The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-07-16


ton at Chicago compl su'' ~ re- re-
by the nomination of William ]. Bryan
of Nebraska for President, and Arthur
Sewell of Maine for Vice President,
after a session Of five days. Senator
Jones Of Nevada was elected Chair
man of the National Committee
SKETCHES OF THE CANDIDATES.
Bryan is sc and if elected in No
vember next he will be the youngest
President that the White House has
ever known. He is essentially self
made man and man of the people.
His principal education was gained
IN the public schools of Salem, ILL.,,
where his parents resided. During
succeeding six years he received an
academic training. The bent of 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 foun-
dation 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 member of the House
from the first district of Nebraska,
where he located Immediately 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 Con
gress, Mr. Bryan electrified his col
leagues by the force and vgor of his
utterances, his intimate knowledge of
economic matters, the gracefulness 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 occa-
SION was repeatedly extended, and he
spoke in all several hours. He awoke
the next morning to find himself fam
Gus. Nor was it an ephemeral name.
He became from that day conspicu-
GUS figure in the House which includ-
ed such giants of debate as Breckin-
ridge, of Kentucky; Bourke Cochran
and John R. Fellows, of New York
Dingley 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 general
While Mr.. Bryan was not free
trader, he favored the lowest tariff
consistent with the necessities of the
government, and was placed by Speak
er Crisp upon the ways and means
committee, an unusual honor for a
new man. When the Fifty-third Con-
gress met, Mr.. Bryan had also achieved
reputation as staunch supporter of
free silver, and when President Cleve-
land convened that Congress in extra
ordinary session in the autumn of
1893, Mr.. Bryan was Mr. BANDS eff
cient lieutenant in leading the opposi-
tion to the repeal of the purchasing
clause of the Sherman Act. He con
tnued In that Congress as a member
OF the ways and means committee.
He was one of the subcommittee
which had charge Of the internal rev.
enue schedule of what was subse-
quently known as the Wilson tariff
bill, and he shares with Mr.. McMillen
of Tenn, in being the first to suggest
the incorporation in that measure Of
an income tax. Mr.. Bryan added to
his laurels as brilliant and ready de-
batter during the discussion of that
measure in the House, and his inhu-
ence was also exerted in favor of the
income tax which he regarded as one
of its most essential features With
this Congress Mr.. Bryan's congress
,onal career ended, and he returned
10 Omaha to accept the editorship of
the Worla-HeraM of that city, al
though his home for many years has
been at Lincoln, the state capital
Mr.. Bryan is abont the medium
height. His face is cleanly shaven
and in appearance he resembles the
great Pennsylvania commoner, Sam
uel J Randall, who, at Mr.. Bryan's
age, might readily nave passed for the
latters twin brother. He is strict
churchman, and on several occasions
addressed the Young Mems Christian
Association and other religious bodies
He is earnest and enthusiastic in
whatever cause he sympathizes, and
it is not doubted that his personality
will largely influence the approaching
campaign.
Arthur Sewell was born in Bath,