Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1911-04-13
TOM L. JOHNSON sUCCUMBs
Well Known Ohio Democrat Yields
To Final Summons of the Reaper.

johnson, twice congressman from
the Twenty-frst Ohio district four
times mayor of Cleveland, champion
of the 3-cent street railway fare and
leading advocate of the single TAX /
theory of Henry George, died here at
$40 o'clock tonight. 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
relapse on Wednesday, March is,
he had been gaining in strength ever
since he came home after spending
the summer on Nantucket island.
On Saturday night, March II, he
left his apartments and attended a
banquet of the Nisi Primus club, an
organization OF Cleveland lawyers. He
remained there until a. m. Sunday
and when he returned to his home he
complained Of not feeling we'll
Wednesday his condition fas such
that be was Obliged to go to bed,
From that day to the time of his
death his condition was grave, hougn
several times he rallied. Despite the
fact that he realized that he did not
have long live, he was cheerful
and optimistic almost to the last.
"A Stormy Petrol"
Tom l.. Johnson once referred to
himself in a public address as "a
stormy petrel.' and this metaphor
aptly described him and indicated the
course Of his career. From the time
he entered the Offices Of louisville
street railway company as a boy Of Is
until his defeat for a fifth term as
mayor OF Cleveland on November 2,
1909, he was ever in the center of
some storm. financial or political.
Johnson was born in Georgetown,
KY, July IS, 1854. He was christened
Thomas Loftin, but he always pre-
ferred to call himself Tom L., and so
he was known from boyhood. He be-
gan work in a louisville tarction Of
fee and in a few years was heavily
interested in various traction COM
panies. at different times having in
terests in Cleveland. Brooklyn, De-
troit and indianapolis.
Two Terms in Congress.
In 1891 he was elected member
OF congress from the Twenty-first o..
district. serving two terms as a sin.
. gle taxer."
While engaged in business in Cleve
land he sold his Indianapolis traction
holdings and acquired control of the
Detroit car lines and it was then he
first proposed three-cent fares. The
citizens of Detroit, however, reject
ed his proposition that they buy his
road and establish that rate of fares
He also enered into the steel bus
i mess a Johnstown, Pa, and Lar
aine. o.
= Mayor of Cleveland.
II He returned to Cleveland, and il
r April. 1901. was elected mayor on
J. platform which promised three-cen
fares.
After a fight with the street ca
company which lasted until 1908 an,
through four election in which h
l. was triumphant, the Cleveland Trac
} ton lines passed into the hands o
II the municipal traction company. AT
e ter six months trial of operation
&c at three cents. the people, a a ref
T. erendum election voted out the fran
y chise and the municipal compan
Z passed into the hands Of a receiver
c where it remained until February
y 1910.
- One more attempt was made
"a Mayor Johnson to secure the passag
10 OF the three cent grants, but his pre-
y proposals were rejected at an ele'
u. ton held August 3. 1909. His ow
VI defeat followed three months late
'e and on January /. 1910, he surrenC
cred the reins of Office to the pre-
'n ent mayor. Herman c. Baehr Tw
n months later three-cent fare was e
Vi tablished, the result of Mr. Johi
sons efforts.
In 1903 while Mr.. Johnson WI
mayor. he was nominated for COVE
VI nor by the democrats of Ohio, b'
ne he was unsuccessful at the electio
NC Crushed in health and spirits
Vi his defeat by Mayor Baehr, the 70
40 mer mayor went abroad. He hs
's hoped to regain his health, but can
home no better. Besides his viii
d" Mr.. Johnson is survived by one so
vi Loftin, ana a daughter, Mrs. BE
us sic Mariani
he