The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-11
TOM JOHNSON'S
 DEATH CAUSES
 WIDE MOURNING
Cleveland's Exponent of Real Democracy Greatly Beloved by All the People
Friend and Foe Have Naught But Praise For Mayor Who Brought Three Gent Fare to His City
Especial from United Press.>


 Cleveland, April 11-All Cleveland 1 today, is mourning the death of For mer Mayor Tom l.. Johnson, the Father of the Three cent car fare, and arrangements are, today, being perfected for a tribute by the entire city which will probably take the form of general suspension of business during the funeral
 Johnson's death occurred at SAY last night, from cirrhosis of the liver. His death was declared inevitable nearly two months ago but Johnson put up the same grim struggle against death that characterized his eight years fight, while Mayor of Cleveland, against every form of special privilege. Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been completed but steps are being taken for the public burial as soon as the members of the Samily have expressed their wishes for the funeral
 It is, however, believed that the body will be buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, N. Y, where the | mer mayor are inferred. It is esti- ] mated, today that Johnson's estate will not amount to more than S100 900. At the time he first became Mayor of Cleveland he was many times mill lionaire. In order to devote his en- tire time, however, to the ends for which he was fighting he left the management of his personal affairs to others with the result that in 1908 it seemed that his entire fortune would be swept away. He gathered up the remnants of it, however, gave up his private mansion for suite in an apartment house, and then continued to devote his entire time to public affairs.
 Tom l.. Johnson, who had been in ill health since he retired as Mayor of Cleveland on January l, 1910 will probably be known in all future American municipal history as the Mayor of the .'best governed city in the United States" and as the father of the three-cent street railway fare in America. He was born in Blue Spring, Ky, July IS 1854. His father, Kentucky legislator, lost his fortune in the Civil War and at fifteen, young Johnson was thrown on his resources. He promptly secured a job as a horse car driver on the streets of Louisville. and began learning the business in which he later made fame and for tune. Johnson served later as chief of police of Louisville but soon be- came interested financially in the street car system of Indianapolis, Cleveland, Detroit and Brooklyn. Pa- tents on various street car appliances helped him along financially and made him an authority on street railway matters. He was practically at the height of a most successful career as a street railway magnate when in 1888 he retired from business to carry out cherished ideas of social reforms, among which was that of becoming the father of three cent street rail- way fare in America This idea had been imparted to him by Henry George. whose influence over John sons entire life dated from the time when on a railway train Johnson bought a copy of Georges social problems" Later the two became fast friends and worked together at carrying out of various reforms.
 On Georges advice Johnson entered politics, running first for Congress but being defeated in his first race when he campaigned on the free trade issue. Later he was elected, serving one of his most noteworthy achieve ments was the ruse by which he fore ed the printing of the entire text of Henry Georges Protection Or Free Trade" into the Congressional Rec- ord and its free distribution to the entire country.
 Johnson was defeated in the Repub- lican landslide of 1894 but in 1901 was elected Mayor of Cleveland and began his real life's work of establishing the three-cent car fare For years he kept up the fight and as a result street car fare although not under exactly the conditions he had hoped for. His various terms as Mayor were marked by continual fight against special privilege with the re- suit that he quickly won the title of Mayor of the best governed city in the United States" Tn 1903 he ran was promptly reelected Mayor again in 1905, meeting final defeat in 1910.
 During the last few months of his life, most of his time was employed in writing his autobiography.
 Johnson was married in early life to Margaret J. Johnson, daughter of the Confederate Colonel Robert Johnson at Louisville. Mrs. Johnson and two children, Mrs. Bessie Johnson Mariani and Loftin Edwards Johnson survive him.
 Washington, April 1.-The following statements regarding the death of Ex-Mayor Tom L. Johnson, of Cleve- land. were written for the United Press, today:
 By William Jennings Bryan.)
 He was one of the noblest spirits
  to associate during my connection with politics and I regard his death as a great loss to the cause of real Democracy. His unselfish interest in public questions and his untiring zeal in the effort to secure remedial leg islation put him in the very front rank as a public man.
 His death will bring sorrow into a multitude of homes but his life will continue to be an inspiration for gen. erations to come.
 (By Senator Pomerone, of Ohio)
 MT. Johnson was one of the greatest men Ohio ever produced. He did more to bring about reforms in municipal l government than the mayor of any of the largest cities in the nation. He devoted himself to the public and its welfare. sacrificing his fortune and his health for the cause and I do not | believe I am putting it too strongly when I say that he gave up his life | for the benefit of the public as truly l as any man who lost his life in bat | tie.
 (By Senator Burton. of Ohio)
 am very much grieved to learn | of MT. Johnson's death. While the | end has been anticipated for some | time the shock is none the less se- | were We were almost always oppos- |
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