My Story (34 page)

Copyright, 1910, by R. E. George

THE JOHNSON-GEORGE MEDALLION

His interest in current happenings revived. He watched the newspapers for every bit of political news, especially that which had to do with the State legislature at Columbus. He looked forward with eagerness to the week-end visits of Senator Stockwell, who brought him details of activities which he could not get from the press. Magazine articles on social and political questions interested him as they never had done before. Book after book, short stories without number were read to him, and in the very last days Ernest Crosby's poems pleased him most of all. His correspondence with friends in Great Britain was one of his diversions, his interest in British politics never abating.

On March eleventh Mr. Johnson attended as a guest the annual meeting of the Nisi Prius Club, which is to Cleveland what the Gridiron Club is to Washington. Its membership is composed of the leading lawyers of the city. Mr. Johnson went down to the Hollenden hotel early in the day and took a room, where he rested until the time for the programme following the dinner arrived, and then he went to the banquet hall in another part of the hotel to enjoy the fun. His three closest friends, the men who were with him almost daily during the last two months of his life and who had been associated with him so intimately and for so long, A. B. du Pont, Newton Baker and Billy Stage, were there, but this was not an assemblage of Mr. Johnson's followers. It was a gathering of representatives
of the privileged interests of the community. Men who had fought Mr. Johnson in the Chamber of Commerce, on the stump, in court, through the newspapers and on Cleveland's streets made up the majority of that gathering. Yet with hardly an exception every man present shook hands with Mr. Johnson that night and expressed his good will. Perhaps they understood, as they saw him now, so sweet of spirit, so serene, so far removed from the influences of human passion and worldly strife, that after all he never had fought them, that the war he had waged with such relentless power had been directed not against individuals, but against “a wrong social order,” an order which makes victims no less of the masters than of the slaves. Perhaps they had a glimmer of that larger understanding which had distinguished Mr. Johnson for so many years. He returned to his apartment at Whitehall the next morning literally radiant with happiness. Once more and for the last time his body had been subjugated to his all but invincible will.

He was attacked by acute nephritis the night of March 14, and though he had subsequent periods of rallying death was galloping towards him now and he knew it. His anxiety was not that it was approaching so fast, but that it might be too long delayed. He was at peace with the world. If it still held enemies for him he did not know it. He had no regrets, for he had no hates. He had fought a good fight, he had done a day's work, and he was very tired. This extreme exhaustion mercifully passed some hours before he became unconscious. A night and a day of unconsciousness preceded the end. He emerged from it once only long enough to say with a smile and a sigh, “It's all right. I'm so happy.” Heart action
and respiration ceased at the same instant at thirteen minutes before nine o'clock the evening of April 10, 1911.

The simplest of funeral rites were performed by his friends Harris R. Cooley and Herbert S. Bigelow two days later. “Two hundred thousand persons saw Tom L. Johnson's last journey through Cleveland,” said the Cleveland
Leader
. “The heart of the city stopped for two hours while the simple cortege passed through the lines of silent, grief stricken men and women on its way from the Knickerbocker apartments to the Union station. * * * Flags were at half mast, buildings were decorated with crepe and pictures of the former mayor edged with mourning were displayed in most of the windows along the streets traversed by the procession. Public buildings and the Chamber of Commerce were closed. * * * Men, women and children from every walk of life comprised the vast assemblage who came to bid their former mayor a last farewell. That his friends were legion was evidenced by the respectful lifting of hats by all who were close to the passing cortege. It was not alone the women who wept. Tears flowed down the cheeks of many men who made no effort to wipe them away, but gazed with streaming eyes on the carriage containing
their friend
.”

The next day all that was mortal of Tom L. Johnson was laid in a grave in Greenwood Cemetery, Brooklyn, beside that of his master teacher, Henry George.

(Out of consideration for Mr. Johnson's freely expressed dislike of foot notes all such notes have been omitted from his book, the few which seemed necessary being assembled here instead.)

Chapter V,
page 47
. See
Congressional Record
of January 8, 1895—“Honorable Tom L. Johnson of Ohio in the House of Representatives on The Money Question.”

