East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-07-03

resemblance to a scrap.
Prior to the time Johnson was elect
ed mayor he had served two terms
in congress. Until Johnson first
made the race for election to cob
gress. in 1888, when he was defeated,
he had devoted himself to the maxi
ing of money, and he had become
a millionaire.
Johnson's parents were rich slave
owners at the time of his birth. The
civil war left the family penniless. In
1869 Tom took a job in rolling mill
at Louisville. Four months later he
succeeded in obtaining employment
in the offices of the stret car COM
pany at Louisville. All that he now
has he made out of rolling mills and
stret car lines.
Enters Street Railway Fight.
1t was not until 1880 that he broke
into the street railway game here. He
found himself arrayed against Mark
Hanna, director in a competing line
with Johnson's. 1t was a long drawn
out fight, with honors about even.
He got into the manufacture of steel
rails. establishing the great plants at
Johnstown, Pa, and Lorain, Ohio. In
1898 Johnson quit business in order
to get into politics. Converted to
the Henry George sinxle-tax doctrine
he managed Georges mayorality cam
paign in New York, soon afterwards
returning to Cleveland.
The conservatives have always said
Johnson was a worshipper OF fads and
isms. but all of these have been things
that he believed were for the benefit
of the public.
Johnson insists he is not a candi-
date for anything except a fifth term
as mayor. my work is here" he said
when it was suggested he might be a
presidential or vice presidential pos
sibillty. 81 will stay on the job, too"
When he first made the fight for
mayor he was opposed by VIM Akers,
who was given all the backing of the
Hanna machine. Hanna could not
tolerate johnson because Johnson
had insisted he wanted election in
order to give the people better and
cheaper service, but johnson was re-
turned a winner by 600 majority.
In 1903 he defeated Harvey d.
Goulder, again on the same old street
car platform, by 61OO. In 1905 VIM.
H. Boyd a leading attorney, thought
he had Johnson whipped, but when
the votes were counted Boyd was 12,-
600 short. In 1907 the republicans
picked Congressman Theodore Bur
ton to trim Tom l.. 1t was the street
car fight over again. Johnson won
this time by $500.
As a campaigner johnson is in al
class by himself. He is much given
to the spectacular He likes to ex-
cite the desire of the masses for
show. 1t was Johnson who Inaugural |
ted the circus tent in campaigning !
He started off with a small, one-pole |
canvas. Pretty soon he had the reg
ulation three-pole big top, and now he
has two tents. 1t was in his second |
that he introduced the au-
tomobile. He had a fast machine.
painted red, and his publicity man
dubbed 1t "The Red Devil" This Of
course made a hit and incidentally
won some votes. Last fall he intro
duced stereopticon Views.
Success Has Been Local.
His attempts, however to go be-
yond local politics have not been sue
cessful. In 1903 he believed he could
be elected governor of Ohio. Myron
T. Herrick was on the republican |
ticket. Hanna threw himself and the
republican machine into the fight
against johnson. When the polls
closed election night, Johnson had
been defeated by more than 10000
votes. His attempts to lead in state
conventions have also been baked |
every time. At the recent democratic
at which Judson Harmon
was nominated for governor, John
son urged Atlee Pomerene for the
1t was anything with
Johnson to defeat Harmon. He lost
He did succeed, however, in getting
his ideas into the platform on which
Harmon must run.
While Johnson was In congress the
Wilson tariff bill was under consld-
Grafton. Johnson was a free-trader.
He was also manufactures OF steel
rails, an industry fostered under q
protective tariff. He was accused of
In that he opposed pro-
tectio nand yet was making a great
fortune out of business that thrived
Under 1t.
II am making much more out of
he steel rail industry than ] should"
ne said. $50 long as you continue to
Seep the tariff on 1t, SHAH continue
o make all l can"
A believer in municipal ownership
II public utilities, johnson Is also
He says so himself. III
believe one company should own and
operate a street railway system. II
We cannot have municipal owner
hip" he told the people last fall. AL
hough he has never been a staunch
he has been a consist
mt supporter of Bryan.
As mayor, Johnson has given Cleve-
and a government absolutely free
rom graft. Every campaign his po-
Itical enemies have sent a corps Of