The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-09-05
A TALK With MR.. BRYAN
Democratic Candidate Discusses
Stories Of His Wealth.
His Campaign Not a War on Property
IntcrestS-If Elected, His Cabinet
Iated 10 Make His Administration
II Success-VVnnts No Second Term.

CUMBERLAND, Md, Sept. 5.-0n the
way from Deer Park 10 Cumberland yes
terday afternoon MIR. Bryan talked freely
and at length to a ne vspaper correspond
ent.
His attention was called to a recent
editorial discussing a communication
which spoke OF his prosperity under
the Mckinley Administration.
7 never was poor man, he said, in
the sense of not havint enough to live
on. My father was a Judge, and among
the people of his community he was a
welI-to-do man. My share of his estate
was about $1,000, which is now the aver
age wealth OF cur people. l am better of
than I was four years ago. The Presi-
Dental campaign increased my ability to
make money. l was offered a salary OF
$25, 600 a year as counsel for a mercantile
firm, but declined it. I made a contract
to deliver a series of lectures for $50 600,
but found there were unpleasant features
about it and Cancelled the agreement. l
wrote magazine articles. and got 5000 for
a series of Chautauqua lectures. Since
1896 | have given $500 to colleges and
$l,IOO to the Democratic Committee. l
saved a sum for my expenses in this
campaign and paid taxes on that and on
everything | own, which amounts to be-
tween $500 and $4,000, none of which
was earned in consequence of any policy
of the Mckinley Administration"
One of the objections frequently urged
against you, MIR. Bryan the correspond
ent suggested, is that it is feared that
you will surround yourself with Cabi-
net OF Populists or of unsafe people"
L know that" replied. "A man who
does he rat IL
ticket at oEse commences to construct a
Cabinet for me and will always put in it
the men whom he dislikes most Mr. Till
man and Mir. AItgeld are favorites in this
line. But those who intend to vote for
Mr., Debs always assume that I viii Sc
lect Cabiret Of Gold Democrats. It IS
safe to assume one thing If I am elected I
Will be elel ed for four years and no more
and l Will select such a Cabinet as viii
make my Administration success. The
Cabinet viii not be selected with any
view to denomination or reelection. I
stated four years ago, during the cam
paign, that l would not ask for a Te-eIec-
ticn. At the proper time I will make that
announcement again
Speaking of his views and policies, Mr..
Bryan said that there need be no alarm
for them. He does not adhere to d po-
litical principle that is not 1O0 years old.
The charge that he is opposing property
interests, he says, is folly. IN this cam
paIgn, he declares, mercenary wealth is
hiding behind honest wealth. and honest
wealth had best get away from the as
ISOLATION.
What do you mean by honest wealth
and meTCenary Wealth." the correspond
ent asked.
Honest wealth is honestly earned. re-
piled Mr.. Bryan. ''Mercenary wealth, or
perhaps I had best call it predatory
wealth. is what is gained without giving
any return for it. 1t is best for people
of property to elect a conservative man.
II the policy o. legislating for the advan-
ta6e of the wealthy exclusively is contin
ued indefinitely disturbances viii finally
occur
The Debs movement is far stronger
than it was four years ago. II the policy
Of injunctions is continued it VIII continue
TO grow My remedy for this is arbitTa-
ton If a man employs half dozen per-
sons he knows each of them. He knows
their affairs, and when their families are
sick and in want This association brings
sympathy, and there is no need to interfere
between these employers and employees.
But the corporation which employs thou
sand men has a superintendent 10 get all
out of them that is possible. The men are
not known as individuals"
In reply TO a question as to the outlook
Mr.. Bryan said that in the Middle West
especially the prospects are good and
growing better all the time. He had been
informed, he said, that member Of the
Republican committee had said that if Mr..
Mckinley should be defeated his defeat
would likely be as crushing as that of
Greeley. He considered this an important
admission