The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-07-29
VIM. J. BRYAN.
SKETCH OF THE NEXT pRESl
DENT BY A. J, LEWIS.
A Man of Good Judgment-His
Rapid Rise to Prominence
in Congress.

new YORK, July ZU.-AlIred Henry
Lewis, the we'll known Washington cor
respondent writes the Journal as follows
1.-THE country is about to hear vast
deal of William Jennings Bryan. He
islands today on the threshold of national
advertisement. No apology is 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-second con-
gress Bryan had been elected from one
Of the middle districts of Nebraska He
made his advent in Washington about
two weeks before congress convened. At
once he attached himself to the Springer
boom for the speakership. It wasn't
much Of a boom. but it was big enough
for Bryan, and ne voted for Springer to
the bitter end.
There were five candidates at the start:
Mills, Crisp, Hatch, Springer and McA1il-
lin. It came finally to two-Mils and
Crisp. Springer, as he sank from sight
as possible speaker, cast his own vote
for Crisp. Bryan, whose name on the
caucus list was called earlier than Spring
er's, had already voted for the Illinois
statesman, and he let it stand. Bryan
never voted for Crisp.
Bryan was given position on the ways
and means, a coign of legislative vantage
Bryans elevation by Crisp to this eminent
house perch was due to two matters
geography and Springer. Bryan WAS on
the right spot on the map. Aside from
that, when Springer agreed to bring his
people to Crisp, it was distinctly q specifi-
hat ,Sr fp,fr Ia
cared for. The deal was made in the
house lobby. -
IF you are ever going to do anything
for Crisp" said O'Ferrall, now governor
of Virginia, then one of Crisp's three chief
eutenants-Bourke Cochran and Gen.
are ever going to the aid Of Crisp,'' re-
peated O'Ferrall, speaking to Springer
and Holman, "the time to do so has ar
rived. 1t is now or never"
Can you VIM" asked Springer, anx-
iously. IF I bring you the few friends
who are left to me. can you elect your
man? I don't ask on my own account.
But I've held these men of mine in a
slaughter pen for two days. I won't lead
them to another"
I'VE can elect Crisp if you will help u.s."
declared O'Ferrall, ''and every friend Of
yours win be looked after
Il ask nothing for myself" said Spring
er, but want these men who have stood
with me through heat and trouble taken
care Of
ut shall be done,' said O'F'errall. 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'Ferrall and Springer little
thought as they conferred in the house
lobby that they were selecting a Demo-
cratic candidate for the presidency FIVE
years from That time. But, not the less,
they were. 1t elected Crisp to the chair,
placed Bryan on the ways and means
with Springer chairman, and opened an
avenue to house prominence for the young
Nebraskan that proved his political be-
ginning in national way.
The Fifty-second congress. which fol-
lowed the overthrow u McKinleyism,
was rife Of young men. Among the 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 enjoyed in was
found to be imaginary, not real.
Bryan Is in person OF middle height.
strongly, and without giving any one a
fatty impression, u stockily built. His
shoulders are, broad enough to excite the
approval of a Morse viking; his chest
is as deep as that of race horse. Nor.
is he overabundant about the waist, and
he looks what he is-a man Of perfect
health and immense physical power.
Mounted on Bryan's square shoulders
Il q square head. Hts hair = black: