Tom L. Johnson’s Moral Convictions
A Politician with Moral Convictions.— The San Francisco Star of April 15 has a strong sympathetic article by Hon. James G. Maguire on Tom L. Johnson, single-taxer, "lover of the people," late mayor of Cleveland, who won for them after a tremendous conflict three-cent fare on street railways. He won his wealth through or by a monopoly, and spent it in fighting the dominating trusts. When he read Henry George’s "Progress and Poverty," he gave his attorney, Mr. L. A. Russell, a prominent corporation lawyer, a $500 fee to examine the book, refute its arguments, and present that refutation in a written opinion. The lawyer said that he could refute the book in two hours, and the fee was too large; but after reading the volume he told Mr. Johnson: "I would not give such an opinion as you want [in refutation of the book] for one thousand dollars. The book is right, and such an opinion would make me ridiculous." Mr. George based some of his arguments on the Bible, and the moral convictions of Mr. Johnson, strangely wanting in some politicians, were appealed to. But he was more than a politician; he held all the ideals of a great statesman. The world has not too many of his ilk.