People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-07-23

the weight Of authorities on his side
or not.
He was familiar figure on the pref
ty streets of that beautiful city, and
soon he became known to old and
young alike.
Always clean shaver and wearing
SpOtless linen and neat clothing, he
looked more like a boy titan a man.
1t was only when engaged in CONVEX
satiOn or when making speech that
the fact that he was man and not a
boy dawned upon a person. He soon
became popular and everyone knew
him as Billy" Bryan, the rising
young lawyer.
Young Bryan soon drifted into poll
tics, and at once Leaf ped to the fore.
He could make stump speech that
would set his audiences afire with en-
thusiasm. His power Of OratOry gave
him mastery over the minds Of men,
and when it came time TO select a
Congressman from the old Omaha
district to succeed Congressman Con-
nell, everyone turned toward Bryan
as The man who could beat the willy
Congressman from the Nebraska me-
trOpOlis.
The mere mention Of his name set
the people OF Lincoln to work in earn
est. He was persuaded to visit
Omaha and become acquainted with
the powers that were. He came, he
saw, he conquered. He soon charmed
the whole district and he was nOmi-
mated without opposition.
At that time the old Omaha dis.
trict was Solidly Republican. The
average majority was 5000. The dis
trict had been represented by a Dem
Ocrat but once before. r. McShane,
who owned the old Omaha Herald,
was elected and served one term, but
was defeated for reelection by Con,
nell. The tariff was the sole issue
then. The Mckinley tariff had just
gone into effect, and its baneful infu.
enceS were being felt keeniy. Bryan,
like David of old, challenged the Re,
publican Goliath for joint debate on
the issues of the day throughout the
district. The challenge was Jumped
at. Cornell was known as a fOrcible
dcbater, and the Republicans figured
on running that audaciOus young
fellow" off the stump and, 10 ridicule
out of the race.
But they reckored without theil
host. They did not know o. the
sound logic, maSterful force and sill
very eloQuence possessed by BILLY
Bryan"
The debates opened in Omaha be
fore a vast concourSe Of people. Con
nell carried with him wire nail a.
an illustration Of how goods manufac
tured ia the United States under ;
protective tariff were cheaper thar
under low tariff, Before Bryan 90
through with Connell, he drove tina
wire nail into Connell's political cOf
dn. When Bryan concluded his frs
night's debate, everyone vote1 hio
the peer Of any orator 10 the West
and the master of Connell in debate
Cornell debated the issues twic
lagain, and then refused to 90 on
feigning illness. The fact was tina
Bryan'S eloQGence ard his knowIedg
of the tariff simply yanquished Cor
nell, and when the returns came i
election night Bryan was found t
have been elected by 1000 majority.
From that momeat he spraag int
prominence and became a state pol
tician 0. admitted strength aed abb
ity.
When he went to Washington
, take his seat his fame had precede
him and he was made member Q
the Ways and Mems Committee, an
also was placed UE the Committee o
Coinage, Weights and Measures. II
became an able lieutenant Of Syringe
and Bland. When the tariff bill cam
, up for discussion and Bryan arose
, speak, not a few members arose {
, depart and the:galleries began to th:
, out. lie was a young and unknow
member, and Of course his speec
would be commonplace.
But stop As his clear, resOnao
tones began to ring through the grea
hail Of the House Of Representative.
people stopped. Congressman wa
! had started for the cloak room or re.
taurant stopped, listened a moment
/, and quickly retraced their steps
, their seats. As his matchless elO
quence began to stamp hin as an or;
tor and not a lumdrum speaker, th
people 10 the gallery flOcked back
their seats and sat, transfxed by til
!. words Of the fiery and impetuou
! young speaker.