Chapter X,
page 89
. “During Tom Johnson's business life in steel his emphatic, radical beliefs and policies brought him frequently into trouble, and at times even into financial danger. I could speak of more than one close crisis where the choice practically lay between all the financial help he needed for his business enterprises, to be won by stultifying himself in his political faith, or, as an alternative, financial opposition which at the time looked as though it would be fatal.”—
From a newspaper interview with Arthur J. Moxham of Wilmington, Delaware, April 11, 1911
.

Same chapter,
page 90
. “By 1895 the works were completed and put into operation at Lorain, Ohio. The location of the new plant at this point excited bitter comment on the part of Pittsburgh steel men, as it involved practically moving from the Pittsburgh district to the new location, a step that could only be justified by belief in the greater advantage of the lake shore as a steel center.

“Subsequent events, such as the contemplated construction of a large steel plant by the Carnegie interests at Conneaut, Ohio, one of the elements that determined in some measure at least the purchase of the Carnegie interests by the United States Steel Company; such as the location of the latest and largest plant of the United States Steel Company at Gary, Indiana, on the lake shore, and still more the success of the Lorain Steel Company,
now owned by the United States Steel Company, have confirmed the foresight and wisdom that prompted this step.”—
Same interview
.

Same chapter,
page 91
. “In 1898 the steel plant and business were sold to the Federal Steel Company. The original holdings of the Federal Steel Company consisted of two plants, the Illinois Steel Company at Chicago, and the Lorain Steel Company at Lorain, Ohio, and properties on the lakes and the connecting railroads. As is known the Federal Steel Company was the precursor and practically the originator of the United States Steel Company.”—
Same interview
.

Chapter XII,
page 108
. See
Congressional Record
of August 24, 1893 —” Honorable Tom L. Johnson of Ohio in the House of Representatives on Silver.”

Chapter XIX,
page 205
. The following State laws in which Mr. Johnson was interested were enacted by the Ohio Assembly which adjourned in April, 1911:

Nonpartisan Judiciary — a bill providing that the names of nominees for all judicial offices shall appear on the ballot without party designation of any kind.

Direct Election of United States Senators — a bill embodying the Oregon plan which provides for the direct nomination and election of senators. Members of the legislature are required to sign one of two statements — the first, pledging them to vote for that man for senator who receives the most votes at the regular election, or the second, refusing to be so bound. Under this plan a Republican legislator may vote for a Democrat for senator, or a Democratic legislator for a Republican.

Nonpartisan Constitutional Convention — a bill requiring all delegates to the constitutional convention of 1912 to be nominated and elected on a strictly nonpartisan basis; nominations to be made by petition only.

Shorter Workday for Women — a bill limiting the hours of women employed to fifty-four hours a week, with not more than
ten hours in any one day. (Amended from eight hours as provided in original bill.)

Workingmen's Compensation Act — a bill creating a State compensation fund, from which money shall be paid employés injured and dependents of employés killed at their work.

Municipal Initiative and Referendum — a measure requiring thirty per cent. of the voters of a municipality for the initiative and fifteen per cent. for the referendum. Covers “ordinances and resolutions granting a franchise, creating a right, involving the expenditure of money or exercising any other power delegated to a municipal corporation by the General Assembly.”

Corrupt Practices Act — a measure regulating the amount of money a candidate may spend, and throwing other safeguards around elections.

Chapter XXV,
page 291
. On May 23, 1911, G. M. Dahl, street railway commissioner of Cleveland ordered the Cleveland Railway Company to stop charging passengers a penny for transfers. The order was given under the terms of the traction ordinance which require that whenever a balance in the interest fund, less proportionate accrued payment to be made therefrom, shall be more than $500,000 by the amount of $200,000 fares shall be reduced from the existing rate to the next lower rate provided by the ordinance. The street railway company resisted the order, but on May 29 the city council adopted a resolution compelling it to comply, and straight three-cent fare became effective June 1, 1911, less than two months after the death of Mr. Johnson.

A
KERS
, W. J.,
114
;
117
;
273
.

Andrews, Horace E.,
86
;
87
;
88
;
243
;
251
;
252
;
253
;
254
;
255
;
256
;
259
;
260
;
261
;
277
;
287
.

Armstrong, W. W.,
61
.

B
AKER
, Newton D.,
126
;
139
;
172
;
173
;
193
;
194
;
216
;
247
;
256
;
257
;
258
;
269
;
289
;
290
;
291
;
295
;
299
;
310
;
311
.

