Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-07-16
eRYAN.s CAREER.
A Short Sketch of the Life OF the Demo
cratic Nominee for President.

cratic Nominee for President.
CHICAGO. July 1i.-Mr. Bryan was born
March 49, 1880, in Salem. Ill. At the age of Is
he went to the whipple academy in Jackson
vile, Ill. which is the preparatory department
of the Illinois college located at the same
place. He spent two years in the academy and
four years in the college. taking a classical
course. He then went to the Union College of
Law in Chicago and while in attendance there
he in the Office of Lyman Trumbuu
He left the law school June Is. 1888. and
went to Jacksonville to practice Law, remain
ing at Jacksonville till October. 1887, when he
removed to Lincoln. Neb.. going into partner
ship with A. r. Talbot. a classmate OF the law
school. He had taken part in political cam
paignS since 1880 and made a number OF
speeches. He took part in the campaign of
1888 in Nebraska and was nominated to repre-
sent the First district in congress in 1890
He was reelected in 1892, in spite of the
fact that the legislature had redistricted
the state. and his district in the previous cleo
ton had given the republican ticket about 5000
majority, and was reelected by 40 votes. In
the Fifty-Third congress he helped to frame
the Wilson bill. being member of the ways
and means committee, and took an especially
active part in the income tax provisions.
At the close of the debate the income
tax in congress. replying to Bourke Cock
ran. August Is, 1898. at the special session,
he delivered three hours speech against
the repeal of the Sherman law. this speech be-
ing more largely circulated than the tariff
speech had been. He also spoke in favor of
the bill to coin the seigniorage and spoke
against Carlisle's currency and also against
Cleveland's gold contract with the koths-
childs
In 1894 he became candidate for the United
States senate and announced that be would
not be candidate for the lower house of con-
gress. He was nominated for United States
senator in the democratic convention and the
populist candidate in his district was in
dorsed by the democrats for the
house OF representatives The ensu-
ing state legislature being republican. John
M. ThurSton sent to the senate,
and the republican candidate in his former dis
trict, j. B. STROBE, elected by 5000 major
ity. After his retirement from congress he
took up the practice OF law in Lincoln again.
but the silver campaign opening he found that
the calls upon him for speeches were so fire.
Quent that he was forced to give up his law
practice. In September. 1897. he became the
editor-in-chief of the Omaha World-Jierald
and had control Of its editorial policy on state
and national questions.
Mr.. Bryan is man of small means He was
married October l., 1854. to Mary Baird, Of
Perry, Ill who attended the female academy
in Jacksonville when he was in the other
school at the same place. and who graduated
the same week that he did, and also the
vaiedictorian OF her class She studied law
and was admitted to the bar, without any idea
OF practicing, but simply to be more thorough
" companionable to him She is year or two
younger than he. Three children have been
born to them Ruth, ten years old: William j.,
Jr., about s, and Grace, five years old