Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1896-07-31

lievcs what he says himself.
The personnel OF the young Nebraska
statesman is most happily adapted to
; his position as leader in the councils
OF his party and in public debates with
opponents OF his political doctrines
He is OF medium build, square
shouldered and OF generally athletic
proportions. He is the embodiment
of physical health, his square head
rests firmly on his shoulders and his
firm, massive face, neither flushed nor
pallid, makes an attractive mark for
all eyes.
His hair is black anA recalcitrant
rather than dccile, defies brush and
comb, and tumbles and losses with a
method of his own. No beard, no
mustache, has the freedom of Bryan's
visage. Every trace is carefully moved
away with the light OF each new day.
TIE MANNERS OF THE MAN.
In manners he is what is called mag
netic. Men like him. He is pleasant
to the eye, to the ear, and soothes by
his presence and never troubles. No
man ever saw him in passion. He
is cool and of hawless temper. He is
of good poise and his emotions sit
steadily, as becomes the emotions of
one who, with care for himself, eats
thrice day, SCOTS at dyspepsia and
sleeps soundly Of nights.
Bryan is we'll, even highly, educated.
He has dug through books and trun-
neled learning equal with any dusty,
musty college professor of them all
More than books, he has studied men,
and their lives have been his lessons.
He has memory like wax, and all he
has heard or read or seen abides with
him.
He is not 80 profound as quick, and,
with an intellect rather military than
philosophical, he makes weapons OF all
he knows, and every scrap of learning
belonging to him is at prompt and
ready hand to be either defensive or
offensive, as his swift genius for COM
bat may decide.
When Bryan made his famous can
vass of his State, in 1890, the old time
politicians took no interest in the bat
tie, as they looked upon it as lost at
the outset, and they were more than
niggardly in furnishing the sinews OF
war. But the younger Democrats
were more than jealous, and by their
vigorous efforts fully made up for the
lack of campaign funds.
Mr.. Bryan was then, as now, q COM
paratively poor man, and his campaign
expenses were limited to less than
$500. But the greatest interest was
aroused, and Mr.. Bryan's tour became
one long ovation. The Republicans
had submitted a prohibition amend.
ment to the State constitution, and
the Democrats, in their platform, had
declared against prohibition. Lincoln
and Omaha, the largest cities in the
State, we're in the district, and in them
the Republicans lost heavily on the
temperance issue.
A striking feature Of the campaign
was the challenge issued by the Dem
ocratic committee to Connell to discuss
the issues of the day in joint debate
with Mr.. Bryan. They did not really
expect that Connell would be rash
enough to accept, but hoped to make
political capital out of his refusal.
Cornell, however, flattered by former
successes in haranguing helpless juries,
accepted the challenge.
Mr.. Bryan then showed that he was
not only his adversary's superior in
oratory, but also his master in matters
of fact. Thoroughly familiar with the
subjects to be discussed, he was
equipped with statistical and historial
information and was ever ready to
meet the points OF his opponent on
economic as we'll as political grounds
From the outset his advantage was
so marked that Connell's friends rec.
commended him to find some excuse to
draw out OF the contest, but with more
persistence than discretion he refused
to hearken to their advice, and when
the votes were counted it was found
that he had been showed under by q
majority of nearly 1000.
Bryan, an obscure, struggling law
yer in a small Nebraska town, with
small income and gloomy prospects,
came to Congress with the overwhelm-
ing Democratic majority which re-
corded the country's rebuke of Nc
Kinleyism.
OF the hundred and more young
members who then appeared in Con.
gress he was among the youngest. A
few months previous he had celebrated
his thirty-frst birthday.
Next to the smooth. shaver, boyish
Bailey of Texas he was the youngest
member OF the House. He sat away
back near the rail with Kilgore, who
Unexpectedly acquired fame by kick
ing open the main door, which Reed
had ordered locked while counting q
visible quorum"
Bryan attracted little or no atten.
ton. To the men even from the west
his ability was unknown. He was
looked upon as one of the accidents oil
politics, like George Fred Williams
who seconded his nomination for the