The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-03-31

y
city OF Cleveland for four terms was
only a natural sequence. a large
man, although not tall, and weighing
considera bly, over 200 pounds his
face full OF genial humor, he was al
fable and courteous to all, HIS
manner was democratic TO the fur
thest extreme. With a fortune es-
Itimated at upward Of s.. 600, 900, he
delighted TO mlngle with laboring
men and discuss the theories OF sim
gle tax, populism and socialism and
the conditions affecting the working
man.
It was in 1908 that Johnson an
nounced that his fortune had been
wiped out in an effort to save the
estate Of his dead brother, AL. He
gave up his magnificent residence
his automobiles and cheerfully de-
clared his intention to begin life "a
new He was, however, stricken
with a mortal disease before he
| could reCOnp his wealth.
When Tom Johnson first read Hen
iry Georges progress and Poverty
he was as1ounded at it's arguments,
yet fearful Of acquiring them Turn
! ing the book over to his lawyer, he
| The lawyer reported fayorahly. John
son was converted, and from that day
became the stoutest ally Of Henry
George and his single tax theories.
He was always d free trader OF the
most uncompromising type.
/; He sought personal acquaintance
with Mr.. George, bought summer
residence near the latter's home in
Brooklyn and a close friendship be-
tween the two existed until Mr..
Georges death. Johnson gave much
money and made many speeches for
the furtherance of the single tax
! theories.
| How johnson got Progress and
Poverty" incorporated into the con-
gressional record was one OF the
cleverest coups ever turned by poll
tician. By arrangement with several
other congressman favorable to sin
gle tax, he had whole chapters
Of the book incorporated in speeches
and by virtue of congressmen's pos
tai franks hundreds Of thousands of
these copies were mailed to voters
throughout the country.
At the age of fourteen, Tom John
son became an office boy at So per
week in the foundry of T. c.. Cole
man, at Louisville, Ky. He swept
the office, ran errands and picked
up scraps that were in other peoples
way. B. du Pont, Of the family of
! powder makers was partner in the
foundry. One day he saw the lad
rush out of the office into the street
pick up bit of iron and return with
| it to the foundry scrap heap.
"Why did you do that?" inquired
Du pont.
"Why sir, replied the boy, there
was no use wasting it, they can put
1t in the furnace and use it over
again"
Du Pont thereupon gave Johnson
place with him in the street car
business at 81 per week. In those
days each passenger dropped his fare
into box on the street car, and at
certain points the money was taken
from the box by employees, called
drawers. One of the rules of the
company required the drawer to de-
post each sack of money in the Of
flee safe, and close the door of the
safe. None but the drawers had &C
cess to the room, and they carelessly
got into the habit of dropping their
sacks on the floor of the room until
evening when all were put into the
safe at once.
One day the chief drawer was sick
ana Johnson was sent TO take MS
place. He read the rules carefully.
and after drawing the money from
his first car, he bounded up stairs,
put the sack in the safe and slammed
the door.
what are you doing that for?"
demanded the bookkeeper.
Because the rules say so,' said
Tom, over his shoulder, as he rushed
out to catch another car.
After this lad happened a dozen
times the bookkeeper began row,
declaring that Johnsons action was
a reflection on the office mans hon
esty. Mr.. Du Pont happened to drop
in in the midst of the dispute, when
Johnson explained that he was mere
ly obeying rules. He was made chief
drawer on the spot, and at the age of
seventeen became superintendent of
the road.
An incident occurred while John