The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-20

will come, and that soon, trust, When
wiser economic policies will prevail
than those to which the Republican
party is welded; when the laws in this
country will be made for all and not
for a few; when those who annually
congregate about this capital seeking
to use the taxing power for purposes
of private gain, will have lost their oc-
cupa,tion; when the burdens Of govern
ment will be equally distributed and
its blessings likewise.
Hail that day. When it's comes, to
use the language of another, 'Democ-
racy will be king. Long live the
king!"
At the end of that speech the mem
bers of the house no longer questioned
the ability of the young man just come
among them. Natures that had been
prone to discount The youthful inter
loper from Nebraska recovered from
their error with no further delay.
No one sneered at Bryan after that,
and there were few who dared to risk
the discomfort of tackling the 1.-the
westener who was SO quick and nlmble
on his mental feet.
All through that congress-the Fifty
second-Bryan was one of the most
prominent figures in the house, al
though he was its youngest member
He devoted limitleSs time to tarln re-
form, and when he went back to Ne
braska it was with the knowledge that
he had fought a good fight.
He entered the next congress to tight
a new battle. He had Joined the forces
of Mr.. BANDS free silver warfare ana
became the first lieutenant of the Mis-
souri, veteran In the previous con-
gress Mr.. BANDS right hand man had
been Mr.. Pierce, of Tennessee, but he
failed of reelection. Pierce was not a
great orator, but was an effective
speaker and a sl5ilTful and adroit par
liamentary general What Bryan lacked
in the latter respect he fully made up
by his brilliancy as a speaker, and IN
the silver debates of that congress ne
laid the foundation for his political fu-
ture.
He had sided with Mr. Bland in the
previous congress, but it was not until
now that he became an out and out
silver leader. Before that 1t had been
thought he favored free coinage be-
cause of a supposed strong sentiment
among his constituents favorable to
this legislation. But now he showed
that his heart and soul were in the
cause.
His speech against the repeal of the
Sherman silver coinage act was one OF
the most remarkable ever heard in the
house. For three hours he held the
close attention of the largest audience,
both on the floor and on the galleries,
drawn to the capitol during the SEES
sion. The oldest MEMBERS of the house
followed the speech with even more re-
spectful interest than had been &C
corded to Mr. BANDS speech few
days before, and Mr.. Bryan's more at
tractive personality and his captlVat,
ing eloquence fixed the attention OF
hundreds present who were less inter
es,ted in. the issue discussed.
After BRYAN had declined renoml-
nation for third congressional term,
he became or-in-chief of the World
Herald. of Omaha, in which he was to
advocate the free and unlimited COIN
age Of silver, and incidentally, 1t was
said. to promote his candidacy for the
United States senate. Another feature
of his management was to be hosul-
ity to the administration and all that
partook of Clevelandism.
Mr.. Bryan took hold September 1,
1894, and all went well until the Ne
braska Republican state central COM
mittee made a contract by which it
should control two columns in the edi-
torial page. Mr.. Bryan found that the
Republicans were using their space to
publish matter detrimental to his sem
atorial project and he made fight in
of his enemies.
When Bryan's aspirations were
blasted by the election of John NJ.
Thurston to the senate. the silver
tongued young orator retired to private
life as an 'ex-congressman."
He still continued, however, to advo-
cate in every way the free coinage of
silver and made frequent trips through
the west and south advocating it.
MR.. BRYAN's WIFE.
Mr.. Bryan's wife was Miss Mary E.
Baird, the only daughter of a pros
porous merchant in Perry, Ill. Opin-
ions seem to differ somewhat as to
whether she is handsome or other
wise, but the fact is, she is what
would be called really handsome and
attractive. She is withal a woman of
rare mental endowments, is rather stu
dious and very reserved. But she has
an immense amount of determination,
and found no difficulty in passing her
examination for admission to the bar.
She does not care for fashion or So
ciety and pays no attention whatever
to either.
At the time Bryan made his famous
tariff speech in the house he gener-
ously declared his wife deserved a
share of the praise he got for it, Mrs.
Bryan was in the gallery and heard
every word of the speech. She noted
the volume of tone required to fill the
hall, and by means of signals commu-
nicated to her husband until she had
satisfied herself that he had struck
the most effective tone.
Mrs. Bryan can be very sarcastic
when sufficiently reused, and at any
time will say droll, witty things with
rrIo Af 10 1oar II ,-ly
eyes.
She is the mother of three children
and is very domestic in her inclina-
tons. When it was discovered that
she was a lawyer, a congressman who
meant to be very agreeable, inquired
of her with what she was most famil-
lar.
Mrs. Bryan's quick answer was:
Domestic relations, sir
If the Bryans should come into the
White house, many people would re-
call and contrast the night of their
first appearance there with Mrs. Bry-
ans prospect of standing at the head
Of the reception line.
1t was just after Bryans speech
when everybody wanted to see him
and his lawyer wife. Mrs. Bryan ap-
peared in a high necked, long sleeved
black cashmere dress, not even fash
ionably cut or made. Bryan wore his
usual Prince Albert coat and possibly
white lawn tie. The pair stood about
and looked lost while people told each
other who the transformations, rather
old fashioned looking couple were, yet
neither was at all embarrassed Both
got more than a little amusement out
of watching the crowds They went
out very seldom in Washington, and
then only on official occasions. Mrs