davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14
MEN OF NATIONAL DISTINCTION
LAMENT GREAT LAWYERS DEATH

Deep regret expressed in kilograms 10
the EVENING LEDGER, lamenting the death
OF John q. Johnson. were received TODAY
from United States Senators, the Attorney
General of the United States. Justices of tho
supreme Court. former candidate for
President on the Republican ticket and
many OF the leading statesmen of the co,n-
try. " VIC ''"h-
They paid glowing tribute to the memorv
OF the famous attorney, extolled his work
lamented his death and voiced a sentiment
mat the legal profession has lost its fore
most exponent
Some OF the kilograms follow:
T. w, GREGORY, Attorney Genera, NJ
United States-John q. johnson was n
man of tremendous power. a LAWYER of
great learning and originality. an advo-
cate without a superior at the American
bar. va"
cHARLES f. HUGHES. New York; learn
win the deepest regret of the death ,of
John g. johnson, He was a LAWYER or
the highest attainments. and his sterIing
character and distinguished abilities were
universally recognized His death is a
most serious loss
D. HAY BROWN, Chief Justice of tho
supreme Court OF Pennsylvania-In the
years that | have been a member Of tho
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14
MANAYUNK FLAG-RAISING
Residents Involuntarily Join in Cere-
mony at Nixon Paper Com
pany Plant

residents OF Manayunk involuntarily
Joined a fag-raising at the plant of the
nixon Paper Company, Nixon and FELTON,
streets at daybreak this morning. They
were awakened by the whistle of the factory
oiowing for fifteen minutes and went down
10 see what the trouble was, with the result
.nat what at first was simply factory nag-
r~,s,hg turned out to be a community AFFAIR
The workmen made known their desire for
an American flag some days ago to the
superintendent. j. A. Hayes. who arranged
ior tne exercises. and at s o'clock this morn
ing the hundred men on the night shift
sathered on the lawn In front of the factory
a,u eheered while Chief Engineer Ecken-
rom pulled the string that unfurled the mas.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
ELECTS NEW MEMBERS
Four Philadelphians Anon.
Seventeen Savants Added
to Distinguished Body

Four Philadephians are among tho s.,..
teen new members admitted TODAY IN ~.
American Philosophical Society. which n
holding Its general meeting at 1O4 Sor.s
Fifth street Membership in the society i.
considered the highest among scientific ars
technical circles In the United States rhs
present membership numbers slightly ovs.
500. i42 of whom are Philadephians
The new members are
AlONZO ENBLEBERT TAYLOR. NJ. D., PHI.
@S6epha R Russ & pr9,essSr Of ghysooscs
since ieio. 'e'''' Vi 'c""'s''snia
HAROLD FENDER. Ph. D.. Philadelphia mn.
trIcaI ene,neernr q, the tbe Of elec
sylvania since 1914. S'"'
WALTON BROOKS MCDANIEL. A. r.. m. N
versity OF Pennsylvania since 1900. WV o"''
HERBERT T.. IVES. Ph. D.. Philadelphia. a.
Illuminating engineer and physicist. y
WILLIAM FREDERICK DURAND, PHI
stanford University. California, profession y;
mechan1isal 1ha, engineering at stanford Universly
PIERRE SAMUEL Dupont. chemist, Nend.o.
hall, Pn.
CARL II. EIGENMANN. Ph. D.. Bloominr,o0
nS snse 1871 q @T0eSgy sns the snvsrs
school. Noted ichthyologist ''''a's
CHARLES HOLMES HERTY. Ph. d., New
Engineering Chemistry. past president presden, ao9 n9
American Chemical Society. VI
WINTHROP }. v. OSTERHOUT. A. W., Ph. n.
cambridge, Mass professor of botany Har.
ward University. '
wALDEMAR LINDGREN. NJ. f.. Ph, d.. &C.
d.. Cambridge, Mass. professor of geolorv
at Massachusetts Institute of Technoiosy
since 1912.
FREDERICK HANLEY SEARES, Il, g., pasa.
dena Cal. Superintendent of the computing
division OF the Mount Wilson Solar Observe.
tory.
GEORGE OWEN SQUIER. Ph. D., Washing.
ton. ID. C., lieutenant colonel and chief of
aviation section United States army. "
CHARLES r. sTEINMETz. Ph. d., schenec.
tHdy, n. y. engineer and professor of electr.
cal engineering at Union College. N. Y
OSCAR =. STRAUS, A. NJ, Lit. d., IL, ID.
New York city. lawyer. member of the Per.
manent Court of Arbtra tion at The Hague
The following new members are subjects
of Great Britain:
EDWIN B!DWEII. WILSON. Ph. d.. Cam.
bridge. Mass. professor of mathematics at
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
since 1911.
ARCHIBALD BYRON MACALLUM, NJ. A.. NJ
Ii. Ph d.. ID. Sc, LII. d., +. X. g., Toronto
professor OF biochemistry University OF 70.
ronto.
Sir DAVID PRAIN. NJ. A.. LII. D.. F. r. g.,
kew director Of the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Kew, since 1905.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14

