The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-07-17

| He was punctual in his attendance
sat throughout the long sessions ant
then went home. The allurements Of
society, the official functions the sena
torial teas and the congressional junketl
he put aside as pitfalls TO be avoided BY
| man who came from a district nor
| mally Republican, with probably only
! two years to serve, and with every in
centive for a prudent man suddenly
! raised from yearly income of next t.
nothing to s., 900 to save enough SC
that when he got back to his dusty law.
yer's 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 him recognition and invited conf
dence. Judge Crisp was impressed with
the promise in the young, smooth shaven
member from the valley of the Platte
He had helped Crisp i'll his canvass for
the speakership, and Crisp put him on
the important ways and means commit
team exceptional honor, which, while
it gave him u standing, exposed the
speaker to much criticism.
The wisdom of Speaker Crisp's judy
ment in appointing the young Nebras-
kan upon the ways and means commit
tee was shown when Mr.. Bryan made
his first speech. 1t was a brilliant plea
for tariff reform and made the biggest
hit of the debate
The house was in confusion when he
began speaking, but i'll five minutes
every Democratic leader sat about him
listening intently. 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 of the Republicans sought to
take advantage of his inexperience by
interrupting him with questions that
might have puzzled much older heads.
But Mr.. Bryan frightened under this
friction and forced one Republican after
another into his seat, all Of them find
ing the young Nebraskan more than
their match. He argued his case with a
dramatic directness that aroused not
only the enthusiasm of the Democrats,
but won the applause of the galleries.
First Recognition In Congress.
The first cheers the young man won
from his fellow congressman Were clio
tied by characteristic piece Of wit.
There was once time in the his
tory of Nebraska he said. "when
cl,n fpy
son in the state. But now, if every wo-
man in Nebraska named Mary wanted
a pet lamb she would have to go out of
the state to get it. -
The peroration Of that speech is worth |
quoting, for it shows tersely the stand |
Mr.. Bryan has taken on the tariff ques- |
ton all through his public career. 1t is |
as follows:
1.-The country has nothing to fear
from the Democratic policy upon the
tariff question. 1t means a more equal
distribution of the great advantages Of
this country. II means that the men
who produce the wealth shall retain q
larger share of it.
at is for this reason that young men
Of this country are coming to the DEM
Dcratic party. 1t is because we are
right, and right will triumph. The day
will come. and that soon. l trust, when
wiser economic policies will prevail
than those to which the Republican
party is welded: when the laws in this
country will b. made for all and not for
4 few; wi;an thcsc who annually con-
yregate abont this capital. seeking 10
use the taxing power for purposes Of