The herald., 1896-07-26
HOW VIM j. BRYAN WON FAME BOUND 8

volved that the question Of the senator
| ship could not be considered alone. And
although the rank and file of the Popu-
lists were with him, some of their leaders
were SO blind as to permit their candi-
date to combat with a Democratic can
! dloate Tor the legislature and thus allow
the election of a Repblican. 1t was this
iack OF union, which Mr.. Bryan SO clear
| ly roresaW, which defeated him for the
| senate. But that he was the popular
| choice Tor the place was shown by the
| vote. For preference for the United
states senate, position on the official
| paliot, Mr.. Bryan received $4,000 votes,
| While Thurston received but 1866 and the
otner Republican leaders even less. AS
there were but $4,000 Democrats in the
state, 1t will be seen Bryan ran 30, 900
votes ahead of the regular Democratic
| strength. Amid the general Democratic
| losses ne seems to have been better situ-
ated than many others, for he has not
| peen yet. defeated in a square test when
MS candidacy was clearly involved
| Wnat Mr.. Bryan regards as the most
| satisfactory event in his public career
ana which was, to say the least, very
| unusual to a retiring congressman, was
t sne reception which was given to him on
| MS return from congress last March,
IL was learned by his friends that he
| would return March 10, his 35th birth
| oay, and they made great preparations
70 show him what the people of this city
tnink or him. irrespective of party
Wnen ne alighted from his train that
| evening ne found great throng at the
station. A band led the procession to the
motel and later to his home In the even
ing the opera house was crowded to suf-
rocation almost by the throng which
wlsned to hear him, and over 1000 were
unapie TO secure admittance. His ad-
oress on that occasion was In no sense
| an oration but an expression of the an
preciatfon of the kindly welcome of his
| neighbors. When he had finished he re :.
celved an ovation, which with hand
shaking and expression of good wishes
lasted far into the night. This recep-
tlon was under the auspices Of the Dem
| ocratic club, but was in no sense a par
tisan AFFAIR and was all the more nota-
hle for the reason that the city of Lin
coin is very strongly Republican.
AFTER his return home he at once
plunged into the practice of his profess
sion, and was intending to devote his
whole time to it, when calls came to
MIN to visit various sections of the
country and speak on the silver question.
He has been engaged in this work for
the past four months, speaking at Chau-
tauquas and other public gatherings.
He has spoken in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Ten
neSsee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi.
Louisiana, Texas. Oklahoma, Kansas,
Nebraska, Missouri. Arkansas and Wy
oming, and is now on tour of the far
ther west. He has had four Joint dis
cussions on these trips. one with r. G.
Horr, one with ex-Congressman Clark
OF Alabama, and one with BILLY" Ma
son at Havana. Ill. The latter was the
easiest victory of all, even the Chicago
lawyer acknowledging that he wished
ne was discussing the tariff question. He
VIII make the address on Democratic
day at the Oregon state fair, Sept. "a,
Following Mckinley, who speaks the day
before on Republican day.
HIS PRIVATE LIFE.
Thus has been sketched the public
man, but what of the private life of this
young favorite? Mr.. Bryan lives in a
roomy and commodious dwelling in n
pretty part of Lincoln. His family con-
sists of Mrs. Bryan, Ruth, aged 10; Will
liam j., Jr., aged 6, and Grace, aged 4,
and with them are also Mr.. and Mrs.
Baird, Mrs. Bryan's parents. Through
out the house are evidences of the liter
ary tastes of the occupants. The study,
IN which both Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan have
desks, Is very attractive room. 1t is
hlled with books, statuary and memen-
toes of campaigns. There are busts or
portraits of Washington, Webster,
Clay, Jefferson, Benton, Jackson, Lin
coin, Douglas, Gladstone and Mrs. Bry-
ans father. of whom he Is very proud.
On the walls are sketches of various
sorts. and there are two butcher knives
which Mr.. Bryan used in the campaign
with Field to utterly discomfit that cam
didate's boasts of the valuable effects of
the Mckinley law.
Mr.. Bryan Is a fine looking man. and
when in debate or conversation his face
IS fascinating. 1t is a strong intellec-
tual countenance throughout. And there
n n q TO- iv,i n,,1 L..
pressed with this fact of the good ma
ture of the man. He evidently thinks
and wishes no evil His opponents on
the stump have been unable to become
angry at so courteous, fair and good
natured an antagonist. His smile is con-
tagious, and when he became editor of
the Omaha World Herald one of the
country editors in deprecating the step
said he could not be so successful as an
editor as a speaker, for he could not
smile on paper.
When asked about the presidency. Mr..
Bryan said, thoughtfully: mo, have no
wish to be a presidential candidate.
neither now nor for years to come NV
whole thought now is centered on my
family and my profession, so far as my
own personal desires CO. l am simply
planning to erect suburban home that
the children may have some of the bene-
fits of country life. was brought I'D
III tilS anu WISH my cnllQren TO
have some of the same rearing They
are now of the age when they need a
fathers care. And I wish to get into
practice again, for very much enjoy the
law. which has been necessarily aban-
doned during my four years in Washing
ton. l felt that I must devote all my
time to my duties at Washington for my
constituents, and I have done So"
BORN IN ILLINOIS.
Mr.. Bryan's lineage is thoroughly
Democratic. His father was Silas L.
Bryan, who was born in Culpepper
county, Virginia, at the foot of the Blue
Ridge mountains. He came to Illinois
when is years Of age and settled finally
AT Salem. He was graduate OF Nc
kendrie college, Lebanon, ILL.,, and be-
gan the practice of law. In 1862 he was
elected state senator and served eight
years. lie was elected in 1860 circuit
judge and served until 1872. He was
MEMBER or the constitutional convention
IN lIO, and there. introduced resolution
that all ohicers created by the constitu-
tlon should be elected by the peopIe.
In 1870 ne was Democratic candidate for
congress, and was defeated by 240 votes
py James 5. Martin. He was a strong
man intellectually, and was a good pub
Tic speaker. He died in 1880. He was
married to Maria Elizabeth jennings Mt
Salem in 1852. They had nine children
OF whom five are living. w. J. is the
fourth Mrs. Bryan is still living at
Salem, and takes very great delight in
the career and success of her son.
When was years of age" said Mr.
Bryan, I'VE moved from, tou,, - :, -