Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1912-01-04
ROW 5ol4NsoN,s STORY.

my Story Tom Il JohnsOn's pos
thumous account ot bis political life.
has just appeared IN book form. It
is much more than q narrative Of
personal experiences. It Is 3 chronicle
Of events Of national Importance. Il
not Of the most important happenings
Of the first decade Of the current cen.
fury.
Johnson,a work as mayor Of Cleve-
land may have seelnde, at the time it.
was done, to have been Of only local
interset, but IS time goes by the in
fluence it has had On other localities
is becoming more and more evident.
This applies not only to his fight with
predatory traction interests, but to his
fight for equal taxation and home rule
for cities as well. In the manner Of
conducting a political campaign he.
also set an example which candidates
generally viii md It to their interest
to follow. As he tells tt, r never
bought a lottery ticket. q ticket to-
any church or 'social gathering; / re-
fused to subscribe to benefit funds: ]
didn't even give to beggars while ]
was running for office. Entering into
this practice because ] wanted to OBJ
serve the limitations imposed by law
/ found it worked 30 well that ] made
it cast-iron rule and adhered to it.
in all my subsequent campaigns, even
after the Garfield law had been re-
pealed. This was high moral ground,
adopted, as I have shown. partly be-
cause it was necessary, partly because
it was expedient. It was bitter dis
appointment to those who had hoped
ii would open barrel as it was.
vulgarly styled by the newspapers. It
was not until later !. that ! my
self realized the importance Of such
standards III politics" e,
The Introduction to. the book Is
written by his friend and eo-worker,
Miss Elizabeth J. Hauser, who also as
sisted in preparing the notes. Miss
Hauser tells q number Of Incidents
which johnson had omitted. Two very
interesting ones tell how he tried to
impart some knowledge Of funda-
mental economic principles to two
prominent political leaders:
( AEie had an hours interview with
President Roosevelt during the latter
days Of the coIohel's administration
and 40 he was taking his leave, Mr..
johnson said: THE differenbe between
you and me, Mr.. President, Is this,
you are after law breakers, ! am after
law makers. You would put = man In
jail for stealing. ! would prevent the
theft,
! Unfortunately Mr.. johnson was Try
ing to impart an appreciation. Of some
simple elemntaryE principles to one
who could not be convinced that there
is anything more for him to learn.
The other leader was Mr.. J. Bryan,
whom he asked. while = guest at his
house. what he would do to solve the
trust problem Il he were President,
with 8 sympathetic Congress ct his
back.
"As MI. Rryan suggested remedy
amer remedy, NJ. johnson showed
how he, q monop6llet. q Beneficiary Of
special privilege. could evade,, ignore,
Or safely violate such laws a. Mr..
Bryan was proposing. By practical
illustration he demonstrated the fulfil
ity Of all legislation which does not
strike - privilege q lts root which
u land monopoly"
Unfortunately Mr. Bryan never be-
came President, and go did not get
the chance to Learn from practical ex-
perience, as ne undoubtedly would
have done. the truth Of what Johnson
had told him.
The book Is published By B. Hue
bsch, 225 Fifth avenue, New York
CITY. It certainly should have q wide
circulation. This makes It regrettable
that 1t has not appeared In paper
cover or some cheap form which
would bring the price Of It within the
reach 81 many who are unable to buy |
q book as finely gotten up as This one
80 80. ~ ~ a. - "a A. ~. Il -,