The Washington herald., 1911-04-11
TOM JOHNSON DIES
IN HIS OHIO HOME
Continued from Page One.

often said he hoped to live to see the day
when vehicles would be provided for the
public free of cost, both on land and on
water.
After the expiration of his term in
Congress he was doomed at various
times for the Democratic nomination for
governor of Ohio, and was seriously
considered as a Presidential possibility.
In 1901, convinced that Cleveland S
council and mayor were corporation
owned, or at least negligent of the rights
of the people, he announced his candi-
dacy for the mayoralty. He was elected.
In Cleveland it had been customary for
the incumbent of this Office to hold over
sixty days after election. Acting under
the letter of the law, however. johnson
entered the mayors office the day after
the ballots had counted him in, and
calmly informed the then mayor that he
was out of a job; that he Johnson) had
qualified and proposed to take immediate
charge.
Prior to 1900 there were two traction
lines in Cleveland one in. which Tom
johnson and his friends were controlling
factors, and the other in which Senator
Hanna was the power. These lines were
later consolidated as the Cleveland Elec-
trio Railway Company. and in the pro-
out His company had been giving seven
fares for 25 cents, while the other line
charged cents for each fare. After
the absorption the scent fare was uni
yerSal
Wins Scent Fare Fight.
As soon as he had taken his oath as
mayor, Johnson opened the first broad
side for a Scent fare and for preven-
ton of extension of franchises on vari-
GUS streets excepting upon that basis
Fourteen injunction suits, three of which
went to the United States Supreme
Court. were brought during the early
stages of the duel. The most exciting
incident Of the fight in its earlier stage,
however, came in 1902, when a franchise,
prepared by Mayor Johnson, providing
for Scent fares and the right of the city
to buy the lines at any time, was intro
duced and passed
Again johnson began plans for a s.
cent fare company. 1t was necessary,
though. to get around the Ohio laws.
which prevent a city from owning or
operating street car lines. He accom-
pliShed this by organizing the Forest
City Railway Company, to be operated
Under lease by the Municipal Traction
Company, to which the council, con-
trolled by the mayor, granted fran
chise illegal, however. on the ground
that some of the necessary permits from
property owners had been revoked This
tied the matter up another two years
In the meantime johnson was reelected
The fight dragged on merily through
eight years. Every technicaGty that pre-
scented itself was taken advantage OF by
Johnson's enemies, but the line at length
began giving a service on the Scent fare
basis.
Contrary to Mayor Johnson's contention
that in Cleveland street railway could
make a reasonable profit and pay divi-
dends on a 3-cent fare basis. his municipal
line lost money, and, besides. the serV-
ice was poor. Gradually the mayors
ideas lost caste with the people. and when
he came up for reelection in November,
1903 he was defeated by small ma ority.
Without loss of time the Cleveland Elec-
trio Railway Company proceeded to take
over the Scent fare lines by purchasing
the stock and reorganizing. and scent
fares were again in vogue and are now.
Loses Entire Fortune.
After his defeat, Johnson announced
that his fight for Scent fares and against
monopoly in Cleveland had cost him prac-
tically his entire fortune. He lost $780,,
OOO in one swoop by mismanagement of
certain interests while he was busy trying
to make Scent fares pay. He had to
give up his magnificent home and his
automobiles and take a little fat at SIS
a month. He told his friends he was not
sorry. however. and that he was ready to
fight the battle all over again. He num-
bered his close personal friends by the
thousands. Like a majority of good fight
he -nod IOSar
Then came the greatest fight in his
career-the fight against death. On
March % of last year Mayor Johnson
left for Europe in an effort to regain
his waning health. But he had been
game, too game, and had worked long
after his physicians had forbidden him
any eXertion- In Europe he consulted
noted specialists. and took the baths at
Carlsbad. returning to this country in
May. For several weeks he was in an
Eastern sanatorium, and then went with
his wife to his home in Cleveland. The
rally was not for long. however, and
seldom was he even strong enough to
see his friends.
Mr.. johnson lowered between life and
death for many months, and finally, on
March %, took a turn for the worse.