The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-04-14
TOM L. JOHNSON DEAD.
Notable Cleyelander Has Fought His
Last Fight.-Long and Active
Career.

Twenty-frst Ohio district, four times
mayor of Cleveland, champion Of
three-cent street railway fares and
prominent advocate Of the single tax
theories of the late Henry George,
died in his apartments at S.45 o'clock
tonight, after long illness. Death
was caused by cirrhosis of the liver.
He was 81 years old.
Mr.. Johnson had been i'll for more
than a year, but his condition was not
thought serious until he suffered a
relapse MaSch Is. Saturday night,
March II, he attended banquet Of
the Nisi Prius club, an organization
Of Cleveland lawyers. He remained
until a. m. Sunday and whan he re-
turned to his home he complained of
not feeling we'll.
Took to His Bed.
The following Wednesday he was
: obliged to go to bed. From that day
to the time of his death his condi-
ton was grave, though several times
he made seemingly impossible rallies.
Despite the fact that he realized he
did not have long to live, the former
mayor was cheerful and optimistic
almost to the last
Tom L. Johnson, from the time he
entered the Offices of a Louisville
street railway company as boy of
Is until his defeat for a fifth term
as mayor Of Cleveland, on November
2, 1909, was ever in the centre of some
storm, political or financial. And he
often said, it was thus that he en-
joyed himself best.
Consolidated Street Railways.
Mr.. Johnson was born in George
town, KY, July 18, 1854. In the eight
les he came to Cleveland and became
interested in the street car systems
here and assisted in a partial consol-
idation Of them. In 1891 he was elect
ed to congress, serving two terms as
as "single taxer." When he was
defeated for a third term he went to
New York, disposing of his street car
interests in Cleveland and acquiring
control OF the Nassau street railway
line.
While engaged in business in CleVe-
land, he acquired control of the De-
troit car lines and it was then that
he first proposed three cent fares.
Citizens of Detroit, however, rejected
his proposition and he retired from
Detroit.
Elected Mayor.
In 1900 he sold his Brooklyn Trac-
ton line. He returned tc Cleveland
il 1901 and was elected mayor of
Cleveland on platform which prom
ised three. cent car fares. After a fight
with the street car company, which
lasted until 1908, and through four
elections, in each of which he~W was
triumphant, the Cleveland Traction
lines passed into the hands of the
Municipal Traction company. :
After six months trial of operation
at three cents, the people at a refer
endum election voted out the fran
chise and the municipal company
passed into the hands Of receiver,
where it remained until February,
1910. One more attempt was made by
Mayor Johnson to secure the passage
of the three cent grants, but his pro-
posals were elected at an election
held August 3, 1909.
Defeated At Polls.
His own defeat Followed three
months later and on January I, 1910,
he Surrendered the reins of Office to
the present mayor. Two months later
three cent fare was established, the
result of Mr.. Johnson's efforts.
In 1903, while Mr.. Johnson was
mayor, he was nominated for govern
or by the Democrats of Ohio but was
unsuccessful at the election.
Crushed both in health and spirit
after his defeat by Mayor Baehr, tn?
former mayor went abroad. He had
hoped to regain his health, but came
home no better. Last summer he
spent in cottage on Nantucket
Island When he returned to Cleve-
land in the autumn he appeared TO be
recovering. However, he was soon
confined to his home again and left
it but few times.
Besides his wife, Mr.. Johnson is
survived by one son and daughter
Funeral arrangements had not beer
completed late tonight, but the buria
probably will be in Greenwood Gene