DEATH OF “PUSSYFOOT” JOHNSON

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24483, 5 February 1945, Page 6

DEATH OF “PUSSYFOOT” JOHNSON

* — _ FAMOUS PROHIBITION LECTURER (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 2. The death has occurred of Mr William Eugene Johnson, Prohibition lecturer, who was known as “Pussyfoot” Johnson because of his catlike policies in pursuing lawbreakers in the Indian Territory. He was 82 years of age. In his younger days, Mr Johnson was a journalist and was later publicity manager for a successful campaign to induce Congress to pass the denatured alcohol bill in 1906. He was afterwards a special agent of the Department of the Interior to enforce' laws in the Indian Territory and Oklahoma, and then chief special officer of the United States Indian Service, He msde three trips round the world in the interests of temperance, and lost an eye at a meeting in London in 1919, when stones were thrown at him. Ho gave more than 4000 lectures and wrote several books and about 50 brochures on temperance questions. Ngakawau Miners’ Resolution Members of the Ngakawau Miners’ Union expressed dissatisfaction at a recent meeting' at the manner adopted by the secretary m involving the organisation in the recent railway Strike without direction either from the executive or a general meeting of the union, and the meeting unanimously carried a resolution that in future the Ngakawau Miners’ Union would not accept any responsibility for anything said or done by any individual, unless direction was given either by the executive of the union or by resolution of a general meeting. •