Show JUDGE JOHNSON ASKS INTEREST IN GOVERNMENT Our Country Countr Stands a at t Crossroads Says Jurist IBy I f By JACK THO THOMAS Federal Judge Tillman D. D Johnson looked up from his work-littered work desk Wednesday and took official cognizance of oC his seventy-eighth seventy birthday b by urging all young oung AmerIcans Americans Amer Amer- leans to take tak a greater interest In good government Our country stands at one of the most important crossroads in its history and it is up to the younger generation to determine which the he route shall be the judge observed Relaxing for a moment from the federal court work which has absorbed absorbed absorbed ab ab- ab- ab his life for tor more than 20 years Judge Johnson dismissed the possibility of ot his retiring with a wave of his hand Saved Sa U. U S. S Why Ive I've already saved the government government gov gov- by staying on the job and who else around here can make a boast like that 7 The quizzical l is almost the judges judge's trademark lighted his face Cace Judge Johnson became eligible to retire at full pay of oC per year ear eight years ears ago The distinguished jurist insisted he was too busy to take time out outto outto outto to observe his birthday but he seemed more moro than willing to expound expound ex ex- pound a few political observations Basic Problem This A A A decision ever everyone one Is talking about is not nearly so important important important im im- im- im as the basic problem of oC which the A A A case is merely the surface indication Judge Johnson explained The time is near at hand when Americans must decide whether they wish vish their government to be operated under a strict interpretation tion of oC the constitution or whether some new system should be evolved It may take years to reach a decision decision decision de de- de- de but it must be done and the younger generation must do it for my generation Is too old and settled Denies Danger Judge Johnson denied that any such changes might endanger our democracy The United States is too big and the interests of ot its different sections too varied ever to permit a dictator or handful of oC people to assume power he asserted The problem is to decide where our democracy Is headed He jabbed a pencil in his ear re re- re Having Ha congress present all laws lawsto to the supreme court for a decision on their constitutionality before they become effective might be one way ay of oC maintaining the basic elements elements ele ele- ele- ele ments of the constitutional setup Judge Johnson speculated Power to Decide Another possibility which would mean a complete change in our American plan would be to give congress power to decide the constitutionality constitutionality con con- of ot its own measures But that would mean we must send to congress only men of ot such honesty and sincere purpose there will be no question but what the they will exercise their intelligence Inthe Inthe in inthe the best interest of the nation And before that can come about there must bo be increased interest in good government on the part of millions of young people Judge Johnson who was born in Tennessee January 8 8 1858 came to toO O Ogden den in 1889 1839 and was a practicing attorney there when President Woodrow Wilson Vilson appointed him to the federal bench in November 1915 The manner in which he has conducted conducted conducted con con- ducted his court has earned him the confidence and respect of attorneys attorneys attorneys and laymen alike He already has promised his I law in law Mrs Wade Vade M. M Johnson of ot Ogden that he will spend his eightieth birthday in 1938 day at her home she reported W V Wednes II |