The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-10

the fact that the legislature had redis-
tricted the state and his district in the
previous election had given the Repub-
lican ticket about 5000 majority. He
was reelected by 14O votes.
In the Fifty-third congress he helped
to frame the Wilson bill, being a mem
Der of the ways and means committee
and took an especially active part in
the income tax provisions, at the close
of the debate on the income tax in con-
gress, replying to Bourke Cochran,
At the special session he delivered a
three hours speech against the re-
peal of the Sherman law, this speech
tariff speech had been. He also spoke
in favor of the bill to coin the seign-
forage and spoke against Carlisle's cur
rency policy and also against C1eve-
lands gold contract with the Roths-
childS. In 1894 he became a candidate
for the United States senate and an
nounced that he would not be a can
didate for the lower house of congress.
He was nominated for United States
senator in the Democratic convention
and the Populist candidate in his dis
trict was indorsed by the Democrats
for the house of representatives. The
ensuing state legislature being Repub-
Hcan, John NJ. ThurStOn was sent to
the senate and the Republican candi-
date in his former district, J. B. Strobe,
was elected by 5000 majority. During
all three of the campaigns he chal-
lenged the opposing candidates to a
debate and several discussions were
held
w J. Bryan is a comparatively new
man in the political arena of his state.
Through his debates on finance with
John NJ. ThurStOn he became better
known as a champion of silver. In 1890
when he ran against Thurston he chal-
lenged his adversary to series of
joint debates and made so brillinat a
showing that he carried the district by
a tremendous majority.
After his retirement from congress he
took up the practice of law in Lincoln
again, but the silver campaign open
ing he found the calls upon him for
speeches and campaign work were so
frequent that he was forced to give up
his law practice. In September, 1894,
he became the editor of the Omaha
World Herald and had control of it's
editorial policy on state and national
questions.
Mr.. Bryan is a man of small menas.
He was married October 1, 1884, to
Mary Baird Of Perry, Ill, who attend
ed the female academy in Jacksonville
when he was in the other school at the
same place and who graduated the
same week that he did and was also
the valedictorian of her class. She
studied law and was admitted to the
simply to be more thoroughly com
paniona BILE to him. She is a year or.
two younger than he. Three children
have been born to them. Ruth 10 years
OlUs w lA44dii4 - JI.s dDOul { anu GIaCG
5 years old.
Mr.. Bryan is a Presbyterian, having
joined the Cumberland Presbyterian
church at the age of II. He is now a
member of the First Presbyterian
church at Lincoln. His father was Si-
las L. Bryan, who was a, circuit judge
at the time of his sons birth and serv-
ed in that capacity from 1860 to 1872 on
the bench of Illinois. Judge Bryan
moved on a farm a short distance from
Salem, when his son was years old.
and from that time until he was %
years old, he spent his summers on the
farm. In 1872 his father ran for con-
gress on the Greeley ticket and was de-
feated by 240 votes His family comes
from Virginia His father was born in
Culpepper Court House in that state,
and died in Salem, Ill, in 1880
His mother whose name was Maria
Elizabeth Jennings was born in Mar
ion county Illinois, and diGA-in Salem
a week ago last Saturday after a pro-
tracted illness.
In appearance Mr.. Bryan is impress
sive his face Indicating intellectually
and power as well as good nature.
| There is notable absence of the boy
ishness seen in the pictures and lithO-
graphs OF him which have been circu-
lated. He is affable and kindly in man
| ner, easily approached and does not
lack dignity. In appearance he is an
illustration of the fact that some men
are never accorded justice by a pic
ture which in his case does not prepare
one for the expression of keenneSS
shown in his face.