The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-20

tle as they looked upon 1t 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 vigor-
Gus efforts fully made up for the lack
Of campaign funds.
MIR. Bryan was then, as now, 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 submit
ted a prohibition amendment 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 Demo
cratic committee to Cornell to discuss
the issues of the day in joint debate
with Mr.. Bryan. They did not really
expect that Connell would be rasn
enough to accept, but hoped to make
political capital out of his refusal. Con-
nell. however, flattered by former sue
cesSeS 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 mat
tiers of fact. Thoroughly familiar with
the subjects TO be discussed, he was
equipped with statistical and histori-
cal information and was ever ready to
meet the points Of his opponent on
economic as well as political grounds.
From the outset his advant age was
so marked that Connelrs friends re-
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 c0unted it was found
that he had been showed under by a
majority of nearly 1000.
Bryan, an obscure, struggling lawyer
in a small Nebraska town, with small
income and gloomy prospects, came to
congress with the overwhelming Demo-
cratic majority which recorded the
country's rebuke OF McKinleyiSm.
OF the hundred and more young men,
bers VINO then appeared in congress he
was among the youngesL- 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 kicking
open the main door, which Reed had
ordered locked while counting a wish
bic quorum
Bryan attracted little or no attention
To the men even from the west his abil-
ity was unknown. He was looked upon
as one of the accidents of politics, like
George Fred Williams, who seconded
his nomination for the presidency;
Sherman, Hoar and others, who came
from districts never before and never
since represented by Democrats.
He was guilty Of the crime of being
young man. He could not deny it.
1t was undeniably written all over his
smooth, clear cut face; was revealed
in the sparkle of his dark brown eyes,
and was undeniably betrayed in his
first speech, fowery and spread eagle,
which was side tracked to The Con-
gressional Record without being de-
livered. But aside by the leaders who
deny any latitude TO inexperience, he
sat day after day in his seat, watch
ing parliamentary tricks and subtle
ties and mentally collecting knowledge
Of men and affairs, which he used with
surprising tact and force when his Gp-
portunity came.
His years were betrayed only in his
face and his suppressed speech. He
looked the statesman and dressed with
fitting dignity. In season and our, defy
Ing the tropical sun of the long August
days in the nations capital, he arLear-
ed in long black Prince Albert, black
cravat and black trousers, which show
ed no signs Of tailor's attention
He was punctual in his attendance.
sat throughout the long sessions and
then went home. The allurements of
society, the official functions. the sena-
torial teas and the congressional Junk
cts he put aside as pitfalls to be avoid
ed by man who came from a district
normally Republican, with probably
only two years to serve and with every
incentive for prudent man suddenly
raised from a yearly income of next
TO nothing to $1,000 to save enough so
than When he got back to mis- dusty
lawyers desk, empty of briefs, he could
provide for his family until his profess
sion brought him substantial returns.
Bryan made friends even with his
great handicap of youth and inexperi-
ence He had charm Of manner that
won MIN recognition and invited conf
dence. Judge Crisp was impressed
with the promise in the young, smooth
snaVen member from the valley Of the
Platte he had helped Crisp in his
canvass Tor the speakership, and Crisp
put MIN ON the important ways and
honor, which, while it gave him a
standing, exposed the speaker to much
criticism. -''''eA
The wisdom of Speaker Crisp's iudg-
ment in appointing the young Nebras-
kan upon the ways and means com
mlttee was shown when Mr.. Bryan
made his first speech. 1t was a bril-
ilant plea for tariff reform and made
the biggest hit of the debate.
The house was in confusion when he
began speaking, but in Ave minutes
every Democratic leader sat about him
listening lntently. The Republicans
soon paid the young orator the same
compliment, the galleries began to fill
up and the crowd remained until he
had finished
Some CT the Republicans sought to
take advantage Of his ineXperience bv
lnteTrupting him with questions that
might have puzzled much older heads.
But Mr.. Bryan frightened under this
friction and forced one Republican AFT
ter another into his seat, ali of them
nnding the young Nebraskan more
tnan their match. He argued his case
with dramatic directness that
aroused not only the enthusiasm of
the Democrats, but Won the applause
of the galleries.
FIRST RECOGNITION IN CON-
The first cheers the young man won
from his fellow congressman were elic-
tied by characteristic piece of wit.
There was once a time in the his
tory of Nebraska, he said, when
there was a sheep there for every per-
son in the state. But now, if every
woman in Nebraska named Mary
wanted pet lamb, She would have to
go out oT the state to get it,
The peroration Of that speech is
worth quoting, for it shows terse-