Barber Asphalt Company,
191
.

Beacon, M. W.,
163
;
217
;
242

Beaver, James A.,
42
.

Bemis, Edward W.,
132
;
139
;
156
;
180–181
.

Big Con,
86
;
159
;
190
. (See Concon.)

Bigelow, Herbert S.,
196
;
299
;
313
.

Blue Spring, Ky., J's birthplace,
1
.

Bly, Yankee,
123
.

Bowman, Thomas,
68
.

Boyd, William H.,
207
;
208
;
209
;
273
.

Breckinridge, John C.,
4
.

Briggs, George A.,
307
.

Brooklyn, street railways,
98–107
.

Bryan, William Jennings,
xvii
;
54
;
65
;
108
;
200
.

Buckeye Club,
168
.

Bucklin, James W.,
307
;
308
.

Burton, Theodore E.,
xvi
;
61
;
62
;
74
;
114
;
116
; nominated for mayor,
267
; quoted,
268
; his platform quoted,
269
;
270
;
271
;
273
; defeated,
274–275
.

C
ABLE
, Ben T.,
70
;
72
;
223
.

Cadwallader, Starr,
170
.

Cambria Iron Company,
29
;
36
.

Carnegie, Andrew,
77
.

Chamber of Commerce (Cleveland),
xxiii
;
75
;
90
;
113
;
116
;
171
;
267
;
288
;
312
;
313
.

Charity, menace of,
28
; fund for Johnstown sufferers, difficulty in disposing of,
41–42
; responsibility for causes that call for,
43–44
.

Chicago Journal
, quoted,
243–246
.

Choate, Joseph H.,
98
.

Churchman, F. M.,
16
.

Cincinnati Traction Company,
238
.

Citizens Savings & Trust Company,
262
.

Clark, Samuel B.,
98
.

Clarke, John H.,
200
;
202
.

Cleveland Belt & Terminal Railroad,
134
.

Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company,
192
;
216
;
217
.

Cleveland Electric Street Railway Company,
164
;
188
;
209
;
235
;
238
;
239
;
243
;
248
;
251
;
252
;
253
;
254
;
255
;
256
;
259
;
260
;
261
;
263
;
264
;
274
;
276
;
278
;
279
;
281
;
283
. (See Concon.)

Cleveland, Grover,
70
;
73
.

Cleveland Railway Company,
279
;
283
;
284
;
286
;
287
.

Cleveland Terminal & Valley Railroad,
133
.

Coffinberry, Henry D.,
172
.

Coleman, Dullie, J's aunt,
10
.

Coleman, Thomas, J's uncle,
9
.

Columbus Street Railway Company,
156
.

Colver, W. B.,
224
;
240
;
246
.

Concon,
86
;
190
;
221
;
223
;
224
;
225
;
227
;
230
;
232
;
233
;
237
;
240
;
241
;
242
;
247
;
250
;
256
;
257
;
258
;
259
;
262
;
264
;
266
;
275
;
277
;
278
;
282
;
283
.

Cooke, Edmund Vance,
299
.

Cooley, Harris R.,
109
;
110
;
172
;
173–179
;
183
;
193
;
269
;
272
;
310
;
313
.

Cox, “Boss,”
164
;
185
.

Craig, William,
130
;
133
;
136
;
137
.

Crawford, W. J.,
129
.

Currency, J's substitute for during panic,
45–46
; need of improved laws relating to,
47
.

D
AHL
, Gerhard,
291
.

Dalzell, John,
76
;
77
.

Davenport, Homer,
271
;
272
.

Davies, Secretary,
256
.

Daykin, Dr.,
214–215
.

De Leon, Daniel,
52
.

Depositors Savings & Trust Company,
xxi
; brief history of,
265
.

Dick, Charles S.,
200
.

District of Columbia, report of house committee on reforms in assessment and taxation,
65–67
.

Doty, Edward W.,
308
.

Dunne, Edward F.,
239
;
243
;
244
;
245
;
246
;
256
.

du Pont, A. B.,
92
;
224
;
239
;
240
;
248
;
251
;
252
;
253
;
254
;
260
;
261
;
262
;
280
;
307
;
311
.

du Pont, Alfred V.,
9
;
13
;
31
;
32
;
37
;
38
.

du Pont, Bidermann,
9
;
11
;
12
;
14
;
92
.

du Pont (E. I.), de Nemours Powder Company,
9
.

du Pont, Pierre Samuel,
9
.

