The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-19
The Nebraskan's Speeches Said
to Be Entirely Devoid
Of Logic.
MCKINLEY SURE OF ELECTION
Sentiment From Now Until Votes
Are Cast Will Grow in His
Favor.


known Democrat, was published early
this month in the Nation, one of the lead
ing periodicals. Of Germany, whose editor,
Or. Theodor Barth, has come to this
country to watch the progress of our cleo
tions:
I'm about two months it must be de-
oided whether William Jennings Bryan or
William Mckinley is to be President
THE PopuIists have Endorsed Mr.. BRYAN
for the Presidency, but nominated
Thomas e. Watson, a violent partisan
from Georgia, as Vice. President because
they despise Arthur Sewall, the wealthy
sh1pbulIder from Maine. Neither Watson
nor SewalI can be induced to withdraw.
AS Bryan insists upon retaining Sewall he
may lose votes of Southern Populists who
decline to vote for him.
IA description of the strange product of
our Western country who, by accident
came suddenly into prominence, must be
OF interest. Born in March, 1860, at
Salem, ILL.,, William J. Bryan has by age
Just become eligible. His father, a Vir-
glnlan by birth, was for many wears State
senator and Judge in Illinois. His means
enabled the son to enjoy the advantages
OF good education. At the age of
II William was already allowed to
address a political meeting. The
audience began by laughing at the boy
orator, but soon listened to him with at
tention. He studied law in college and in
the office of Lyman Trumbull in Chicago,
famous by his draft of the thirteenth
amendment to the constitution, which
leRallZed the emancipation of slaves.
Graduating in 1881, Mr.. Bryan moved, IN
1887, to Lincoln, Nebr where he devoted
himself to politics. In 1888 he won his first
laurels by passionate speech in favor
OF free trade. Elected to Congress in
1890, he was appointed a mem Der of the
Ways ana Means Committee, and distin-
gulshed himself in the cause of tariff re-
form. As q friend OF Richard Bland he
became the most violent advocate OF free
silver coinage when he was reelected in
1892. At the end of this term in 1894 he
accepted position as editor of the Omaha
World Herald.
"After his admission to the bar he mar
RED Mary Elizabeth Baird, a clever young
woman and fellow law student, now the
better lawyer OF the pair. She takes deep
interest in the political advancement OF
her husband, assists in the preparation of
his speeches and makes hosts of friends by
her tact and amiability, never negIecting
her duties as housewife and mother. She
commands universal res pect.
Mr.. Bryan speaks with apparent sin
certify; his manner is simple yet earnest,
so that 1t carries conviction. Intelligent
men have remained Spellbound under the
influence of his silver tongue, although he
seldom says what IS worth hearing. In
toxicated by the exuberance of his own
verbosity, he has the faculty of speaking
without saying anything. Coming to chi
cago to claim a seat in the conven-
ton. which had been contested gilVerites
awarded and gave to him an opportunity
OF delivering that wonderful address
which secured his nomination. One of its
captivating phrases, Protection has slain
thousands. the gold standard tens of thou
sands, is fair example of the rest.
Travelling from Nebraska TO New York
to be notified of his nomination. he Sc
lected slow trains because he could speak
from the platforms OF their cars wherever
curiosity drew a crowd. That a possible
President should exhibit himse like a
mountebank was a humiliating spectacle
even to Western politicians. His hand
became sore from shaking and his voice
hoarse from speaking, so that he could
hardly be heard when he delivered his
Grafton of acceptance in the vast expanse
OF Madison-square Garden. This the
atrical performance failed, because he
read his part instead of speaking it as he
was accustomed. The people who had
come to listen to Demosthenes, left when
they heard an essay of a college
professor. More than a third of the
hall, which accommodates 10000 specta-
tors, was empty before he finished. APP
plauded for socialistic expressions his al
Iusions to finance were listened to in
silence Again and again he asserted
that we could raise the value of an ounce
of silver to 81 % in gold by free coinage,
but produced no arguments to show how
it could be done. Here is one of
the glittering phrases of the lee
ture: The gold standard has beer weighed
and found wanting; it encourages hoard
ing, discourages enterprise and paralyzes
is boarded in India and China, while it
circuIates freely in England and Germany.
Industries flourish where people have con-
fidence IN the stability of Values they
languish wherever that is wanting.
"Of medium height and pleasing man
ners, Bryan knows how TO win the hearts |
of men by musical voice and genial
smile; politically demagogue, he bears |
the reputation of a good Christian and !
honest man in private life.
MANY theories of our Silverites are
crude, so that it is incomprehensible how
they could influence a we'll balanced |
mind. Some claim it would be an |
advantage if our credit were i'm
paired, as we would have to rely then
on our own resources, and could show
what he could do without the money |
changers and vampires of Lombard street. |
A majority have nothing to lose; in their |
opinion any change could not injure, but |
might benefit them. TO call their atten-
ton to the fact that their labor would |
be paid for in depre ciated money will |
not brighten themY because they ex- |
pect to get that money without working |
for it. The platform OF the Populists !
favors an issue of irredeemable money |
which is safe and sound and is to be dis |
tributed through lawful disbursement of
the Government. One OF the measures |
openly advocated in st. Louis was free |
gift to the people of the imaginary profit |
which the treasury had made by coming |
silver into standard silver dollars. That |
this profit called seigniorage, should be |
coined and turned into the treasury, had |
been proposed in Congress; the Populists |
seem TO have better use for it.
Bryan might have been successful if
under the influence OF spontaneous popu-
lar enthusiasm for these vagaries the cleo
ton had taken place Immediately after
the Popocratic nominations. (Since the
fusion of Populists with Democrats
the combined party has been called
Popocratic.) The poor were then
aroused against the rich, farm
ers against city folks. McKinley's fol-