Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-11

H.
TOM l.. JOHNSON.
CLEVELAND, Ohio, April 11.--All
Cleveland today is mourning the death
of Tom l.. johnson. A public memorial
is planned and Mayor Herman Baehr an
nounced he would appoint a commission
to arrange for it.
The body will be laid to rest Thursday
in the johnson family lot. Greenwood
cemetery. Brooklyn, N. Y, in the very
shadow Of the monument that marks the
grave Of Henry George. the great single
taxer. whose disciple johnson was. This.
together with the information that. in ac-
cordance with the dead mans wishes.
there will be no public services here. was
announced today. following meeting at
the home of City Solicitor Newton D.
Baker.
Cleveland's only opportunity to pay
tribute to the former mayor will come
Wednesday afternoon at o'clock, when
the body will be taken from the Johnson
family apartments to the station, to be
the body will be conveyed has been an
nounced. SO that the people of the city
can view the cortege.
Funeral Thursday Morning.
The funeral services will be held at
II 30 o'clock Thursday morning at Green
wood cemetery. The Rev. Harris r.
Cooley. close friend Of Mr.. Johnson,
and the head Of the city administrators
correctional department while the latter
was mayor, will have charge.
Scores of kilograms expressing condo
lence and paying tribute to the worth
Of Mr.. johnson are pouring into the city
from prominent men in all parts Of the
country. including Gov. Judson Har-
mon, William ]. Bryan, Senator Theo-
dore E. Burton. Senator Atlee Pomerene.
Francis j. Heney, Joseph w. Folk, Eu-
gene v. Debs, Mayor William B. Thomp-
son Of Detroit. Mayor Brand Whitlock of
Toledo. Mayor William j. Gaynor Of New
York York and and nearly every representative
Gov. Harmon said: "A more hon.
est man than Mr. johnson never lived
Mr.. Bryan: mo man in the past gen.
GRAFTON did more effective work for the
people than Tom L. Johnson
Mr.. Folks Tribute.
Mr.. Folk: 1.-THE influence he exerted to
bring about good government will have
lasting effect on the destinies of the
republic"
Mayor Gaynor: The country at large
has lost one Of its greatest assets-a man
who fought for good government"
Mr.. Johnson VINO was twice repre-
sentative from the twenty first Ohio dis
frtct. four times mayor of Cleveland,
champion Of three-cent street railway fare
and prominent advocate Of the single
tax theories Of tho late Henry George,
East 10th street, at S:46 O'Clock last
night, after a long illness. Death was
caused by cirrhosis Of the liver. He was
fifty-six years old.
MIR. Johnson had been ill for more than
a year. but his condition was not thought
serious until he suffered a relapse We'd
nesday. March 15 He had been gaining
strength ever since he came home after
spending the summer on Nantucket
Islands. Saturday night. March II. he
left his apartments and attended a BAN
quet OF the Nisi Prius Club, an organi-
cation of Cleveland lawyers. He re-
manned there until am. Sunday, and
when he returned to his home complained
of not feeling well.
Condition Becomes Grave.
The following Wednesday his condition
was such that he was obliged to 60 to
bed. From that day to the time Of his
death his condition was grave, though
several times he made seemingly impos-
realized he did not have long to live the
former mayor was cheerful and optimistic
almost to the last.
Tom L. johnson once referred to him
self IN public address as "a stormy pet
rel" and this metaphor aptly described
him and indicated the course of his ca
reer. From the time he entered the offices
Of Louisville street railway company as
q boy OF fifteen until his defeat for
nth term as mayor Of Cleveland Novem-
Der 2, 1909, he was ever in the center of
some storm-political or financial.
Besides his wife Mr.. Johnson leaves one
son, Lofting, and a daughter, Mrs. Bessie
Mariani.
During his last illness Mr.. Johnson was
requested to write his autograph in the
birthday book of Miss Louise Graham, q
friend OF the family. He signed his name
to the following quotation:
His face was a thanksgiving for his
past life and love letter to all mankind"
When Arthur Fuller, chauffeur for Mr.
Johnson. visited the patient Sunday after
noon he remarked that his employer was
still smiling.
my smile. and I am going to die smiling"
replied the former mayor.
And he did.
Arose From Humble Station.
Thomas Loftin Johnson, who rose from
the humble station Of clerk in car
barn to the position Of traction magnate,
inventor, member Of Congress and four
times mayor Of Cleveland, was born in
Georgetown, KY. July Is. 1854 He was
the son of Mr.. and Mrs Albert l.. john
son, and received his early education in
Tom Johnson first came into the
public eye in 1891, when he was elected