New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1901-06-01

steel interests, it was looked upon as
a logical corollary that he should
become protectlOnlst, but he an
nounced himself as an out and ont
free trader. More than that, he
became one Of the most active ad-
vocates of the single tax. He read
Henry Georges Progress and Pow
erty," and was convinced against
his will. He directed his lawyer to
prepare brief on the book, an
honest one, and to demolish its
arguments if he could. Tom John
son tells the story himself, and
says that the lawyers opinion was
brief, being an admission that it
was great book.
Since that time Tom Johnson has
fought for the single tax, for free
trade, and for municipal ownership
of street railways. But these con
victiOns did not prevent him from
buying the line in Louisville on
which he first worked, and systems
in Detroit and other places, thereby
adding to his millions. He found
time to take an active part in poll
ties, as Il single taXer, on which
platform he was defeated for Con-
gress in 1888, but elected two years
later, and again in 1892. He made
something Of stir in Washing
ton while he was there.
Ever since his frank advocacy of
his advanced theories made him
famous, some people have con-
sidered him trife unbalanced, and
a few have acted upon this theory
in their business dealings with him,
with wOeful results 70 themselves.
Tom johnson doesnt's carry his al
truistic ideas into financial schemes.
When he sold the Nassau lines to
the men who united almost all the
Brooklyn street railways under the
name of the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit, cry went up that mulcted the
new corporation. True it is that
the purchasers did all in their power
to make him lower his price a few
millions, but he told them, in the
politest manner in the world, that
he could not take a dollar less than
the figure named. He held the key
of the situation, and he knew it;
so they paid him his price. When
an attack is made upon Tom John
son in connection with that deal,
his friends say that he beat some of
the shrewdest men in Wall Street
at their own game.
AL johnson has been an able
coadjutor to his brother. There is
not detail of the street car busi-
ness that he does not know. He is
a blond giant, and looks like an
athlete in training. He is rough
and ready kind of man, with
breezy, hearty manner and wealth
of e0lloquial speech. He fights in
the open, and never knows when he
is defeated. His brother is more
farther sighted, master
of strategy, and just as hard a
fighter in different way.
Tom johnson has never had a
strike among his employees, and he
has had as many as thirty thousand
men working for him at one time.
He has always been easily accessible
to his humblest worker. If COM
plant were made that certain runs
were too exacting, it was not uni
common for AL johnson to 60 forth
and do regular motorman's work
for a day; and if he found that
there was reason for the complaint,
the evil was remedied. If "a malcon-
tent were gaining a malign influ-
ence over some Of the workers, he
would not be discharged, but would
be treated with marked considera-
ton by the Johnsons; and some.
how the potential leaders, popu-
larity would swiftly wane.
just now, while AL johnson is
completing the trolley system be-
tween New York and Philadelphia,
and also seeking to build an under
ground system-including q tunnel
under the Narrows to Staten Island
to connect with that Of Manhattan,
and promising three cent fare,
Tom johnson is concentrating all
his energies upon making Cleveland
The best governed city in America,
according to his radical ideas.