Earhart, W. H.,
197
.

East Ohio Gas Company,
213
;
214
.

Eggleston, W. G.,
307
;
310
.

Electric Traction Weekly
, quoted,
284
.

E
NGLISH
, William H.,
13
;
14
;
15
;
28
.

Everett, Henry,
23
;
86
;
87
;
88
;
91
;
92
;
93
;
94
.

F
ARLEY
, John,
113
;
118
.

Federal Steel Company,
90
.

Fels Fund Commission,
306
;
307
;
308
.

Fels, Joseph,
297
;
298
;
299
;
300
;
310
. (See Fels Fund Commission.)

Fels, Mrs. Joseph,
297
; J's tribute to,
297
;
298
.

Fithian, George W.,
68
.

Ford, Judge,
242
.

Forest City Railway Company,
222
;
224
;
227
;
228
;
230
;
234
;
235
;
237
;
238
;
240
;
241
;
242
;
246
;
248
;
261
;
262
;
263
;
279
;
283
;
286
;
287
.

Free Trade, J. declares his belief in,
60
;
71
;
73
;
76
;
78–81
.

Fuller, Arthur,
308
.

G
ARFIELD
Corrupt Practices Act,
110–111
.

Garfield, James A.,
267
;
268
.

General Electric Company in relation to “Slip-Slide,”
xxxi
;
xxxii
.

George, Henry, dedication,
xxvi
;
8
;
9
;
28
;
49
;
50
; J's first interview with,
51
; death of,
52
;
53
; quoted,
54
;
55
; quoted,
56
; quoted,
57
; quoted,
58
;
59
;
60
;
63
;
64
;
73
;
76
;
78
;
107
;
108
;
112
;
298
;
299
;
300
;
301
;
302
;
307
;
309
;
313
.

George, Henry, jr.,
299
.

George, Richard,
299
.

Goff, F. H.,
190
;
277
;
278
;
279
;
282
;
283
;
288
.

Goulder, Harvey D.,
171
;
172
;
273
.

“Greased lightning.” (See “Slip-Slide.”)

Green, Albert,
187
;
188
;
189
.

Greif, William,
224
.

Guilbert, State Auditor,
199
.

H
ALL
, Bolton,
299
.

Hampton's Magazine
,
304
.

Hanna, Marcus A.,
17–25
;
28
;
86
;
88
;
114
;
115
;
164
;
185
;
189
;
191
;
194
;
196
;
198
;
201
; quoted,
202
;
203
;
228
.

Hardie, J. Keir,
298
.

Harmon, Judson,
xvi
;
305
; quoted,
306
.

Harriman, Edward H.,
102
;
103
.

Harrison, Benjamin,
64
.

Harter, Representative,
63
.

Haserodt, E. B.,
269
;
293
.

Hauser, Elizabeth J., editor. (See acknowledgment; introduction; last chapter.)

Henna, Dr.,
52
.

Herrick, Myron T.,
134
;
135
;
200
;
201
;
206
.

Hill, William P.,
307
.

Hindman, T. C.,
2
;
4
.

Hodge, O. J.,
62
.

Hoefgen, J. B.,
160
;
161
; grant to declared invalid,
162
.

Hogsett, Thomas,
192
;
194
.

Howe, Frederic C., quoted,
xxiv
;
121
;
204
;
216
;
224
;
299
.

I
NGERSOLL
, Robert G.,
74–75
.

Initiative,
xvi
;
119
;
199
.

Injunctions, record of in street railroad fight,
164–166
.

Ivins, William M.,
57
; quoted,
58
.

J
OHNSON
, Albert, brother of J.,
3
;
57
;
86
;
91
;
98
.

Johnson, Albert W., father of J.,
1
; service to Confederacy,
2
; quarrels with Gen. Hindman and joins Gen. Breckinridge,
4
; sympathy with North,
5
; attempts to operate cotton plantation in Arkansas with free labor,
7
; engages in business in Evansville, Ind.,
7
; superintendent of street railroad in Louisville,
11
; chief of police,
11
; president of street railway company in Indianapolis,
14
; shares in profits of sale,
31
; friendship with Henry George,
55
;
123
.

