The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-16
DEM0CRACYS
CANDIDATE.
Sketch of William Jen-
nings Bryan.
THE MAN AND HIS RECORD.
An Eloquent Champion of the
Common People.
TIE MAN AND HIs RECORD.
Has WIFE, FAMILY AND HOME.

EEIs Birth and ACKNOWLEDGMENT In His
Early xears-His Career In Congress.
his Famous Campaign For Congress.
his Wife. Els Home and His Family.
William Jennings Bryan, the Demo
cratic nominee fer president Of the
United States, is but So years of age,
year older than the limit Of eligibility
provided for by the constitution But
he has the ppearance-despite his
smooth face-the ripe wisdom and the
experience in politics ana business of a
man much older.
He was born on a farm just outside
the little town of Salem, Ills, IN the
year 1860. His father, a lawyer of high
standing, represented the Salem district
in the state senate for 8 years and was
circuit Judge for II years.
Judge Bryan had strong religious
sentiments and a peculiar habit of
opening his court with devotional exer-
eises, and at noon the court always ad-
journed for prayer.
+ DR.. Hill says that Bryan was a re-
markRble child in his tender years, and
coald read and write before he was 6
years old.
Born Orator.
His oratOricaI powers were developed
at very early age. When but mere
boy, he was accustomed to stand up be-
fore his playmates at school and on the
street and pour forth words of eloquence.
This wonderful gift brought distinction
50 him IN his childhood, and when he
had reached his twelfth year his father
took him to a great Democratic demon
strstion in Centralia, Ills, and there the
+ NOry hpcrova his 7,0l5%io07 raveaT-
After hearing addresses from the
most distinguished men in the state, the
dad mounted the platform. He had pro-
ceeded but a short time when the audi
ence had become spellbound under the
sway Of the boy orators burning elo-
qnence.
{, Soon ripple Of applause greeted the
speaker; then the audience, catching up
t the enthusiasm of the young hero, be-
came tumultuous and he could scarcely
proceed because Of the deafening cheers
which greeted every sentence.
It was q great triumph for the boy
orator and he was surrounded by those
present and carried away on the shout
iders Of strong men. The whole country
33around CentraIia was electrified, and
young Bryan was made one of the chief
ATTRACTIONS during the campaign.
Young Bryan was instructed at home
untll 10 years old. Then followed five
years in the public schools; two years
in Whipple academy at Jacksonville,
Ills, and two years at the Jacksonville
Oils } college. He; graduated from the
aatter institution in 1881 as orator and
valedictorian of his class. Soon after
ward he entered the Union Law college
at Chicago, from which he graduated
in 1888.
Y He was connected with the law Office
Of ez- United States Senator Lyman
'Trumbu1E for time, and later opened
an Office in Jacksonville, Ills, but re-
dnoEad to Nebraska 8 capital in 1887
and began to gain prominence.
Z He was elected to congress in the
First Nebraska district in 1890 over ".
y. Cennen of Omaha, and was reelected
in 1892 over Allen ". Field of Lincoln
In 1894 Er. Bryan declined a third
nomination, and was nominated by the
Democratic state convention for United
States senator by the unanimous vote of
the convention. The Republicans, how
ever, had majority in the Legislature,
aad Bryan was defeated for the senator
ship. Since Mr. Bryan's congress term
expired he has given his time exclusively
to spreading the doctrine of free silver,
, lie fist appeared in the political arena
Of Nebraska IN the campaign Of 1888,
when he stumped the First district for
y. Sterling Morton, nominee for con-
Rress. The same year he declined a
Remipatisn fer lieutenant governor. On