New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-11

fact that ne realiLen ne uiu H"' nav"
long To live the former Mayor was
cheerful and optimistic almost TO the
last.
Farewell to Family on Friday
Mr.. Johnson bade his family goodby
last Friday. Realizing that the end was
near he had his wife, daughter and son
summoned to his bedside for last IN
terview. He was quoted as saying AT the
end of the visit: Farewell, am through
Mr.. Johnson passed away so quietly
and peacefully that his death almost es-
Caped notice from the watchers. Dr.
Oscar r. Thomas felt the unconscious
dying mans pulse at s?45 p. m. ana wv"
moments later announced that he was
dead. In addition to Mrs. Johnson.
I.oftin Johnson and Mrs. Elizabeth Mari
ami and James Tyler. the dead man
faithful valet those in the apartments
when death came were the following in
innate friends: G.. VI. Bates. Of Trenton,
n j.: city Solicitor Newton ID. Baker
A. B. Dupont. w b. Gongwer. Mrs. j. T.
Hill and &. w. Stage.
From early morning Mr.. Johnson had
been i'm an unconscious condition. with
the exception OF a brief interval about
6 80 "A. m. when, as his wife, daughter
and son we're bending over his BEDSIDE
he reused from his stupor sufficiently To
open his eyes, smile family and whisper
Hello" That was the last word ut
tered by the former Mayor for he AT
once relapsed into Inconsistencies.
Funeral arrangements had not been
completed late tonight, but the burial
will probably be i'm Greenwood Cemetery.
BROOKLYN. where Mr.. Johnson had long
owned a lot beside the one in which
Henry George is buried It is said that
Mr. Johnson accompanied Mr. George
" hen the latter bought his burial lot In
Greenwood. and purchased an adjoining
lot
movement was on foot tonight to
have the former Mayors body lie III
state I'm either Cieveland's new federal
l,uildng or the Central Armory.
The Cleveland Baseball club to-day
received a letter from MIR. Johnson, wish
ing the members success during the sea-
son of 1911 and expressing the hope that
they would come home pennant winners.
After having been aroused from the
coma on Sunday afternoon. Mr.. Johnson
asked for the letter. which he had die
tated several days ago. With a feeble
hand he inscribed his name to il and
then sank back on the pillow. smiling.
Il probably won't he able to attend the
opening game" the letter read. but
don't let that make any difference. Go
ahead and win
\ summary OF the career Of Tom Loftin
IL a condensed romance. He was
born I'm Georgetown. KY. In 1854 During
the civil War the family fled to Staunton,
Va, for protection and there were strand
I'd in complete destitution. Young Johnson
had "A silver dollar and the sout Of a master
pf finance. He got monopoly on the sale
IF every newspaper that came into Staun-
ION and supported the household for
months on the proceeds OF his corner on
y ar news.
Then for n while he worked in Louis
lille rolling mill. Shortly afterward he took
! fancy to the traction business and en-
cred it as driver Of a streetcar mule. In
lfteen years he owned that streetcar line.
At forty-hve he retired with a profit OF
4 400 600 He devoted the rest Of his life TO
.uIing the city Of Cleveland and fighting for
cent fares and the single tax theory.
Three. Cent Fare Fight.
II was as champion OF Scent street
ailway fare that Mr.. Johnson was most
before the public. The low
are fight was begun In 1897. when the Re-
,ublican city administration Of Cleveland
Won the election on II low-fare platform
md the Council passed an act reducing the
ate The companies carried the case to
he 4 United States Supreme Court. I'm which
tribunal IL was decided that the city had
,een stripped OF Us right To- regulate fare
" an act previously passed under which
he consolidation Of certain lines had been
accomplished.
In 1901 Tom Johnson was elected Mayor. |
street railway legislation and a plan IN
rive a part OF the lake front To the Lake
,hore Road were on the fire. IL had been
customary for Mayors OF Cleveland not to
AXE their seat until about sixty days after
heir election. but. acting under the letter
II the law. Johnson qualified the instant
he result Of the election had been an
,ounced officielly, went TO the Mayors Of
Ice where he Informed the incumL ent thai !
he latter was out Of job and assumed
harge at once. His audacity stopped