The San Juan Islander

TOM L. JOHNSON GIVES UP
MANSION AND OTHER LUXURIES

Cleveland, Nov. 23—Mayor Tom L. Johnson, who for years has been credited with possessing a very large fortune, announced that he had lost everything and would be compelled to give up his beautiful home on Euclid avenue and move into smaller and less expensive quarters. The mayor also stated that he would also give up his 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 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 would resign his office as mayor and take up the management of Albert's estate. The mayor said:

"I decided that I would not. I had entered the fight in this city with certain ideals before me. I wanted to fight privilege and special interests 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 course I did? I'll tell you. It's not because I am a philanthropist, for I am not. I acted from a purely selfish motive. I wanted happiness and nothing else when I closed up my business affairs and took up civic activity. And I have been happy, too. The last seven years have been the best of my life, leaving out of consideration the loss of my brother."