The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-14

Lillian White. a teacher in the eighth
grade of the South school.
Although the meeting tonight is to be
purely a non-partisan affair, the Demo-
Gratis will take pride in seeing that one
OF their national favoTites is royalty re-
ceived. Gov. McGraw, Mayor Phelps and
many other prominent representatives OF
both parties have been asked TO take seats
of honor on the platform with the speak
err The ex-congressman will be intro
duced by John Wiley.
\ Politician From Boyhood.
William Jennings Bryan was born
March 49, 1860 at Salem, ii. He attended
the public schools of his native town. and
then graduated. first from the Illinois
State college and afterwards from Cnio"
Law college, Chicago. He spent two years
in the law office of Lyman Trumbull in
Chicago, and in the fall of 1887 moved 20
Nebraska and opened a law office at Lin
coin. He likewise plunged into politics,
and so signal was his success and so con-
spicuous his talents that the very next
year he was offered the Democratic nom
inatioh for lieutenant governor. This he
declined. but he took an active part In
the campaign, and made, in all, fifty
speeches.
His Fame Becomes National.
This canvass gave him statewide rep
utation for popular oratory and strong ar
gumentative force. and in 1880 he was
nominated for congress in the Lincoln
district. The nomination was not con-
sidered very desirable, for the reason that
the district was regarded as hopelessly
Republican, and the candidate of that
party was very strong man. Mr.. Bryan.
however, accepted the commission TO
make the race, and in doing so announced
that the Democratic principle of tariff re-
form would be advocated by him on every
in he ri
est was aroused. and the tour of Mr..
Bryan became one long ovation. Local
issues also redounded 10 his advantage.
The Republicans haa submitted a prohi-
hition amendment to the state consttu-
ton. and the Democrats in their platform
had declared against prohibition. The
two largest cities in the state, Lincoln
and Omaha. were In the district. and as
a consequence the Republicans on the
temperance issue lost heavily. When the
returns were counted il was discovered
that Bryan had been elected by major
ity of 6,713. The Republican candidate at
the previous congressional election nav
ing won by a majority of 3,400, the sue
cess of Mr.. Bryan represented a change
of over 10000 votes in the district. A Win
ming so large as this and accomplished so
distinctly upon the issue of tariff reform,
made Mr.. Bryan, when the house of 1888
was organized. an eminently worthy man
for recognition in the making up or the
ways and means committee as a repre-
sentative Of the West He was appointed
without protest on anybody's part, and
made a speech on the tariff question that
attracted much attention He had pre-
YioUsly been the chief orator at a Fourth
OF July celebration in Tammany Hall.
Great things were expected of the young
man in congress. He looked like Sam
uel ]. Randall. and he came with repu-
tation as an orator. for in Nebraska he
was known as Billy Bryan, the boy
orator OF the Platte" Until the Demo-
cratic party split on silver he was one OF
the leaders Of his party in congress. When
ne cast his lot with the free silverites he.
Of course. lost his standing with the adj
ministration, which dominates the party.
Chief Advocate of silver.
During the past two years Mr.. Bryan
has devoted nearly his whole time TO sill
Yer agitation He attends every silver
convention. lectures wherever he can OBJ
tain a large audience. and challenges all
sound money" orators to joint debate.
His influence in Nebraska has split the
Democratic party squarely in two. In
1894 the Democrats in that state promul-
gated free silver platform and Endorsed
Bryan for senator. The Republicans won
IN overwhelming victory and elected
John n. Thurston Mr.. Bryan is connect
FL with the Omaha World-Herald as an
editorial writer.