Demillionairism

Annoyed by reports that he had become a millionaire through his connection with the real-estate development of Florida, William J. Bryan announced that his Florida profits would not exceed $500,000.

Extracts from his letter to a Florida editor:

"Political enemies continue to search for something to condemn, which would indicate that their search of more than 30 years is still unrewarded.

"There never has been a year since my first nomination in which I could not have made a million had I taken the side of privilege and favoritism. I preferred to make money more slowly by lecturing and have accumulated all I need.

"I have sold nearly all my property, including my first home here, Villa Serena, except the new and less valuable home into which we moved last fall. When the remainder of my property is turned into interest-bearing securities, I can reasonably expect to have, for the first time in my life, an income sufficient for the needs of Mrs. Bryan and myself, even when I am no longer able to add to that income by literary work.

"When we moved from Nebraska, we gave our home, valued by us at $50,000 and by those who received it at more than $75,000, to the Methodist* Church for a hospital. The value of that gift alone was more than one-tenth of all the profits I ever have received from real estate."

Mr. Bryan had nothing to say as to income derived from his lectures paid for by other realtors.

*Mr. Bryan is a Presbyterian, a Fundamentalist.