The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-07-22
Who And What Bryan Is.
A Hit And Miss sketch of The
New Man IN Politics.

a d1L AQO GllSS Sk0GCu VI LILO
New Man IN Politics.
( Alfred Henry Lewis in the New York
Journal.)
CH1cAao, July l0.-The country is
about to hear vast deal Of William
Jennings Bryan He stands to-day on
the threshold Of oational advertisement.
No apology is needed as preliminary
to telling all one knows of him.
My first glimpse Of Bryan was during
the Speakership fight, when Crisp won
over Mills. December. 1891, and vas
given the House gavel in che Fifty
second Congress Bryan had been
elected from one of the middle districts
Of Nebraska. He made his advent In
Washington about two weeks before
Congress convened. At once be at
tached himself to the Springer boom
for the Speakership. It wasn't much
ola boom. bat it was big enough for
Bryan, and tue voed for Springer to
the bitter end. ~
There we're Eve candidates at the
start: Mills. Crisp. Hatch, Springer
and McMillin. It came 6ullysso two
Mills aud Crisp. Bryan. whose
name on the caucus liss,., was
called earlier than Springer's. had al
ready voted for the Illinois statesmen.
and he lesM ssand Bryan never voted
for Crisp
Bryan Vas given a position op the
ways aud means. q point Of Legislative
vantage. for which. all House members
srruggls. Bryan's elevation by Crisp
to this eminent House perch was due to
two mat.ers-geography and Springer.
Bryan was 10 the right spot on che
map. Aside from that. when Sprin-
ger agreed to bring his people to Crisp.
i was distinctly specifications that
Springer's friends we're to be cared for.
Tie deal was made in the House lobby
eff you are ever going to do any
thing for Crisp said O'Ferrall. now
Governor. of Virginia then one Of
Crisp's three chief lieutenants-
Bourke Cochran and Gen. Tom Catch
ings we're the oshers-''if you are ever
going to the aid of Crisp repeated
O'Ferrall. speaking to Springer and
Holman. s.the time to do so has arrived
It Is now or never"
..Can you win?' asked Springer,
anxiously. .sIfI bring you the few
friends who are left to me, can you elect
your mani" 1 don't ask on my own
account. But I've held these men o.
mine in slaughter pen for two days
I won's lead them to another
Eve can elect Crisp if you will helE
us" declared O'Ferrall, "aud every
frieud Of yours Will be looked after.
II ask nothing for myself" sale
Springer, ..but I want these men who
have stood with me through heat ane
trouble taken care OF.
cit shall be done," said O'Ferrall
"My word and honor on it."
That was the deal which made CrisE
Speaker, and which proved the tap roo
Of Bryan's nomination FIVE years late'
at Chicago. O'Ferrall aud Springer
little thought as they conferred in the
House lobby that they were selecting
Democra.,,-. candidate for the Presideu
cy Eve years from that time. But
uone the less. they were. 1t elected
Crisp to the chair. placed Bryan on the
ways and means, With Springer chair
man, aud opened an avenue to House
prominence for the young Nebraskar
that proved his political beginning 10 q
national way.
The 52d Congress. which fol-
lowed the overthrow of McKiu'
leyism, vas rife Of young men
Among the most prominent o.
these we're three from Massachusetts,
Andrew, George Fred Williams ane
Sherman Hoar. These we're abou
Bryan's age. They were early il
meeting the boy from the Platte, sue
they visibly felicitated themselves
on their-as they took-it superiority
over him. As day drifted in the wake o.
day this superiority" they joyed in wa'
found to be imaginary, not real.
Bryan is 10 person of middle height
strongly. and without giving anyone
fatty impression, stockily built. Hi
shoulders are broad enough to excite
the approval of Morse Viking; hi
chest is as deep as that Of race horse
Nor is he oyersbundant about the waist
and be looks what he is-a man of per
feet health and immense physica
p'sI, Maaa Bryan,s square shoul