CHAPTER XXXII

Entry of Tom L. Johnson into State Politics-Republican State Convention of 1902-Senator Hanna in Control of Republican State Politics-The Democratic State Convention-Its Nominees -Republicans Victorious at Polls-The Democratic State Convention of 1903-Tom L. Johnson Nominated for GovernorDissension in the Democratic Party-Defeat of Johnson-State and National Conventions of 1904-Their Nominees Judge Parker and the St. Louis Convention-National Election of 1904.

After that remarkable man, Tom L. Johnson, had drawn to himself the attention of the Democrats of the state in the convention of 1901, his followers began to plan his advancement in state and national politics. As mayor of Cleveland he had undertaken municipal reforms and promulgated theories of government which had attracted attention all over the country; no name in Ohio was better known to the people. Throughout the year 1902 his name was kept prominently to the front and it was expected that he would soon reach for a higher office than the mayorality of a city.

TOм L. JOHNSON, whose christian name was Thomas Loftus Johnson, was one of the most remarkable public men that Ohio has ever seen; indeed, he has been classed by some writers as one of the remarkable men of the nation. He was born in the State of Kentucky but his folks moved to Staunton, Virginia, while he was quite young. Tom Johnson's first business experience was in the capacity of a newsboy, and his first notable business deal was a corner in newspapers. This was just at the close of the Civil War. People everywhere were anxious for news from the front; there was only one railroad running into Staunton, and young Johnson conceived the idea of handling all the newspapers which came into that place. He therefore entered into a conspiracy with the conductor of the single train

that carried newspapers into Staunton and thereby cornered the news market of that burg. For five weeks he charged fifteen cents for ordinary newspapers and twenty-five cents for all illustrated sheets. Through this deal he made nearly one hundred dollars and with that money he paid the way of the Johnson family back to Kentucky.

After returning to Kentucky Tom Johnson was a clerk for three years in a rolling mill, where he received only a small salary. The mill finally shut down, and after considerable hunting young Johnson found a position with the Louisville Street Railway which operated mule cars. He took a minor position but the street railway business had a fascination for him, he took notice of everything, not only in connection with the operation of the particular line he was connected with, but gave much study to street transportation generally. The result was that he rose rapidly and soon became superintendent of the line. As soon as he was in this responsible position he inaugurated many important reforms and improvements in the management of the street railway, and by reducing expenses and giving an improved public service he put the railway on a paying basis for the first time in its history. When twenty years of age he married his cousin, Margaret J. Johnson, and then began to look about for a location and position that offered more future for him than that of superintendent of a street railway in Louisville. He decided to leave Kentucky and locate in some city that promised growth and opportunity. He was one of the first men in America to see the future of the street railway business and his experience fitted him to become a factor in the growth of that business, which has assumed such enormous proportions.

He resigned his position with the Louisville Street Railway, and when he made his determination known, Mr. Dupont, President of the Railway, gratuitously loaned him a sum of money, variously stated at from twenty to twenty-five thousand dollars, with which to make his start in life. Johnson at first declined the money because he could give no security for it, but Dupont told him that he was quite certain that if Johnson lived the money would be repaid and that he desired to help him in this way. In after years Dupont and Johnson became so intimate that their relations were like those of father and son. John

son not only repaid the loan, but was a friend to Dupont's sons as well as to the father.

After looking over the country Johnson decided to locate in Cleveland, Ohio, where he found the city fathers had liberal ideas regarding the future of their city and were disposed to grant franchises to anyone who could prove himself capable of carrying through a sizable undertaking. They soon decided that Tom Johnson was the kind of a man they wanted to do business with, and he was soon in the thick of street railway enterprises. In a few years he became a rich man.

In the early eighties Johnson became acquainted with Henry George and was soon a disciple of the great advocate of single tax. He was also a student in many ways and made a particular study of science, mathematics and French. It is asserted that he was a fair French scholar.

Through meeting with public men in connection with his business he began to take an interest in public affairs and finally became the leading citizen in Cleveland's public life. He was a good speaker and being nominated for congress, accepted a challenge to a joint debate, in which he acquitted himself with great credit. He was elected Mayor of Cleveland on the Democratic ticket and gave that city a three-cent rate on street railways. His ambition led him to reach out into state politics and from 1900 to 1903 he had his eye on the Governor's chair. At the Democratic State Convention in 1901 he had a considerable following but Colonel James Kilbourne was given the nomination. For the next two years he worked untiringly to secure the next nomination and at the Democratic State Convention in 1903 he was made the Democratic candidate for Governor, but was defeated by Myron T. Herrick. He did not receive the united support of the Democratic leaders of the state. That defeat really ended the public career of this truly remarkable man. Soon afterwards his health began to fail and he never regained his vigor. He will long be remembered in Cleveland, upon the public life of which he exerted a great influence and where he made many friends who will long remember him. He was a thorough believer in equal taxation, and his theory of municipal government was of the most advanced type.

