Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-08-06

braskan's recollection.
"Shall l ever forget it !" he ex-
claimed. II almost tainted on that
OCCASION"
Bryan's tariff speech was the best
document which the campaign COM
mittee sent out, and tens otthousands
of copies were distributed. In the
F1fty-third Congress he took an es-
pecially active part in framing the
income tax provision Of the Wilson
bill. At the close of the debate on
the income tax, replying to Bourke
Cochran, August 16, 1898, at the
special ression, he delivered q three
hours speech against the repeal of
the Sherman law, this speech being
more largely circulated than the
tariff speech had been. He also
spoke in favor of the bill to coin the
seigniorage, and against Carlisle's
currency policy, as also against
Cleveland's gold contract with the
Rothschilds.
Mr.. Bryan is man of small
means. He was married October / =,
1884, 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. She was also the valedic-
torian of her class. She studied law,
and was admitted to the bar, with
out any idea of practicing, but sim
ply to be more thoroughly COM
panionable to him. She is year or
two younger than he. Three child
rem have been born to them-Ruth,
ten years old; William j. jr., about
seven, and Grace, five years old.
He joined the Cumberland Presby-
terian Church at the age offourteen,
and while in Washington was reg
ular attendant with his wife at the
New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church. They lived in the house of
Cotter T. Bride, 131 B street south
east, within two blocks of the Capt.
toll. During his residence in Wash
ingtOn the Democratic nominee was
noted for his quiet and exemplary
home life. He was devout Chris.
tian and prominent in church circles
to the extent that he frequently ad-
dressed church meetings and fire.
quently delivered lectures before the
Y. M. G. A. here and elsewhere.
His wife was an ideal companion,
and has been an invaluable assis-
tant to him in all his political affairs.
Bryan himself is an assidious stu
dent of politics and a firm believer
in the doctrines of Jefferson, whose
writings constitute a leading feature
of his library. 1t is said that Mrs.
Bryan is an indefatigable student of
political literature, and helps her
husband in preparing his speeches.
She is charming woman, and is
as great favorite in Lincoln as her
husband. She was one of the or
ganizers of SOrosis, the leading wo-
mans club of Lincoln, and is also q
member of the w. G. A., and other
Mr.. Bryan says she is in
to him in suggestions and
the preparation of material and in
advice as to points and methods.
The children are very bright and
are pretty and we'll bred.
Bryan's father was Silas L. Bryan,
who was Circuit Judge at the time
Of his sons birth, and served in that
from 1860 to 1872 on the
bench of Illinois. Judge Bryan
moved to a farm q short distance |
from Salem when his son was six |
years old, and from that time until |
he was twenty-three years old,
Bryan spent his summers on the
farm. In 1872 his father ran for
Congress on the Greedy ticket and
was defeated by 240 votes.
His family comes from Virginia. |
His grandfather was born in Cul-
pepper County in that State, and died |
in Salem, ILL.,, in 1880. His mother,
whose name was Maria Elizabeth |
Jennings, was born in Marion |
County, ILL.,, and died in Salem a
week ago last Saturday, after a pro-
tracted illness.
Bryan's power as an orator is
linked with a fine face, capable of
great expression. His resemblance
to ex-Speaker Randall was matter
Of general comment during his SER
vice in the House. 1t is a strong
face and full Of kindliness, clean |
'haven and frank expression. He
has no taint attaching to his private
life, and his record is that of a |
moral man. He neither
chews, smokes drinks, nor swears.
and his language is pure.
Repeatedly he engaged in Joint de-
bates on the financial Problem with
John M. Thurston, and through this
medium became we'll known as a sill
YER champion. In 1888 he suppor-
ted Secretary Morton for Congress
against Connell, who won by some
thing like 1000 plurality. In 1890
Bryan ran against the same man and
turned the tables, rs stated above.
Morton bitterly opposed him in his
later campaigns, when he advocated
PLATFORM OF 10 to l. Despite this
opposition he secured the nomina-
ton by the State Democratic Con-
vention for the Senate. In this
he met Thurston in two
brilliant joint debates at Lincoln and
Omaha respectively, which attracted
much attention.
Mr.. Bryan lives we'll In a commo.
dions dwelling in the fashionable
part OF Lincoln. The study In
which both Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan
have desks Is very attractive room.
1t Is filled with books, statuary and
mementos of campaigns. There are
busts or portraits of noted men, and
there are two butcher knives which
Mr.. Bryan used in the campaign
with Judge Field, to refute the lat
ter's boasts Of the effects Of high
protection. Last year Bryan was
asked IL he had any aspirations
looking to the White House, and he
said:
"No; have no wish to be a Pres