The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-29
HOW W. J. BRYAN GOT 1T.
INSIDE HISTORY or ms SOMINd-
TON DISCLOSED.
Was Not An Brought About by
n Dccp-Laid Plot Two Years ago.
Uditorshlr His First STEP

~
| loaded dice which had been pre-
| pared nearly two years before nc hoy
| orator had assisted his irlends IN pulilne
| the wires Tor manr months, hhu ,Nelf
move IN the game had beeh stun ~ Du ~
| This Information was Eleaneu III "
| braska during the week preceding ,itC-
| ton. and the authority Tor the SUI
| which follows is no less p,ison t ,l'aI
| James G. Dahiman, chairman OF tht I'm. ~
| OCratic State Central Committee OF ~,
| braska, Mr.. Bryan's confidential PoiiN-
| cal adviser and friend. lie gave the ~.
| bune correspondent permission 10 Iill'
| the story after election, ana meanWhliS
| every statement he made was Ncilned
| from other sources, the Whole PROVING
| conclusvely that William Jennings bfy-
| an knew he was playing for high STAKE :
when he made his celebrated eioss oi
! gold speech al the Chicago convention.
| lie was not only fully aware OF the
| plans Of his Nebraska friends, but was
| consulted al every stage, ana on HlIl~'il
| alone depended tho iinal manoeuFie Miil'n
! secured for him the opportunity TO speak
| lust at the right time TO capture the con-
| vcntion The story, as told by Chairman
| Dahlman supplemented by the state
ment Of others bears the impress or truth
! on its face, ana can easily ne NeIlHeu ny
! any one who cares 90 30 so.
! In fhe summer of 1884 parties were more
| or less split in Nebraska. The hcpupn-
cans were divided. and so were the DEM
ocrats. The former split over the govern
| orship. The latter broke into factions
On he money question. William Jennings
BRYAN had been elected 10 Congress twice
| and had demonstrated first great power
! OF glib oratOry. and. secondly, q marvel
| lOus facility for uniting different idc-
tons and parties.
The Democrats divided could do moth
ing by % union with the Popullsts thty
might control the state. Bryan was just
tho man TO unite the frce-eIlVcr wing OF
the Nebraska Democrats with the
Pops He was for free trade and free
silver. had always affiliated with tnc 'Op-
ulists from the day he Went into politics,
and possessed glittcring CratOrical pow
crs from which much could be expected.
Bryan was still in the lower house OF
Congress and fully expected 10 be a cam
didate for reelection wnen little CO.
tcrie Of Democrats Of the silver faction in
Nebraska put their heads together and
determined that the hard times and the
general feeling Of unrest were an opportu-
nity'nCt 10 Doe missed. and that the TAXA
tive young lawyer from Lincoln could. III
handled properly, be landed IN The W mite
House.
Until the extra session Of 1893 Bryan had
been "a tariff rcfOrmcr only, and his first
speech on the silver question was admit
ted to DE failure lie began TO study
n. however. for use IN the next cOneres-
sioual campaign. ana the long pcflcd or
idlcness ira the House when the Senate
was wrestling with the tariff gave him
abundant opportunity 70 post himself.
Tho Nebraska siiver-DcmOcrat led the
mountain and pointed out the richness
OF the land which should be his If hc Chey-
ed instructions. They promised 10 make
him first senator from Nchraska 10 sue
coed Cen Henderson. and then President
10 succeed Grover cleveland. IL was
pointed out 20 him that the brains and
leadership Of the Democratic party were
an in the gold faction, while the silver
men had no candidates who were really
strong except in the South. and the seicc-
ton OF a man from that section was out
Of tho question.
1t was believed that the situation I'm Ne
braska was such that the necessary start
In the presidential race could easily Doe
secured. II was proposed 20 form am ac-
tive coalition with the Populists, giving
them the State Government and roscrN-
ing the United States Senator for the
Democrats. Mr. Bryan consented 10 the
plans outlined TO him, and the necessary
steps were at once taken TO put them into
execution.
Tho Nebraska silver Democrats led the
during the early part Of 1894 and began
10 look ever the ground the scheme even
then being TO secure the necessary
amount Of rotoriety for Bryan, 80 that
when he came TO make his grand play
people would already know abOus him.
10 was soon discovered that the Omaha
World-Hcrald. which was not a silver
paper ia tie full. sense Of the word. was
in need Of money. Then II was found
that for $1,000 invested in the concern.
control Of its editorial policy could be
secured. A deal was fixed mp with Mr..
Hitchcock, the proprietor whereby the
silver men were TO contribute the money
needed for typcsctunB machines ana
other things, and i'm return Bryan was 10
be made editOr-in-Chicf with fun authori-
~ 10 commit the paper TO the widest
coalition doctrines. The deal was con-
summdted. and close ARRANGEMENT en-
tered into guaranteeing control of the
paper until after the national cOnyen-
tion, though Publisher Hitchcock old not
know just what the limit Of time meant.
Meanwhile Mr. Bryan had been laDOrine
at Washington. He wrote long letter
announcing his candidacy for the United
states Senate ON platform which hc
laid down for himself including free
trade. free silver. am income tax. election
of Senators by the people. opposition 20
mOnOnOlics and trusts. and other things
Democratic and POpuliStic. The day Cen
eioss adjourned he took editorial charge
of the Omaha World-iicrald. and bC-au
the campaign which had the White House
in view.
An carly survey Of the field convinced
him and his associates that IT, would nt
hard 10 land the scnatOrship. He Was ON
tho lookout for the greater campai-n in
1896, however. and his first clever pOlltl-
tdl manOcuVrc Was 10 force Thurston. The
Republican candidate for Senator. into "a
semi-iudOrscm cement of silver which could
bo used against Kim later. and which. b.
Is almost unnecessary TO say, was much
ln evidence during the last campaign.
The main thing was TO give Bryan an or
gan and al salary. so that dee could dee
vote his time nrst 10 making hia own
State solid and then 90 spreading his
fame throughout the country.
The campaign OF l,9l in Nebraska was
fought Joy the Republicans ON tariff lines
hut AN over the Stale Bryan WAS indus
tlously sowing silver sentiment. The
House was idle while tho Senate was rc-
INC QcliuS the tariff bill. but Bryan was
not IDLE. Tie had h0lnolhcd and made
o. Is. Do
Jones and stewart. Of Nevada. with Com
gresham NcWlands. Of the same State.
with Hartman, OF Montana. Jones. Of
Arkansas. and other silver enthusiasts.
eratnre Tor use in the later campaign.
and with frcc-trade literature fer use IN
the race for the Senate.
Things turned about as the sChCmCrs
had expected. Bryan's candidacy for the
senate gave him the opportunity 10 speak
ali over the State instead of in the con-
eresslOndl districts. where be had pre-
NiOusiy worked on Crcss roads churches,
ana at Village taNerns. Bryan was beaten
fer the scndforship, but the fusiOnists
elected the Governor. The campaign
against such man as Thurstou mad at
tractcd notice outside Of the state, and
the young orator and his associates were
well satisfied with the result
Then came a period when William Jcn-
nines Bryan was more or less lost sight
or. but ne was saving wood all the time.
and making the best possible use of his
opportunities. From the moment the
election of 1894 was decided the new cam
paien issue was pressed 10 the front. The
files OF the World-Hcrald will show that
during September and October. 1874. si-
Yer was kent in the background while inn
mediately after the election the tariff was
thrown 10 the winds and free silver At
l6 10 / insisted on with persistent itcra-
ton.
But this was not all by any means.
Ill q faIf 20