supreme Court Of the State Mr. Johnson
was easily the abest lawyer that an
peared before II. In the days Of my active
practice | was at times associated with
ana opposed to him. and his greatness
continually grew upon me. He was the
constant heIpmeet of the courts, through
MS profound learning and his unvarying
promptness in responding when his ca es
were called. ! never knew him to ay
the court. He reasoned closely. Gle "
ana strongly. never using a superfuous
WORD and never missing one tnat he ought
10 have uttered. The American bar will
not soon look upon his like again as its
leader. "' '''
: e. KNOX. United States Senator from,
Pennsylvania-In the death of Mr. Jobn
u. Johnson the American bar loses one
OF It's most unique and conspicuous MEM
bers. In Pennsylvania. and particularly
IN Philadelphia his name was a house.
hold word. He was one of class of
general practitioners rapidly being dis
placed by legal specialists No case was
100 large for his great capacity or too
small for that conscientious consideration
winch his conception of the relation of a
lawyer to the publ demanded that he
should give. ''
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14
OCEAN CITY TO HAVE
BIGGER MUSIC PAVILION
Order Given to Contractor and Work
to Be Started Soon-Lively
Season Promised

OCEAN CITY, ~ j.. April 14.-The con-
tractor has ordered the material required
In the work of enlarging the citys music
pavilion on the boardwalk, and operations
Will be started as soon as the lumber ar
rives. which. ii is expected. will be within
a short time The improved buildings will
ne one or the most complete and convenient
OF Its kind along the New Jersey coast.
The building of cottages and apartments
keeps pace with the growing demand for
summer homes, and 1t is said that the rent
ing season here thus far is beyond the ex.
pectatons OF many of the residents Real
estate men are busy renting cottages and
apartments and answering hundreds of in.
quries of people from Philadelphia and
other sections of the country, who plan to
spend the summer here
The hotels all did excellent business at
Easter, and now the ownars and managers
are resting temporarily before preparing
Tor the expected summer rush. F
Visitors during the holidays were pleased
when they saw how well the yacent lots had
been cleaned from First to TwentN-second
street, and they praised the City Commits.
sioners.
Director George o. Adams, of the De.
partment OF Public Works. is pushing street
repairs, and force of men. is kept con.
s'ahtiy hustling to improve the condition
anu appearance of the highways
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14

and although he seldom spoke Of them
when he gave an opinion on art II was
done | nthe low-toned voice OF authority
that there is no contradcting.
The National Gallery In London he con-
sidered the greatest of all the galleries.
His collection has been considered by
many experts the finest private one in the
United States, and has been estimated at
50. .000, 600.
Many other beautiful objects peer at
you from every nook and corner OF the
Broad street house. There are rare
bronzcs. vases and clocks that chime and
tinkle melodiously, but the pictures dom
mate everything.
Beginning with the vestibule, one comes
upon them in the most curious Of places.
priceless Van Dyck may be found in the
buffers pantry and another valuable old
master serves to decorate the footboard
Of bed.
Wonderful Madonnas rub elbows with
rubicund old sea captains. and the placid
paNtorals of Troyon abe confronted with
the awfui storm landscapes OF Turner.
ALL SCHOOLS REPRESENTED
All schools and all times--Italian Flemish.
Dutch. Spanish. modern French and early
English. to say nothing of few Amer
icans-are all represented.
Only about three years. ago would he
consent to have them catalogued and it
Is characteristic of the man that in the few
copies which he had printed the name of
John g. johnson appears only as the pub
Usher OF the book.
Several times In recent years the rumor
cropped up that Mr.. johnson was about
10 give his pictures to the city. In 1905
the report got abroad that he was about
20 merge his collection with that of the
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
All of these whisperings he vigorously de-
MED. stating positively that the city Of
Philadelphia could not expect to receive
any collection of value until 1t provided
worthy place to receive them. The cree
tion of the new Art Building at the end
of the Parkway led many to hope that Mr..
Johnson would ultimately consider this a
fitting place for his collection
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14
JOHNSON'S $2OOO,OOO ART
COLLECTION MAY GO TO CITY

