of the federal court.
Mr. Johnson yesterday rendered to
Governor Manning his resignation as
member of the national house Of
representatives, and it is expected
that an election will Immediately DO
successor
While in Spartanburg Yesterday
Judge Johnson shook hands with a
large number of his friends and re-
ceNed many congratulations upon tho
position to which he has been ap-
pointed by President Wilson. Spar
| tanburg friends Of Judge Johnson
were pleased to hear his statement
! that he does not propose to move to
Grccnvillc, although the hcadQuart-
ers of the court arc there, but wills
make Spartanbu.g his place OF resi-.
dcncc.
Judge Johnson Yesterday declined
to commit himself as to whom ho
| Will appoint to the position OF clerk
OF the court Of the Western District.
Judge Johnson Said, however, that
he had decided upon this appoint.
mcnt, but was not yet ready to mako
the announcement. J. G. llutson,
who has been clerk Of the court for
both districts for number of years
past, will serve in the Western dis
| ii"I ioi VIC ~ itStlIl tcIHl
In conversation with friends yes
| terday, Judge Johnson said he deep
! ~ regretted that he was unable to
! thank all Of his friends personally
for their loyal support during his
terms in congress.
Statement to Constituency.
Mr.. Johnson yesterday wrote Tho
/ following statement, addressed ITO
| the People Of the Fourth Congrcssion-,
al District:
Having been appointed by President
Wilson judge for the Western district
of South Carolina, have just mailed
| to Governor Manning my resignation
as representative in the Sixty-fourth
| congress. In surrcndcring my COM
mission | wish to say few words to
! the constituency that has so long
honorcd me with the high and import
ant Office OF representative in congress.
! Probably no man ever worked longer
or harder to get to congress than T.
had to. After my election, I resolved
to work as hard for the people as I
had worked for myself. That rcsolu-
ton has been kept. No opportunity
to render service to all the people or
any Of them was neglected. No allure
ment. entertainment or luxury in
Washington could draw me away
from service or cause me to forget
the people who made me their con-
gresham. | have been entrusted
with the most difficult and respons-
ible work, and in that work hayo
come into close and intimate relations
with most OF the highest officials Of
the government. My work and my
conduct here has been such as to gain
the confidence and the esteem of tho
president Of the United States and
others high in the government service.
| appreciate their confidence and es-
TEEN highly, but I do not forget that
1t was the confidence Of the people Of
! the Fourth district Of South Carolina
that enabled me to make a record here,
and the confidence of my homefoks Is
precious beyond expression. In my
life here I have endeavored to repre4
sent the highest and best type OF the
citizenship. My commission is being
''H' 'CContinued on Page Fourl