John Mushmouth Johnson

"A man who gambled had no business with money."

"When my family went in for religion and all that, I didn't really fancy so much learning and went out to see where the money grew. Some of those who know me say I found it."

"You bother me anymore, I'll have you in the penitentiary, and you'll stay there 'til I let you out."

"A man that gambles had better be without money, anyway, I may put it to some good use; you wouldn’t know how."

"What else is there for a colored man to do?"

"I didn’t exactly do much book learning, I went out to see where the money grew. Some of those who know me say that I found it."

"I bought a lot on a prairie where a town afterwards was located."

"We used to have a little gambling here, but the dust is an inch thick upstairs. You can’t judge by this. All the rest of the week, it will be like a graveyard."

"You’ll hear from me down in Africa shootin’ craps."

"For a man who has got all the coin Johnson is said to have, he is the closest colored man in the world.""

"Naoroji lost all the money he took from playing poker in Johnson's place; we have his confession for that. We may have a fight on our hands against influences, of which we know nothing, but we will know of them, and the public will know of them, before we get through with Mr. Johnson."

"Half a dozen stud poker games were in operation, and the checks were piled high in front of most of the white and black gamblers who surrounded the tables. “Mushmouth” Johnson, serene and smiling, stood by and watched the play..."

"Johnson is so high in the regard of the boss that he is given free rein in the operation of the bungaloo games and in promoting policy in general among the colored population."

"Every two years during the mayoral campaign, Johnson would give $10,000 to the Democrats and $10,000 to the Republicans. Thus, his gambling establishment was protected regardless of the winner."