The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-04-11
lie m p es tuous Career
Closes With His Death
in Cleveland.
LONG KNOWN AS
"STOKM Y PE1REI, :"
-Four Times Mayor of Cleveland,
lie Became Famous for His
Fight for Scent Street Rail-
way Fare-Health and
Spirit Broken by Final
Defeat.

Cleveland. O.. April 10.-Tom l.. John
son, twice Congressman from the
twenty first Ohio District. four times
Mayor Of Cleveland, champion of 2.
cent street railway fare and promi.
nent advocate of tho single tax theories
of the late Henry George, died in his
apartments in the White Hall, East One
Hundred and Seventh Street, at S:45
o'clock tonight, after long illness
Death was caused by cirrhosis of the
liver lie was fifty-seven years old.
Mr. Johnson had been i'll for more
than year. but his condition was not
thought serious until he suffered a re-
lapse on Wednesday, March Is. lie
had been gaining strength ever since
lie came home after spending the sum
mer on Nantucket Island. On Satur-
day night. March II. nc left his apart
ments and attended banquet Of the
Nisi Prus Club, an Organization OF
Cleveland lawyers. He remained there
until a. NJ. sunday. and when he re-
turned to his home he complained Of
not feeling we'll
The following Wednesday his condi-
ton was such that he was Obliged ia
go 70 bed From that day to the time
of his death his condition was grave
though several times he made SEEM
inGly impossible rallies, and despite
tile fact that he realized he did not
have long 10 live, the former Mayor
was cheerful and optimistic almost TO
the last
- stormy PctreI."
Tom T.. Johnson once referred to
himself in IL public address as "a
stormy petrol and this metaphor apt
Hlv described him and indicated the
course of his career From the time
lie entered the Offices OF a Louisville
Street Railway Company as boy OF
fifteen. until his defeat for fifth
~ T..
Der 2. 1909, he was ever in the centre
of some storm, political or financial
And, ne often said. II was thus that he
enjoyed himself most.
MIR. Johnson was born IN George
town, Ky, July is, 1854. He started
TO work in a Louisville traction office,
and when still youth secured suf
cient backing ana bought a controlling
interest in the Indianapolis street,
railways. In the SOS. with his brother
Albert. he came to Cleveland and be.
came interested in the street car sys.
TENS here. and assisted in a partia,
consolidation of them. He also entered
into the steel notwithstanding business
II Johnstown, Pa. MoNham. Pa, ant
Lorain, Ohio. In April. 1901. he was
elected Mayor of Cleveland on plat
form which promised universal scent
car fare
Proposals Rejected.
After q night with the street car
company which lasted until 1908 and
through four elections. in each Of
which he was triumphant, the Clevc-
land Traction lines pa ssed into the
hands of the Municipal Traction Com
pany. After six months trial OF opera
ton cents, the people, a t a refer
endum election. voted out the fran
chisc and the Municipal Company pass
ed into the bands of receiver. where
il remained until February. 1910. One
more attempt was made by Mayor
Johnson TO secure the passage Of the
Scent grants, but his proposals We're
rejected at an election held August g.,
1909. HIS own defeat followed three
months later, and on January 1, 1910,
he surrendered the reins Of Office to
the present Mayor. Herman c. Baehr.
Two months later Scent fare was es-
tabIished, the result Of Mr.. Johnson's
efforts.
IN 1908. while Mr. Johnson was Mayor
of Cleveland he was nominated for
Governor by the Democrats OF Ohio.
but was unsuccessful at the election.
Crushed, both in health and spirit,
after his defeat by Mayor Baehr, the
former Mayor went abroad. He had
hoped to regain his health, but came
home no better.
Besides his wife. Mr.. Johnson is sur
vived by one son. Loftin, and daush-
ter, Mrs Bessie Mariani.