Johnson, Maggie J., J. marries,
13
.

Johnson, Richard M.,
59
.

Johnson, Tom L., advocates initiative, referendum, recall, short ballot, woman suffrage, juster laws on taxation, municipal ownership and city home rule,
xvi
; interview with President Roosevelt,
xvii
; conversation with W. J. Bryan,
xvii
; applies merit system to city departments,
xviii
; summary of improvements and reforms while mayor of Cleveland,
xviii
,
xix
; hissed in Brooklyn,
xx
,
56
; manner and method before an audience,
xx
,
xxi
; accedes to strikers' demands,
xxii
; favors labor unions,
xxii
; invents pay-enter fare-box,
xxii
; enmity of newspapers,
xxiii
,
xxiv
; a friend's estimate of,
xxvii
,
xxviii
; “Slip-Slide,”
xxviii–xxxii
; defines Privilege,
xxxv
; discusses monopolies,
xxxv–xxxvii
; judiciary and Privilege,
xxxviii
; public ownership of utilities,
xxxix
; parentage, birthplace, early recollections,
1
; family moves to Little Rock, Ark.,
3
; to Atlanta and Milledgeville, Ga.,
4
; to Corner Springs, Withville, Natural Bridge and Staunton, Va.,
5
; typhoid fever,
5
; first business venture,
5
,
6
; moves to Louisville, Ky.,
6
; early instruction,
6
; moves to Arkansas, thence to Evansville, Ind.,
7
; return to Kentucky,
7
; freedom from class feeling,
7
; enters street railroad business in Louisville,
8
; lives with Coleman family,
9
; duties, learns bookkeeping, invents fare-box,
10
; secretary of company, superintendent of road,
11
; marries,
13
; purchases control of Indianapolis street railways,
13
; litigation and disputes with Wm. H. English,
13–16
; bids for street railway grant in Cleveland,
17
; buys Pearl street line, introduces transfer system,
19
; contests with M. A. Hanna,
17–25
; buys Jennings ave. line,
22
; gets grant to build east side lines,
24
; refuses Hanna's offer of partnership,
25
; on private as against municipal ownership of public utilities,
25–27
; goes into business at Johnstown,
29
; establishes plant,
31
; profits on
sale of street railroad,
31
; ventures in St. Louis and Brooklyn,
32
; builds rolling-mill,
33
; builds steam railroad and buys street railways in Johnstown,
34
; removes bodies of victims of flood,
38
; discusses free street cars,
39–40
; blames Privilege for Johnstown flood,
43–44
; substitute for currency during panic,
45–46
; need for better currency system,
47
; reads
Social Problems
and
Progress and Poverty
,
49
; urged by Henry George to enter politics,
51
; at George's death-bed,
52
; first attempts at public speaking.
53
; advocates change in Ohio tax laws,
54
; backs Cleveland
Recorder
,
54
; suffers in 1897 panic,
54
; aids
The Public
,
55
; manages George's campaign for mayor of New York in 1897,
56
; nominated for Congress,
59
; declares belief in free trade,
60
; defeated by Burton,
61
; again nominated,
61
; debates with Burton,
62
; elected,
62
; again nominated and elected over O. J. Hodge,
62
; votes for single tax bill,
63
; approves “Reed rules,”
63–64
; acquaintance with Harrison,
64
; with Bryan,
65
; committee work in Congress,
65
; reform in assessment and taxation in District of Columbia,
65–67
; distributes
Protection or Free Trade
at government expense,
68–70
; delegate to national convention,
70
; visit to Grover Cleveland,
73
; predicts defeat of Democratic party; defeated for reelection by Burton,
74
; replies to charge of insincerity,
75
; credit to George for letter to Cleveland cloak-makers,
78
; the letter,
79–81
; tent meetings,
82–84
; meets Peter Witt,
84–86
; the Cleveland street railway situation,
86–88
; sells street railway interests,
88
; his social philosophy alienates friends,
89
; expands scope of Johnstown mill, builds mill at Lorain,
90
; sells out,
90
; builds street railroad Lorain to Elyria,
91
; manages Detroit street railways,
91
; rebuilds them,
92
; convinced of practicability of three-cent fare,
95
; friendship with Pingree,
95–97
; manages Brooklyn street railways,
98
; litigation,
98–99
; gets grant for Brooklyn Bridge line,
102
; Harriman suggests alliance,
103
; sale of Brooklyn roads,
103–105
; interview with R. T. Wilson,
106
; takes steps to quit business,
106–107
; determines to devote energies to advancement of George's principles,
107
; trip to Europe,
108
; delegate to national convention,
108
; opposed to “16 to 1,”
108
; views on the money question,
108
; nominated for mayor,
109–110
; standards of political morality,
111
; declines to bargain for support,
111–112
; platform,
112
; the campaign,
112–116
; sues to prevent consummation of corrupt council's grant of lake front,
113
; elected mayor,
116
; sworn in,
117
; secures repeal of lake front grant,
118
; his first two orders,
120
; organizes better element of council for good government and chooses cabinet,
121
; institutes reforms,
122–125
; establishes Tax School,
125
; its purpose and accomplishments,
126–131
; tax valuation of steam railroads,
132–144
; taxation of public utilities,
145–147
; home rule,
147–149
; source of railroads' power and remedy for its abuse,
149–155
; invited to Columbus,
156
; offers to buy street railways there and give three-cent fare,
156
; makes charge against Judge Summers,
157
; the three-cent fare fight in Cleveland and the more than fifty injunctions,
159–166
; making men,
167–171
; enmity of antagonized interests,
170–171
; campaign of 1903,
170–172
; elected over Goulder,
172
; on Newton D. Baker,
173
; on Harris R. Cooley, with outline of his accomplishment,
173–179
; on William J. Springborn,
179–180
; on Daniel E. Leslie,
180
; on Edward W. Bemis,
180–181
; on Fred Kohler,
181–184
; quotation from address to new city council,
186–187
; another step towards low fare,
187
; destroys paving combine,
191
; fight for municipal lighting plant,
192–194
; reason for belief in municipal ownership,
194
; State wide campaign for just taxation,
195–198
; opposes renomination of Democratic legislators who violated pledges,
196–198
; nominated for governor,
199
; serves as police court judge,
200
; campaign by automobile and in tent,
200–202
; defeated,
203
; measures fought for since enacted into law,
204
; again elected mayor,
207
; debates with Boyd,
208–209
; advises street railway to build line without grant,
209
; municipal ownership of street railroads,
211–212
; types of legislators,
212–213
; gas franchise fight,
213–216
; method secondary consideration in securing people's rights,
216
; municipal lighting plant and annexation of South Brooklyn,
216–218
; public gambling,
219–220
; the fight for low fare,
221–263
; recognition of Mr. Cable's services,
223
; organization of Municipal Traction Company,
224
; contempt proceedings,
227–228
; the monument he cared for,
236
; motorman of first three-cent fare car,
238
; history of Depositors Savings & Trust Co.,
265
; renominated for mayor,
269
; invites Burton to debate issues,
269–270
; Davenport's visit,
272
; reelected,
274
; proposes settlement of difficulties with street railway company,
276–277
; chosen by council to represent city in negotiations,
277–278
; street railway strike,
280–282
; people's blunder,
283
; comment on referendum,
283
; protects Forest City stockholders' interests,
287
; on the morality of newspapers,
288
; defeated for reelection,
289
; result of effort to correct taxation injustices,
291–292
; conclusions,
292–294
; quoted upon relinquishing office,
296
; sickness and visits to New York,
296
; trip to Europe with Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Fels; rules of personal conduct; public dinner: tribute to Mrs. Fels,
297
; Continental tour; Glasgow reception; dinner at House of Parliament,
298
; return to United States; reception and dinner in New York,
299
; address quoted,
300–302
; “abolish Privilege,”
302
; summer at Nantucket Island,
302–304
; his reading,
303
; decides to write story of Cleveland fight,
304
; his reception by Cleveland audience,
305–306
; attends meeting of Fels Fund Commission in New York,
306
; account by Louis F. Post,
306–310
; last public meeting,
310
; interest in British politics,
311
; guest of Nisi Prius Club,
311
; final attack and death,
312–313
; funeral, public demonstration, interment,
313
.