The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-04-24
Nebraskan Says That Money Is
Used to Defeat Him.
KNOWS WHERE OF HE SPEAKS
Refuses to OlvuIse the Names Of the
Men Who Are Using Mammon
For Base Purpose.

New York, April 22.-Although re-
fusing to say by whom it is being
raised or where it is being expended
William j. Bryan declared today there
was no doubt that money was be-
ing used to control one-third of the
delegates to the Denver convention and
in that way debating the nomination
for president.
Have you ever said that money was
being used to defeat your" he was
asked.
Il never have, but The Commoner
has stated that money is now being
used to obtain uninstructed delega-
tions with view of obtaining one
third of the delegates with the purpose
of using the one-third to control the
nomination. The Commoner said that !;
L am the editor of The Commoner
and know whereof | speak"
Will Not Reveal Names.
"WiIl you give the names of persons
ing used or whether it is being raised
in New York;"
81 do not care to say anything
further about it, l only repeat that
| know money is being used"
at has been said that you now
have an income of from $4,000 to
$15 900 year; that you are, in fact,
II plutocrat. and not a proper repre-
sentative of the working classes. Have
you anything to say about that -
Mr.. Bryan was asked.
''Yes, | have" he replied. ''My in
come is derived from lectures, with
some additional for articles for publ
cation and from my paper, but the
amount is very much exaggerated.
make more speeches for nothing than
| do for pay and devote more time
to public work than | do for private
gain. The best test of the effect of
my income is found in the things |
advocate. | think no one will deny
that | could make more by siding
with the corporate interests | have
opposed than l could by lecturing.
REFUSED Big Salary.
"My political prominence has been
an advantage to me, but / could have
used that prominence in other ways
to a greater pecuniary- advantage. For
instance, | was offered 900 year
az counsel for a corporation. 1t would
have taken me out of the political
field. By lecturing and writing L can
make what | need in half the time
and have the rest for public work.
president Cleveland found that he
could make more in the practice of
law after he left the White House
than he could before and so did Pres
ident Harrison Secretary Shaw found
his services more valuable after he left
the cabinet. Political prominence is
an asset in any kind of business.
I could not have turned my attention
to anything that it would not have
been to my advantage.
Income Derived Legitimately.
"The question is not, if / made more
than before my nomination for presi-
dent, but have made it in legiti-
mate way. 1 think no one will say
that my income is not derived legiti-
mately. Another question is if the
increase in my earning capacity has
changed my views on public questions,
and | think no one will contend that"
''Do you expect to be nominated %
asked one reporter.
''Now that is refreshing!" replied
Mr.. Bryan with a laugh 'You will
remember that Caesar said: All Gaul
was divided in three parts If Caesar
could have known you l am sure he
would have dispensed with two of
those parts"