The Meeker herald., 1896-08-08
CHARACTER SKETCH
OF william Jennings Bryan, the
Democratic Nominee for
President.

President.
The country is about to hear vast
deal Of William Jennings Bryan. He
stands to-day on the threshold OF ma
tional advertisement. No apology ID
needed as preliminary to telling all one
knows of him.
My first glimpse Of Bryan was during
the speakership fight. when Crisp won
over Mills. December, 1891. and was
given the house gavel In the Fifty sec
ond congress. Bryan had been elected
from one of the middle districts Of Ne
braska. He made his advent in Wash
ington about two weeks before congress
convened. At once he attached himself
to the Springer boom for the speaker,
ship. 1t wasn't much Of boom, bot II
was big enough for BRYAN, and he voted
for Springer to the bitter end.
There we're five candidates at the
start-Mills, Crisp. Hatch. Springer and
McMillin. 1t came finally to two-Milli
and Crisp. Springer, As he sank from
sight as a possible speaker, cast his own
vote for Crisp, Bryan, whose name on
the caucus list was called earlier than
Springer's, had already voted for the
Illinois statesman. and he let 1t stand.
Bryan never voted for Crisp.
Bryan was given q position on the
ways and means, coign of Legislative
vantage for which all the house mem
bers struggle. Bryan's elevation by
Crisp to this eminent house perch was
due to two geography and
Springer. Bryan was in the right spot
on the map. Aside from that, when
Springer agreed to bring his people to
Crisp, it was distinctly specification
that Springer's friends we're to be cared
for. The deal was made in the house
lobby.
"lf you are ever going to do anything
for Crisp" said o O'Ferrall, now governor
of Virginia, then one Of Crisp's three
chief lieutenants-Bourke Cochran and
General Tom Catchings were the others
-''if you are ever going to the aid Of
Crisp" repeated O'Ferrall, speaking to
Springer and Holman, "the time to do
80 has arrived. 1t is now or never"
"Can you win? ?" asked Springer, anx-
iously. IF l can bring YOU the few
friends who are left 70 me, can you elect
your manp don't ask on my own 30
count. But I've held these men in 4
slaughter pen for two days. 1 won't
lead them to another"
"We can elect Crisp IL you will help
u.s." declared O'Ferrall. land every
friend of yours will be looked after"
II ask nothing for myself" said
Springer" but want these men who
have stood with me through heat and
trouble taken care Of"
ut shall be done," said O'Ferrall.
"My word and honor on it."
That was the deal which made Crisp
speaker. and which proved the tap root
Of Bryan's nomination five years later
at Chicago. O'Ferrell and Springer
little thought as they conferred in the
house lobby that they we're selecting a
Democratic candidate for the presi-
dency five years from that time. But,
none the less, they were. 1t elected
Crisp to the chair, placed Bryan Oh the
ways and means, with Springer chair
man, and opened an avenue to house
prominence for the young Eebraskan
that proved his political beginning in a
national way.
The Fifty-second congress, which fol-
lowed the overthrow Of McKinleyism,
was rife of young men. Among those
most prominent of these were three
from Observation-Disclosures. George
Fred Williams and Sherman Hoar.
These were about Bryan's age. They
were early in meeting the boy from the
Platte. and they visibly felicitated
themselves on their-as they took it
superiority over him. As day drifted
In the wake Of day, this Superiority
they joyed In was found to be imagin-
ary, not real.
Bryan Is In person Of middle height,
strongly, and without giving anyone 9
fatty impression, stockily built His
shoulders are broad enough to excite