The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-04-14

wnicn tne passengers dropped In the
box OF the conductorless cars. He
soon became secretary of the COM
pany and his father was made super
intendent. A few years later, when
the father was made chief of police
of Louisville, the son, at the age of
20, was made superintendent of the
road. He kept on rising. He invent
ed a fare-box that has since netted
him 100000. He borrowed money in
1876 to buy out the indianapolis
streetcar system, selling 1t out later
at a personal profit of over half
million dollars. He bought small
line in Cleveland made 1t big line.
and entered upon a running fight for
years with Mark Hanna, who was In
control of the opposing system. The
fight was the sensation of Cleveland
for time. Sometimes one side won,
sometimes the other, but the public
got reduced fares as result. Two
big consultations we're formed,
truce was declared, and when John
son later disposed Of his interests in
the railways, Hanna's company se-
cured the whole system. His street
railway career contains other inter
esting features, notably his unsuc-
cessful attempt, in connection with
Governor Pingree Of Michigan to
bring the streetcar lines of Detroit
under municipal ownership and oper-
alton, and his more or. less success
ful effort to reduce car fares in
Cleveland to 3 cents.
Tom Johnson's entry into politics
was brought about by book, news
boy and car conductor. Mr.. Louis
f. Post, editor of The Public (Chi-
cago) narrates as follows:
while interested in streetcar sys.
TENS, both in Cleveland and Indian
apolis, Johnson frequently rode on
the cars between those cities. On
one Of these trips newsboy asked
him to buy book called Social
Problems 1t was Henry Georges
second book on the industrial ques-
tion, but Johnson supposed 1t to be
a work on the social evil. Saying as
much, and adding that he had no in
terest in that subject. he refused to
buy The book. The train conductor,
who happened to be within hearing,
happened also to be familiar with
Georges teachings, and knowing
Johnson well he told him he was mis-
taken in the character of the book.
1T will interest you more, he assured
him, than any book you have ever
read Upon this assurance Johnson
reluctantly invested half dollar in
the book and read it. A new world
was revealed to him and he prompt
ly bought and read Georges Progress
and Poverty After reading this, he
challenged his lawyer, l.. A. Russell
of Cleveland, and his partner, Arthur
j. MoXham, to show him any flaw in
the argument. Unable to comply,
they objected to the premises. But
Johnson convinced them that the
premises were sound. The final re-
suit Of their controversy was the
complete conversion of all three to
Georges views"
Johnson soon sought out Henry
George and warm friendship en-
sued. Mr.. George advised him to go
into politics. Il can't make a speech, y
said Johnson. you have never
tried" said George; "if you put your
mind to 1t, you can succeed at speak
ing as we'll as in business He put
his mind to 1t and made timid
speech of five minutes long in Cooper
Union. He probably could not have
spoken 10 minutes more had his life
been the forfeit" so Mr.. Post tells US.
But that was enough for start. He
never became an orator, In the usual
sense OF the word but he had learn
ed to say what he wanted to say in
direct, forcible and fetching way
| He made a free trade campaign for
congress in Republican district in
| Ohio end was beaten. He tried again
and won by 5000 plurality. At Wash
| ington he was "shelyed"--so they
| thought-on the District Of Columbia
committee He didn't stay shelved
| He instituted an investigation into
| the taxation system or tho District
and issued what the single takers
still call "a classic document on the
| principles OF taxation practically ap
Piled His feat during a second
term in congress (1S92) in getting
Progress and Poverty" printed In
the Congressional Record ;s stlll fam
Gus. Under the leave to print" rules
of congress, he arranged with six
other free traders, each of whom, SO
curing the floor on one pretext or an
other, got leave to print" successive
chapters of the book, They were
then put together In public docu
ment and franked through the mails
free, as a campaign document to lls
extent of more than milton copies
AS business man, Johnson has
been a monopolist to such an extent
that he once came near heing com
mitted for contempt of court because
when asked what his occupation was
he insisted on answering "A monop
olist"
In politics he has been an active
foe of monopoles. Challenged on The