The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-11-25
TOM JOHNSON IS POOR.
CLEVELAND'S EXECUTIVE HAS
LOST HIS FORTUNE.
Mayor Says His Money Was Inst
Through Devotion to the Affairs
OF Others.

Cleveland, Ohio. Nov. 19.-Mayor
Tom l.. Johnson, who for years has
been credited with possessing q very
large fortune, today announced that
he had lost everything and would be
compelled to give up his beautiful
nome on Euclid avenue and move
into smaller and less expensive quar-
ters. The mayor also stated that he
would give up his automobiles and
other luxuries, as he could no longer
afford to keep them. His fortune was
wrecked, the mayor declared, by his
devotion to affairs of the estate Of his
dead brother Albert, who was heavily
interested in traction properties in the
East.
After Albert's death a question was
put up to him whether he should re-
sign his office as mayor and take up
the management of Albert's estate.
Il decided that 1 would not. had
entered the fight in this city With
certain ideals before me. wanted
to fight privilege and special inter-
ests and 1 had already decided to
give up working for dollars. So | con-
cluded to stay right here and do what
[ could to help my brothers children
ut long distance.
why did 1 choose the course I did?
III tell you. I wanted happiness and
nothing else when 1 closed up my
business affairs and took up civic ac-
tivity.
And I've been happy. too.
TIN going TO be happy yet too We
may have to go back to cottage, but
that's the way we started and we can
look upon life just as joyfully there
rs we did in the big house on Euclid
avenue.
They tell me my enemies are
planning to bring financial trouble
upon me. I've been expecting it.
My enemies are capable Of doing
that. One may expect nothing else
from special privilege. Let them
make any sort of attack upon me
that they choose. I'll never give.
up and they'll tlways find me at the
front.
'If 1 had been a eoward-if I had
run away from this fight for the peo-
pie of Cleveland could have saved
my fortune and built it up. But 1 had
chosen my course. l haven't been la
boring as mayor with the expectation
Of being rewarded by the gratitude of
the people. One cannot count on that.
IT'S n pleasure in doing work that I
like that has kept me in the fight.
Il have never made single penny
out Of the street railways since l be-
came mayor. 1 don't feel discour-
aged. I'm free man, and that means
a great deal to me. Don't you sup
pose it will be worth something to me
to have my friends realize that I en-
tered the mayors office rich and left
it poor?
I'm going to keep on just as I've
started. I'm going to be a candidate
for mayor again when this term is
over"
The Municipal Traction company. of
which Mayor Johnson was treasurer,
passed into the hands of receivers in
the federal courts several days ae
Following this came the transfer a.
two local banks of the Depositosss
Savings and Trust company, of which
the mayor was president. 1t is said
this action was precipitated by the
threats of Mr.. JOhnson's individual
creditors to file suits to obtain pay
ment on notes endorsed by the
mayor.
1t is said Mr.. Johnson has recently
lost approximately 100000 in connec-
ton with his interests at Lorraine.
Ohio.