80 great was John g. Johnsons fame as
lawyer that to many people the fact
ne was one of the shrewdest art critics in
.he country and possessed a priceless art
coilection was almost lost sight Of Its
'aiue mas been estimated at $4,000. 900
Looking at him, the huge bulk of a man,
with his hard-headed matter-of-fact coun-
,ehahce. one would have guessed him to
De prosperous business man. or maybe
even steamboat captain But an art
.on"oisseur' oon s eur never The fact.that he was
one or the directors of New York's Met
tropolitan Museum of Art was barely
known.
ANA yet the high old halls Of the Broad
street homes are literally a precious gal
lery' the hangings of which are the results
OF years of careful garnering 1t is diff
cut to md an inch of wall space
There one may find represented the art
OF Ilntorelto. Fra Lippo Lippi, Signorelli,
quentin Matsys, Veronese. Velasauez,
Durer. Van Dyck. Ruysdael. Troyon. Rem
brandt Corot. DAubigny and OF dozens
OF other mighty names.
ART HIS PASSION
His pictures were something of a secret
passion with the great lawyer, 1t is saio
that ms wife when she lived would often
creep down the broad stairway i'm the
oead OF night. thinking to tear her hus-
Dand from some dusty tome only TO find
MN hunched In a chair before some IA
Norlte work OF art, drinking in its beauties
as If the draught were more necessary to
him than sleep, or life itself
Much of the great fortune he made was
spent for his art collection For a long
period OF time he used to go to Europe
every other year just for the purpose of
picking UP rare treasures The contents az
all the great galleries of the Continent were
known to him as his law books were.
Although he had no profound learning
IN the theory and philosophy of art. il
would not have been an easy matter to
foist fake picture upon him His knowl-
edge was based upon familiarity with the
best examples of art. He knew art as tho
Jockey knows horses. rather than as the
owner does. He lived with his pictures,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14
BARS DANCING AT HOTEL
License Court at Pittsburgh Criticizes
Management of Schenley

PITTSBURGH, April 14.-DeclarIns the
iio'e' Schenley was "a rendezvous for dis.
sipa'ioh and If the dances were kept UP
at that place the bar would have to be
closed Judges Carpenter and Reid. who
are hearing the liquor license applications,
severely criticized Harry M. Willis, agent
ana trustee for the SchenIey Hotel and Res
taurant Company.
Judge Carpenter said he had seriously
oonsioered refusing all liquor license app.
oa'ohs IN the Oakland district because OF
the practice followed by the Schenley and
other cares and hotels in serving liquor to
Doys and girls from the University Of
pittsburgh and Tech School.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14
SHORE PAVING SUIT
IN ANOTHER TANGLE
Contractors Threaten to Sue
County Unless Permitted to
Push Work

, ATLANTIC CITY April IA. - Further
comphcations have been added to the pat
ehted paving controversy over the pb,,,doI-
'"'-N''ah''c city motor speedway, now be-
lore the Court of. Errors on appeal from a
decision by Justice Black, of the suprems
Court nulllfying the ssss.OOO award.
L'ddeIl & Pfeiffer of Perth Amboy. con.
tractors under the award and nlai,,,r.
WIN the County Board in the appeal now
pending. threatened to sue the county ,n,ss.
.hey are permitted to go ahead with ths
WORK The contractors contend that ,ha,r
op'iohs Tor material under the contract
~ .he courts win expire in June, and that
~ - % ane even. OF It's being sustained 1t will be
options without mourning a heayv los,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14

