The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-08
THE FIGHT on TOM JOHNSON.

t. Burton, OF the nomination by the
Republicans OF Cleveland, o., for Mayor
against Hon. Tom l.. johnson, the Dem
ocratic incumbent, will mean n fierce
and spectacular campaign In that city.
Mayor johnson has been elected three
times. each time with majority AL
most double that OF his preceding
election. There has been waEed one
of the fiercest fights in American poll
tics between the municipality OF Cleye-
land and what Is known as the Con-
solidated street Railways The Street
Railway Company for years has own
ed. body and SOUL the local Republican
party in Cleveland. It has dominated
all OF It's nominations both for City
Council and for Mayor. 1t has usually
portion of them. 1t was considered in
yincible up to the time that Mr.. John
son entered the contest. There had been
Democratic Mayors of Cleveland before
Mr.. Johnson, but those were the May
ors that were more pliable to the pur-
poses of the Street Railway, and Gas
Company and other public service cor
porations than the Republicans, and
were elected in order to rebuke and
punisi, rebelious Republican Mayors.
Johnson has given the city three
administrations almost completely free
from graft. He has introduced nu-
merous radical reforms, useful and
helpful to the community. He has been
tho pronounced and bitter foe of the
present street railway system of Cleve-
land. In order to rid the city Of
Johnson. the Republican powers, led
by the late Senator Mark Hanna, had
"a dummy by the name of Reynolds
to institute suit in the Supreme Court
Of Ohio declaring the law under which
cities We're chartered to be uncon-
stitutonal. In due time this cause
was tried and the decision handed
down destroying every city govern
ment of certain class in the State OF
Ohio. Then a fight was made to elm
mate the Mayor of the city from any
Is
of Cleveland, led by Mayor Johnson,
resented the interference by the State
government for purely partisan pur-
poses In local affairs. The result was
islative ticket, and in sending to the
Legislature such a strong and agrees
sive minority that 1t was able to defeat
some of the purposes outlined by the
RepublicaN bosses of the state. How
ever, a new code was promulgated
which was not altogether to the liking
of the friends Of good and modern city
government
| The whole purpose OF the overthrow
of the city government in Ohio was to
defeat Mayor Johnson in Cleveland, and
to aid the Street Railway Company In
| its fight for the renewal of it's fran
chises, some of which havo expired on
important thoroughfares. Although the
franchise had expired, the company
went into court claiming under techni-
calities that 1t had not, but were final
| ly defeated in the United States SUI
preme Court. In the meantime a new
company had come before the city
bidding for franchise, offering to car
ry the public for q three-cent fare and
universal transfer. and were granted
franchise by the Council over the ter
ritory which the United States Supreme
Court had declared had lapsed. This
Ithree-cent road has met the very fierc-
est opposition on the part OF the old
company, and has been hampered at
almost every turn. 1t. however, is now
lin operation
Mayor Johnson has commended that
a street railway company can carry
passengers for three cents and make
ent street railway company is earn
4 ling dividends on purely fictitious value,
So far in the fight Johnson has won,
and has had the support of the people
or Cleveland regardless Of the political
utilization. He has selected as his lieu
tenants. and has forced the nomina-
: ton for offices under the city govern
ment, clean, reputable, capable citi-
zens. He has given such good adj
lhinistration that a well-known maya
zine of national circulation has de-
clared that he is "the best Mayor OF
the best governed city on the Ameri-
can continent" He has encouraged and
fostered every humanitarian effort OF
the, municipality, has established juve.
nile courts through his influence, re.
form schools sanitoriums for tuber.
culosis patients, and has converted The
workhouse into house Of industry
He has paroled prisoners convicted IL
:, police courts for petty offenses, ant
, established a new order OF police ju
), dicial procedure in that city. His idei
is that the police are not for pun
n ishment but for help. He has removed
Il from every public grounds the "Keel
or the Grass" sign, saying that tn