Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-10-19
BILLY BRYAN.

Some days since we wrote to a
friend in Nebraska, asking him to
write the MONITOR letter in regard
to ssBilly Bryan" and the political sit
uation in that state. The following
| interesting letter is received in re-
Spouse:
| Dear Monitor: -'tWrite me letter
about Billy Bryan is what you ask
in your letter of Sept. "a. I hardly
| believe you understand what short
text that is for any kind of sermon.
| In order to make a good-sized letter
from that text I shall be obliged to do
as many ministers are wont to do:
Announce the text and then go to
talking about something else.
'Billy Bryan" Somebody, years
ago, when the "boy orator. was much
younger than he now is, told him he
was smart and ne has gone on believ-
ing it ever since. The impression
early received has been misfortune
to him. He has not made that appli
cation to study and work which has
made him strong in any sphere. AS
lawyer he had no great and promin-
ent cases; he has been an Office law
yer chiefly. The Supreme Court has
rarely, if ever, listened to his s'silver
tongue and the District Court has
only infrequently heard his voice. He
gained some notoriety in editing
populist Or free silver paper, but his
success on that was average, and won
him only medium salary.
Hew as elected to the SD Congress
from our first district in 1892, and was
brought into some publicity in the
State. His ambition led him to seek
to become senator, and he entered
the race in opposition to Hon. John
M. Thurston, a Vermont boy. There
was joint debate between the rival
candidates. It was said at the time
that Bryan had the finest and best
rounded sentences and won most APP
plause, but that Thurston had the best
votes. Thurston won, the contest
being fought out on financial ques-
tons chiefly. My Judgment of the
man is that he is superficial; he does
not wear, except to wear threadbare
as his presidential campaigning
abundantly illustrates. An influential
paper in sizing up Mr.. Bryan very
neatly expresses it in mining
phrase, which all familiar with min
ing parlance we'll understand, when
it said, 'sHe is a sailed mine, worked
down to low pay dirt"
This is great and curious politi-
cal canvass. Ordinarily I have not
mixed in politics to any extent, but [
am up front just now close behind the
band wagon, and keeping step to
Republican music with both feet. I
have not been so warmed up since
1894. I suppose you wish to learn
what the situation is here Affairs in
this state on political matters have
been greatly mixed for some years.
There has been a large Populist ele
ment here. Two years ago our gov
ernor was Populist; six years ago
we elected one congressman, O. NJ.
Kern, as Populist. OF late there
has seemed to be great change Of
sentiment. Populistic notions are
taken about like the smallpox. It is
easy to catch, if you get near it, and
is dangerous diseases; if it doesn't
kill outright the patient gets bravely
over it and never has it second time.
While one has the disease every SEN
sible man shuns him. [ firmly believe
siderable of the disease in sections,
we have it pretty well quarantined.
Nebraska is a farming state, we
have little Or no manufacturing here.
Of late farming has been depressed,
owing to the low price of grains and
other farm products. Some years ago
there sprung up in the western sec
ton of the state what was known as
the Farmers Alliance, an organiza-
ton which had for it's motto, EMU
tual Protection" 1t was greatly OPP
posed to middle men, the railroads |
and monopolies, which were assumed
to be hostile to the interests of the |
farmer. There organizations swept |
over the state. They have fourished |
as fasteners cannot we'll understand.
Today they have a strength that only |
election day can measure and deter
mine. When the campaign began
one of our committee men sent lot |