1cleue1 fssm fsss ows
~ last fftsen years In which he has
0xurtd a. counsel
DC4ptte the great energy Involved In the
ANtion ana argument OF his important
~ Mr.. Johnson devoted considerable
<)DNtton to art. His art collection contains
MID famotls canvases of most OF the great
l4stsrs. He visited all parts Of the world
-, Improve his collection. which is regarded
- one OF the most costly and authorita.
EI1ye extant.
'F A casual caller at Mr.. Johnson's Office
4u the thirteenth floor Of the Land Title
a uuding would not believe that the bushy-
heired attorney with the snowy. dropping
rtustache bending over his books was the
IAN OF American lawyers
Y a spirit Of friendliness shone In his eyes
shsn he turned to greet you. Even though
~ didn't agree with n visitors views. the
visitor generally left the Office with the feel
'{ng that whatever side the sociable lawyer
was on must be the right one.
MoDEsTY OF THE GREAT
Modesty was the keynote OF Mr. John
sons entire life.
II didn't give him any quiet thrill to see
his name or his picture in the newspapers
Or magazines. He had no time for applause
lie abhorred social glories. Frivolity OF
life.
IL annoyed him to have to fuss up in
evening clothes
In court he was only before the public
sve when standing up to argue his case
SIMPLE METHODS
His methods were quiet when he first
began to attack the enemy. There was no
attempt at pyroteehnical style. But some-
how or other there was usually an ominous
silence when he began to lay the foundation
OF his case. II always showed thorough
preparation with an assembling OF evidence
ana law that could not be cried down by
pratory or Intimidation. Mr.. johnson usu-
lilly smiled and drummed his eyeglasses on
me desk when counsel for the other side
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14
MASTER OF LAW WHOSE NATURAL
GIFTS WON HIM SUPREMACY

y, A public-school education. completed at
the age of seventeen, was the sole equip
'ynent--if one except a natural intellect that
has seldom been equaled--which John @.
3ohnson took with him into the law Office
of Benjamin Rush when, as a big over
N5own, hulk OF boy, he announced his in
fention Of following a legar career
NJ Neser has round peg been fitted into a
fQund hole with more unerring precision.
(. Except In the courtroom and in his Of
'Ice. one seldom saw him In those early
'1ays, just as In the later ones he led an
4lmost unbeleevably secluded life. The
nan was = student and serious thinker
nom the very beginning, and II was not
<1ux before he was accorded from judges
XnA senior lawyers alike h respect and at
Hflon which the knowledge of law that he
~ soon displayed won for him.
PA supreme simplicity always character
I1sa his bigness. There were no subter-
>6s about him. He did not consider the
niroment Of the sorceriss and biandish-
6ta~ ~<hat 10 many lawyers make part
t3ir courtroom manner necessary He
YEA that, having the goods. the best
10 deliver was direct.
vayp Of practice always exemplined
when client want TO him. Johnson
~. If he thought there was nothing
1aee. he would say 60 and that would
nattsr. II there was . chance Of
~ case out Of court he would say
neon earned the gratitude Of many
Smao WAS worth while johnson
N tt,o|l eersfully, set the *.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14
Dim G. JOHNSON, GREATEST LAWYER.
DIES SUDDENLY OF HEART DISEASE

ran wild for the sake OF shining in the
newspapers or appealing to the galleries.
There were times. too when Bile
opponents dragged In irrelevant technicaii-
ties anod resorted to claptrap when the
white-haired lawyers temper surged
Fortified by authority, he then pounded
the desk and the books near him and with
index finger showed that subterfuge could
not alter the cold black and white OF Black
stone or the rulings OF legal authority. He
never let case bother him while Il was
In the hands OF the jury. He figured that
he had given II every ounce OF his thought
and energy and was content to abide by the
result
TOOK WRONG HAT
There was no lettering about by the at
torney when court adjourned. Usually he
reached FOR his hat or the one nearest him
and made straight line for the door
Occasionally on reaching his Office he found
he had taken the headgear Of his opponent.
TheF was quick confession over the
phone and the hat was returned without
legal complications.
In his everyday life Mr.. johnson was dis
tinctly democratic. He could usually be
found lunching In some modest little place
which was handy and quick, without fancy
hxngs and austere walters.
AT the age of twenty-one the ledgling
lawyer stepped out to try his own wings
and even his early flights into court were
marked with a surety and authority that
showed the youngster already to have
groundwork which many OF his coworlers
after lifetime Of practice did not acquire.
ATTORNEY FOR BANKS
In addition TO representing many OF the
largest corporations OF the country In re-
nowhed legal battles. Mr.. Johnson was coun-
sci for nearly a hundred financial institu-
tions. lie was trustee of the Metropoli-
tan Museum OF New York, the University
Of Pennsylvania and other institutions He
received the degree of doctor of laws from
Pennsylvania and from Princeton.
Arrangements for the funeral have not
yet been completed.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14

