The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-23
PEN PICTURE
OF William J. Bryan, the Democratic
Leader,

vi w llllam -. Bryan, the Democratic
Leader
Alfred Henry Lewis, in n letter from
Chicago to the New York Journal saws:
The country is about to hear vast deal
OF William Jennings Bryan. he stands
to-day on the threshold of national adver-
tisement. No apology is needed as pre-
limniary 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 was given the
House gavel in the Fifty-second Congress-
Bryan hal been elected from one of the
middle districts of Nebraska. He made his
advent in Washington about two weeks
before Congress convened. At once he
attached himself TO the Springer boom
for the Speakership. 1t wasn't much of
boom, but it was big enough for Bryan
and he. voted for Springer to the bitter end.
There were five candidates at the start
Mills, Crisp, Hatch, Springer and Nc
Millin. 1t came finally to two-Mills and
Crisp. Bryan, whose name on the caucus
list was called earlier than Springer's had
already voted for the Illinois statesman
and let 1t stand. Bryan never voted for
Crisp. Bryan was given position on the
ways and means, II coign of legislative
vantage, for which all House members
struggled. Bryan's elevation by Crisp to
this eminent House perch was due to two
matters-geography and Springer Bryan
was in the right spot on the map Aside
from that, when Springer agreed to bring
his people to Crisp, it was distinctly a
specification that Springer's friends were
to be cared for The deal was made in
the House lobby.
eff you are ever going to do ANYTHING
for Crisp" said O'Ferrall, now governor
of Virginia, then one of Crisp's three chief
Heutenants-Bourke Cochran and Gene
raj Tom Catchings We're the Nothers-''if
you are ever going to the aid of Crisp.n
repeated O'Ferrall, speaking to Springer
and Holman, 1.-THE time to do so has ar
rived; it is now or never
Can you VIM" asked Springer anx-
lously. IF l bring you the few friends
who are left to me can you elect your
man? don't ask ON my own account,
but I've held these men of mine in a
slaughter pen for two days; won't lead
them to another
1--WE can elect Crisp if you will help
u.s. declared O'Ferrall, ''and every friend
OF yours will be looked after
Task nothing for myself, said Springer
''but want these men who have stood by
me through heat and trouble taken care
off,
sit shall he done, said O'Ferrall; nv
word and honor ON it,
That was the deal which made Crisp
Speaker and which proved the tap root
of Bryan's nomination five years later at
Chicago O'Ferrall and Springer little
thought as they conferred in the House
lobby that they We're selecting Demo
cratic candidate for the Presidency five
years from that time. But none the
less they were. 1t elected Crisp to the
chair. placed Bryan on, the ways and
means with Springer chairman and OPEN
ed an avenue to House prominence for
the young Nebraskan that proved his
political beginning in a national way.
The Fifty second Congress which follow
ed the overthrow of McKinleyism was
rife OF young men. Among the most
prominent of these were three from
Massachusetts-Andrew, George Fred
William and Sherman Hoar These
were about Bryan's age. They were early
in meeting the boy from the Platte and
they vlsibly felicited themselves on their
as they took it---superiority over him.
As day drifted in the wake of dav this
superiority they joyed in was found to
be imaginary not real.
Bryan is in person of middle height.
strongly and without giving anyone a
fatty impression, stcckily built His
shoulders are broad enough to excite the
approval of n Morse Viking: his chest is
as deep as that of race horse Nor is
he overbundept about the waist and he
looks what he is--a man of perfect
health and immense physical power.
Mounted on Bryan's square shoulders is
square head. His hair is black and re-
calcltrant rather than docile defes brush
and comb and tumbles and losses with
method OF its own. This wayward black
halr, coarse as poRy's, would give Bry-
an shaggy effect were it not for the re-
lief be gives the situation by completely
shaving his face. No beard, no nous
tacbe, has the freedom of Bryan's visage.
Every trace is eheerfully moved away
with the light of each new day, and when
The world meets the yonng statesman
mes as snug and smooth as pulpiteer.
There is nothing soft, yielding or effemi-
nate about Bryan; nothing of the willow.
ms eye Is dark. bis complexion swarthy,
WIN the British, not the Spsnish swar
uhiness; his nose an emphatic curve. his
mouth well widened and firm and his
whoie face founded on a Jaw, the very
seat OF power, and as square hewn and
indomitable az if cut from the living
rock 1t is a mistake to call BRYAN n
requisite blatherskite' as paper with !
more OF billinggate than brains recently
ana. Bryan's whole instinct is conserya- |
I'VE He goes not easily to the new. |
Lake all ell'balanced, well-buil. men,