The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-07-18
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
Sketch of the Next President of the
United States

WASHINGTON, July l0.-There is nothing in
romantic literature that surpasses the meteoric
career of William Jennings Bryan, who was
to-day nominated at Chicago for the highest
Office within the gift of the American people
The constitutional age of Presidents is thirty
five years. Bryan is SO, and if elected in No
vember next he will be the youngest Presi-
dent that the White House has ever known.
He is essentially self-Inade man and a man
of the people. His principal education was
gained in the public schools of Salem, Illinois,
where his parents resided During the sue
ceeding six years he received an academic
training. The bent oil his mind was toward
the law, and it was in the office of Lyman
Trumbull himself conspicuous figure during
the war and the reconstruction period which
followed, that he laid the foundation of his
legal career. 1t was in Congress, however,
that Mr.. Bryan made the reputation which
has swept him into his present prominence.
In 1890, when only 80 years of age, he was
elected a member of the House from the First
District of Nebraska, where he located i'm
mediately after his admission TO the Bar.
During the consideration of the single tariff
bills which were brought to the House during
the first session of that Congress, Mr.. Bryan
electrified his colleagues by the force and
vigor of his utterances. his intimate knowledge
of economic matters, the gracefnlness of his
oratory and his ability to sustain himself with
credit against the ablest debaters upon the
Republican side of the chamber. His time
on that occasion was repeatedly extended
and he spoke in all several hours He awoke
the next morning to find himself famous.
Nor was it an ephemeral fame. He became
from that day conspicuous figure in House
which included such giants of debate as
Breckenridge, of Kentucky; Bourke Cochran
and John r. Fellows, of New York; Ding
ley and Reed, of Maine; Springer, of Illinois;
Lodge, of Massachusetts; Oates, of Alabama,
and William L. Wilson. Of West Virginia,
who now holds the Office of Postmaster Gen
eral.
While Mr.. Bryan was not free trader, he
favored the lowest tariff consistent with the
necessities of the Government, and he was
placed by Speaker Crisp upon the Ways and
Means Committee, an unusual honor for a
new man. When the Fifty-third Congress
met Mr.. Bryan had also achieved a reputa-
ton as a staunch supporter of free silver, and
when President Cleveland convened that
Congress in extraordinary session, in the
autumn of 1898, Mr.. Bryan was Mr.. Bands
efficient lieutenant in leading the opposition
TO the repeal of the purchasing clause of the
Sherman act He continued in that Con-
gress as member Of the Ways and Means
Committee. He was one of the sub-commit-
schedule of what was subsequently known as
the Wilson Tariff bill, and he shares with Mr.
McMillin, of Tennessee, in being the first to
suggest the incorporation in that measure of
of an income tax. Mr. Bryan added to his
laurels as brilliant and ready debater during
the discussion of that measure in the House,
and his influence was also exerted in favor of
the income tax, which he regarded as one of
the most essential features. With this Con-
gress Mr.. Bryan's Congressional career end
ed, and he returned to Omaha to accept the
editorship of the World Herald of that city,
although his home for many years has been
at Lincoln, the State capital.
Mr.. Bryan is about the medium in height.
His face is cleanly shaven, and in appearance
he resembles the great Pennsylvania COM
moner, Samuel ]. Randall, who, at Mr.. Bry-
ans age, might readily have passed for the
latter's twin brother. He is strict church
man, and on several occasions, during his
residence in this city, addressed the Young
Mems Christian Association and other relig-
ious bodies. He is earnest and enthusiastic
in whatever cause he sympathizes, and it is
not doubtful that his personality will largely
influence the approaching campaign.