While gifted with more than ordinary ability he possessed a rare spirit of enthusiasm that carried him over obstacles that would have daunted a less virile man.

The Republicans held their state convention of 1902 at Cleveland and assembled on May 27th, Charles H. Grosvenor of Athens permanent chairman and John R. Malloy permanent secretary. The convention was controlled by Senator Hanna. He and George B. Cox had destroyed the Foraker machine and now Hanna proposed to subjugate Cox. The Cincinnati boss had candidates of his own, but because he could not put them over he kept up a sour opposition to Hanna throughout the convention, and strove to defeat the Hanna nominees, but was unsuccessful.

The following state ticket was nominated: For Secretary of State, Lewis C. Laylin of Huron County; for Supreme Court Judge, William B. Crew of Morgan; Dairy and Food Commissioner, Horace Ankenny of Greene; Member of State Board of Public Works, William Kirtley, Jr.

The Democratic State Committee met at Columbus on June 10th with William J. Frey of Findlay as chairman, and decided to hold the state convention at Sandusky on September 2nd. It was also decided that Tom L. Johnson should be temporary chairman of the convention. Pursuant to this arrangement the Democratic State Convention met at Sandusky on the date named and Mayor Johnson was not only the temporary chairman but the controlling force in the conclave. The convention was called to order by William J. Frey who was reelected presiding officer of the State Central Committee over Harvey J. Garber. In his speech as temporary chairman Tom L. Johnson arraigned the Republican Party in both state and nation and advocated his own views on municipal codes, franchises and local government. Also he dictated both the ticket and the platform. In the latter his silver plank endorsing the Kansas City platform and Bryanism met with much opposition which was voiced in speeches by Isaac M. Jordan of Cincinnati, Sprigg McMahon of Montgomery and Michael A. Daugherty of Fairfield. When it came to a vote the platform was endorsed almost unanimously, which showed Johnson's control of the convention. The following ticket was nominated:

For Secretary of State, Herbert S. Bigelow of Hamilton; Judge of Supreme Court, Michael Donnelly of Henry; Dairy and Food Commissioner, Philip H. Bruck of Franklin; Member of State Board of Public Works, Joseph H. Pater of Butler.

When the voting for candidates was being carried on, buttons bearing the motto, "Tom Johnson in 1904" were circulated in the convention and this was taken as an announcement of Johnson's candidacy for president in 1904.

The Democratic State Convention of 1902 was simply a prelude to that of 1903, and the gubernatorial campaign of Johnson. Between the two conventions Johnson and his followers worked continuously to gain control of the Democratic Party of the State, and secure the nomination of Cleveland's Mayor for Governor. There were a great many, however, who turned their eyes toward John L. Zimmerman of Springfield, realizing that he would make a splendid official and was broad enough to represent the whole party.

The Republican State Convention of 1903 met at Columbus, June 4th, with Senator Hanna as temporary chairman and Joseph B. Foraker permanent chairman. The following ticket was nominated:

For Governor, Myron T. Herrick of Cuyahoga; LieutenantGovernor, Warren G. Harding of Marion; Judge of Supreme Court, August N. Summers of Clark; Attorney-General, Wade Hampton Ellis of Hamilton; Member of State Board of Public Works, George H. Watkins of Pike; State Auditor, Walter D. Guilbert of Noble; Treasurer of State, W. S. McKinnon of Ashtabula; for School Commissioner, Edward A. Jones of Stark.

The Democratic State Convention met at Columbus, August 25, 1903, with G. M. Saltzgaber temporary chairman. Tom L. Johnson was accompanied to the capital city by a great delegation and entered with a big procession headed by a brass band. It was understood before the convention met that Mayor Johnson and Mr. Zimmerman were the only two candidates for Governor. In the preliminary skirmishing the silver wing of the party became alarmed over a proposition to nominate John H. Clarke of Cleveland for United States Senator and a movement was set on foot to offer the