Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1908 — TOM JOHNSON BROKE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TOM JOHNSON BROKE

Mayor of Cloveland Announces That He Has Lost Pretty Much All He Had. MUST 00 AND LIVE IN A COTTAGE Giving Up His Fine Residues on Euclid Avenue Declare* He Worked for Happiness and Has a Grip Thereon, in Spite of Hi* Financial Trouble*. Cleveland, Nov. 20.—Mayor Tom L. Johnson, who for years has been credited with possession of a very large fortune, announces that he has lost everything and will be compelled to give up hi* beautiful home on Euclid avenue and move into smaller and less expensive quarters. The mayor also stated that he would give up Us automobile and other luxuries because he

could no longer afford to keep them His fortune was wrecked, the mayor declared, by his devotion to the affairs of the estate of bis 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 resign his office as mayor and take up the management of Albert’s estate. Wanted Happiness and Got It. “I decided that I would not. I had entered the fight in this city with certain ideals before me. I wanted to fight privilege mid special interest, and I had already decided to give up working for dollars. So I concluded to stay right here and do what I could to help my brother's children at long distance. Why did I choose the coume I did? I’ll tell you. It’s not because I'm a philanthropist, for I’m not. I acted from a purely serflsh motive. 1 wanted happiness, and nothing else, when I closed tip my business affairs and took up civic activity. And I’ve been happy, too. The past seven years have been the best of my life, leaving out of consideration the loss of my brother. Haippy in Spite of Enemies. “I’m going to be happy yet, too. We may have to go back to a cottage, but that’s the way we started, and we e» look upon life Just as Joyfully there as we did in the big house on Euclid avenue. They tell me my enemies are planning to bring nancial trouble upon me. I’ve been expecting it There’s one mistake I haven’t made—that of failing to foresee'the efforts of those who would like to destroy me if opportunity presented. My enemies are capable of doing that. One may expect nothing else from special privilege. However. 1 realize that any other set of men in the same circumstances would act the same.”

NOT A PURSUER OF DOLLARS Nor of the People’s Gratitude, Which Is “Mighty Onsartin.” Declaring for his enemies’ l>enoflt that he had "a thousand fights loft iff me,” that he would have saved his fortune if he had been a coward; that the “pursuit of dollars does not interest me”; that he could probably make money on Wall street, but would not try; that he had not worked as mayor for the gratitude of the people—“one cannot count on that,” but that he had worked for the “pleasure of doing work that I like:,” he continued: “I have never made a single penny ont of the street railways since I became mayor. Npbody else has worked ag hard as I, and I haven’t drawn a cent of pay from the Municipal Traction company as treasurer. I don’t propose to ask a cent for my work in helping the receivers. I have never spent money In polities. In no campaign have I ever paid more than my assessment, SOOO on the SO,OOO salary of mayor, • • • When I gave up active business affairs I did if because the requirements of my work did not •quare with my principles. * • * My only recreation has been automoblllng. I’d like to keep one of my automobiles, but I’m afraid I can’t. “Back in my prosperous days I gavs the home on Euclid avenue to my wife. It Is her’s yet, and she’ll own it stllll even though we can’t afford to live In it I don’t feel discouraged. r ra a free man, and that means a great deal tome. And I have my friends, too.

Don’t you suppose it will be worth something to me to have my friend* realize that I entered the mayor’s office rich and left it poor? The realization of what all that means is worth more to me than the money I’ve* lost. 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.” Financial troubles have followed Mayor Johnson rapidly of late. The Municipal Traction company, of which Mayor Johnson was treasurer, passed Into the hands of receivers in the federal court several days ago. Following this came the transfer to two local banks of the Deposits Savings and Trust company, of which the mayor was president. It is said that this action was precipitated By the threats of Johnson’s individual creditors to Ate suits to obtain payment on notes endorsed by the mayor. It is said Johnson has recently lost approximately $400,000 in collection with bis interests at Lorain, O.

TOM L. JOHNSON.