The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-05
Mr.. Bryan's Wealth.

Baltimore Sun.
The Sun has received a letter from
correspondent who states that the taxab q
property of Hen. William ]. Bryan has
increased from $3.50 in 1897 to $4,000 in
1850. He quotes Nh Bryan as Swing in
a recent speech in Chicago Wen be
willing 10 take the votes OF all the PEG lie
who have not had their share of prosperity
and leave the republicans the vo es OF
t-ose who have had their share" In
view of the increase in Mr.. Bryans prop
eIty our correspondent concludes that If
lie lives up to the spirit of his proposition
a to the division OF votes o. thos, who
have and have not had their shares Of
prosperity he Will vote for Mckinley and
Roosevelt neAt November"
Mr. BlFu according to our correspond
ent's showing. has saved and invested
$1,000 in three years-an average of $3.50
a year since Mr.. Mckinley became presl-
dent. This is surely not an enormous sum
for a man OF his ability, prominence and
simple habits to accumulate. But, grant
ing that IL is a comfortable sum for any
one to lay aside for a rainy day, there
is no evidence to show that Mr.. Bryan ac-
eumulated 1t 40 beneficiary of the per-
He is not at the head Of one of the trusts
which are specially favored by the admin
istration He is not conducting any indus
Try which is protected by a prohibitory
tariff at the expense of the consumers. He
has not served on any of the expensive
commissions which Mr.. Mckinley has Gre
ated. In fact he seems to have earned his
money without the aid OF the adminstra~
tion and without depressing any OF his
fellow citizens.
From 1896 to date" says our CORE
spondent, MIR. Bryan Is not known 10
have had more than one case in court, nut
for four years he has been,-in great de
mand for political addresses al so mucl
per night" Surely this is an honorable
employment. and one in which any Ameri-
can citizen Of ability and distinction m y
engage with credit to himself, and, in Mr..
Bryan's case, doubtless, to the instruction
of his hearers. Certainly Mr.. Bryans
charges for lecturing could not have been
extortionate, otherwise he would have
been able to save more than $1,000 in three
years. The fact Is, the democratic csndi-
date for president is poor man, be-
ing no richer In this worlds goods than
most o, tho eminent statesmen who have
received the highest honor the American
people could besuow upon them He be-
longs to that class of patriotic men VINO
have preferred to devote their abilities 10
the service OF the public rather than IN
the accumulation Of wealth II. after his
defeat In 1898, Mr. Bryan had been will
ing to identity himself with the trusts and
corporations. there Ia little doubt that the
opportunity would have presented itself to
him and that he would have received
princeIy remuneration. 1t is to his credit
that he preferred to stick to his principles
and remain poor The American people
have only respec. and admiration for men
of that sturdy type.
The majority OF American statesmen and
presidenta have been poor men. Jenerson
in his most opuient DAYS was paupeI
compared with some OF the wealthy mem
hers Of the "Mlllionaires club--the United
states senate. Mr.. Cleveland began hle
az poor boy. He was In very moderate
circumstances when elected governor OF
New York. He saved portion OF his
safsfy during his two terms as presiaeh
ana probably accumulated something while
q member OF a New York law firm. LIN
coin was a poor man OF humble origin
o,rd so aiso was johnson. Grants parents
we're POOR, and the distinguished soldl !
u.bo was twice president OF the unlte'
states was not stranger TO poverty II
his earlier days. Garfield was not nlsi
81 wealth neither was Hayes, while Mr.
MCKINLEY has been unfortunate In busi
ness and possessed little of this war.d
roods when he was elected president. Tne
FIRST president of the United STATES, lns
GREATEST of all Americans, was m'h
modest means. Measured by moier'
.,e,d ,'ras ana eontrasted with the presi
go =, some OF our trusts, his posses
s,ons ali told. were a mere tribe. Henri
r,ay ana Daniel Webster died poor.
Mr. pryau IL In no danger Of becoming
r,,tocrat n Ills accommodations ~ wealth
40 moi exceed $1,000 year Neither !, y
,u IN any obliratio1s 20 The sdninistIa a
lion for the prosperity which he his en-
,oved in tho past three years, ire me'
who have been the beneneiaries OF NC