the United States but II you brought hin,
case worth only s25 and IL involved "in I'm
intricate point of law YOU wera .,,r a', !.
eee,ing the great mans ear The fee mad
untying. "'' was worth
once one of the great Pennsylvania oo.,
companies had lawsuit Involving oiI,o'S.'
S A. uonars IL turned upon some abstract
uoctrine or law. In the lower co,,r,. -, =
oecision went against the coal ,comno ,,e n,'
Get John @. Johnson" soma o,a ,,,,,.
neiated inspiration said. "and taIa WIN
the supreme Court" ~ 10
In Supreme Court cases thu o,.,
limit OF time for argument is a half hn,,s
IN special dispensations the time e.
tended to an hour. ex-
Johnson went into court st.,.s 4.
osnion IN nfteen minutes, thrust bIs nsn op-
INTO ms green bag and strode out. '"'''s
IN, Inc decision was a victory for ro,
me company held council ..rh,. ~ y,
~. .aies. @ lawyer In the world said ,. .ne
ne mas saved US millions" 'hey'
They sent for and handed him .,s ooo
- i TINS won't DO" said johnson. Iook,n~
! The Tns corporation men were aba.b.a .,s
49, 49,. Ihey thought they had covsr"S
tney gave him $4,000 Now thsv Sv wnen
ness. ~ tneir stingi-
Wen gladly pay you anything vou =. !,
saia they, I'VE didn't know" 'ou ASK
Johnson smiled.
3 - eont mean anything Of the k,pd /. :.
s.I,s' seat want that thing. ! a,d
e'2ss,s Sns 9. york fev .yss. Tear
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-14
BENCH AND BAR OF CITY, STATE
AND NATION HONOR JOHNSON

The bench and bar of the city. State and
nation today united in paying tribute to
the greatness OF John G. johnson
Friends and legal foes alike pronounced
him Americas leading lawyer and a noble
man. and emphasized the loss which the
legal profession has sustained with his
death Justices and Judges of every court
those before whom he had practiced and
those who only knew of him by reputation
were unanimous In their expressions OF ad-
miration of his life and OF grief at his
death Lawyers with whom he had col
laborated and with whom he had battled in
the arena Of law testified to the profound
depth OF his knowledge of the law and his
honesty in its practice.
Among the expressions of opinion were
the following:
JUSTICE ROBERT Won MOSCHZISKER.
OF the Supreme Court OF Pennsylyania-
Mr.. johnson was not only the leader of
the American bar, but ! feel safe in
saying that he died recognized as the
leading English-speaking lawyer. He
was man Of profound knowledge, with
power Of expression which has never
been exceled. When presenting a case
he always affected the Court with his
sincerity of purpose and his exceptional
grasp Of the facts and principles Of law
which he desired to elucidate But. above
standpoint great man. He had a Pc
cullar sweetness of nature that he
showed only to his personal friends.
which endeared him to them beyond ex-
preston. Personally. ! am proud to be
able TO number myself among those who
knew him we'll and loved him much. His
sudden. going is not only a shock, but a
matter Of great grief to me-
SENATOR BOIES PENRosE-In a wide
acquaintainceship. covering a period Of
more than thirty years. ] have met few
men who came nearer to sizing up to real
greatness Mr.. johnson unquestionably
was the leader Of the Bar In the United
States. He was perhaps the greatest citi-
zen Of Pennsylvania. and Isknow that all
will be grieved to hear Of his death.
A. MERRITT TAYLoR--words are insuf-
ficient to express the profound loss and
sorrow occasioned by the death of Phila-
delphiAs foremost citissn John a. john
son. Repeatedly in psriious situations he
has safeguarded this cty's interests and
wisely directed its dcstinies In the in
terest OF the people. His memory win
be associated with deep feeling OF re-
spect and gratitude in the minds of All
Of us. His death y . public calamity.
JUDGE ,. WILLIS MARriN---John a.
I !. 2es2cse ~ ~ lec4cr q ~ ~ q she