The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-27

TO cost 100000 1t actually COST, 01ter tho
usual notifications and changes. nearly
twice that sum.
The outbuildings are of brick and stone
and represent a pretty sum. The land
itself is valuable.
Mr. Bryan disposed of the downtown
residence which achieved considerable pic
torial fame in his two campaigns, some
months ago. He parted with 1t for $500
cash to q banker.
The money was at once invested in q
downtown lot, whereupon, in the near
future, building to house the C0mnsoner
will be erected. His other holdings in and
about the city arr valued at about $1,000
or 5000. His Commoner outfit was put
upon tho taxroll by himself AZ valued at
5000.
Mr.. Bryan's first draft upon the fame he
won as Democracy's standard bearer in
1895 was for ~, 600, the proceeds OF his book.
"The First Battle" Half OF this sum was
invested in Government bonds and the
remainder went as a contribution to the
silver cause.
Between 1895 and 1900 Mr. Bryan made
very large income by lecturing. He was
able to command his own terms.
He never made any charge for the political
speeches he made, but whenever an adj
mittance fee was charged he e1acted his
share Of the proceeds. The stories circu-
lated in 1900 that he charged for the political
addresses he made arose from the fact that.
the national committee being without funds
to pay for his special tram, the various
State and local committees were assessed
by the speakers bureau for expenses.
In January, 1901, Mr.. Bryan began the
publication OF his weekly newspaper. 1t
has been a tremendous money maker. 1t
began with a circulation, fully paid, OF
$1,000. Last week the issue was $4,000.
II the concern were capitalized on the
basis of its net earnings at 9 per cent, 1t
would be worth all the way from q quarter
to a half million dollars. Local publishers
estimate its net earnings all the way from
so 900 to 40 900 . year. At the Comn,ors.
office no hint OF the real cleanup Is given.
When Mr.. Bryan was first elected to
Congress he was earning scarcely 5000
year as lawyer. This WAS doing about
as we'll as the average practitioner Of his
age here.
Mr.. Bryan was not remarkable as an
astute attorney; he had not had time to
leave any impress upon the bar Of tho State
before he was whirled into politics. He
was recognized as a very good jury lawyer.
and the Judges say they liked to listen to
his arguments because Of his lucid method
Of presentation.
He came back to Lincoln from two terms
in Congress with his practice somewhat
demoralized, but in the two years between
then and his nomination for the Presidency
he had moro than regained the lost ground.
Since 1895 he had done very little law work.
and he definitely abandoned 1t In 1897.
The Colonels ability as a money maker
was demonstrated, after his first defeat,
by the success Of his book Additional
evidence was given when he began the
publication Of his newspaper.
With sublime confidence In his own powers,
he disdained the advice to secure practi-
cal newspaper man as his business manager
He installed his brother in that post, but
he himself has been the man behind the
project. Without the aid or counsel of
men experienced in newspaper circulation
Department. he secured a paid up circula-
ton of 5000 weekly before the first issue
was printed. When it came out he had al
most doubled that number.
Since then each month has seen a steady
growth. Predictions to the effect that his
success would be ephemeral were disre-
garded, and time has proved his wisdom
He insisted then that the demand for his
paper would not abate In years to such an
extent as to compel its abandonment. He
argued that there are enough Democrats
interested In what he considers the vital
principles Of Democracy to preserve to
him a substantial subscription list for
years.
His business farsightedness was demon
strated again in the scheme that he at
once put into operation as soon as success
was assured. As editor Of the paper he
draws a salary OF 5000 a year. The re-
mainder of the profits of the enterprise
are invested. largely in Government Sc
curites, in what he calls trust fund for
his subscribers.
The purpose Of this is to provide the
paper with an income permanent in its
character, so as to insure its life for an in
definite number Of years. In other words
he has provided for the eternal publica-
ton OF the Connoner without any drain
upon his other resources, even II the sub
scription list dwindles to nothing
Thirty-fve or forty persons are employed
upon the paper. principally in its mailing
room. He has no printing plant. His
type Ia set at another Office and the paper
printed at still another.
The Commoner ONCE occupies the entire
lower floor OF big business block on one
of the side streets. The business office
occupies part of the door space, and three
fourths OF it Is used for mailing purposes,
several dozen pretty girls personally seeing
to it that the entire issue Of the Commonsr
Is distributed properly.
While the demand for his services a. .
lecturer has dwindled since his first entrance
into that field, he still has almost As many
engagements as he can meet. His income
from this source il estimated to be $4,000
a year, and 1t enables him to carry on his
projects without impairment OF the Com
moner income.
At Fairview his home Ia conducted on
the broad lines OF man Of wealth. Three
maids are employed to keep the big house
in order and provide the family meals.
A coachman and farmer attend To their
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