The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-19

long-distance telephone. He said: "Mr.
Block will not say anything about the
denies 1t, though l have heard that at
one tine he did deny 1t. To-day he VIII
simply say nothing. / have spoken with
him about it to-day. and he said that he
refused to say anything about it, and he
refuses now to see newspaper men. | my
self heard of the story some time ago; |
understood distinctly that Mr.. Bryan had
applied for the position of press agent.
that his proposition was under favorable
consideration at the time of his nominal
ton for President, that his nomination was
the only thing that prevented his being
ton to the fact that he was nominated
for President of the United States and
could not AXE it. In justice TO Mr.. Block
that / heard the story. l do not remember
from whom | heard it. but l think it was
from Max Blieman,. the proprietor of The
1t is a curious coincidence that the posi-
ton left open by the nomination of Bryan
for President should go TO a man who
bears the name of the vice presidential
candidate on the other side.
The people of the Herald-square Theater
experienced a new sensation yesterday in
suddenly finding themselves of political
was the etiquette of the occasion. but they
said that they wanted to do anything that
could help the cause of the Republican
candidates. Mr.. Block had acted In the
only way that he could act toward an old
schoolfellow in refusing to give up the let
knowledge that there was such a letter.
But Mr.. Block himself, his friends hastened
to say, was going to vote for Mckinley.
THE THEATRICAL ABOUT BRYAN.
This is not the first that was ever heard
of the theatrical tendencies of Mr.. Bryan.
If there was ever anything theatrical in
the world it was his nomination. If there
was ever a dismal attempt to be theatrical
it was his notion of beginning the cam
paign with an acceptance of his nominal
ton in the midst of what he was plaa sod
to call 'the enemy's country Some pic
lures have been freely circulated lately of
three Sinking faces. They are faces that
snow the low comedian in every line of
snenl. Ihey are re-'roductlons OF three
snapshot photographs of Mr.. Bryan. Ev-
eryhody has seen them. His remark to Mr..
Block that he ought to have been an actor
was a wonderful flash of intelligence. He
really ought. This is an important point
or this story of the attempt to be Il press
agent; 1t IS of a piece with everything
IN being press agent, of course. or in any
other honorable work that any one chooses
to do for the support of himself and his
family, But most press agents, TO judge
from the specimens that constantly con-
front the New York newspaper man. are
not persons who are qualified to cut a bril-
liant figure as President of the United
States, and few people will be ready to
believe that a person who is qualified for
that highest of stations would ever need to
seek employment at the Dress-agent trade.
The fact that a man has tried his hand at
JULIUS dnu ldW anu newspaper WOfk, an0s
had been so marked a failure at them thar
he wished to change them all for the BUSH
ness of advertising Il plav will go far in
many minds to prove that the man is not
qualified to guide a great nation.
There were persons. naturally, who in
discussing this strange story yesterday
tried to be facetious. But it is too easy.
The comic possibilities of the situation are
too obvious to need pointing out. When
great wits get to work on the theme they
may develop something really sharp and
fine and keen. but nobody can help being
a joker in an humble way in the presence
of such a theme, and when the serious side
of 1t has received consideration the comic
one will thrust itself upon everybody.