Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-07-18

months ogo fis nomination woulo nav
been a constitutional impossibility' for
no would have been Under the pre-
scribed limit OF t~hirty-five years OF age.
He was born on March 10, 1889, IN ga
lem, Marion county. Ill. and therefore, -
but a few months past SO years OF age.
His early education was not negiecteo'
for the facilities of the public school syn,
tenn of his native state were open 10
him as soon az he became OF school age.
He attended the public schools untii 10
years old. He then spent two years IN
preparatory work at Whippie academy
at Jacksonville, and then began a
lar collegiate course at the Illinois State
university. Four years he spent In col
lege, entering in 1877 and graduating as
the yaledictorian OF his class In 1851
Two years more he pursued his studies
at Union Law college at Chicago. after
which he entered the Office OF Lyman
Trumbull. a
Completing his reading OF the law,
Bryan returned to Jacksonville and be-
gan life az a lawyer. He did not, now
ever. remain long at Jacksonville. He
came west, locating al Lincoln. Neb., In
1887, where he again opened q lay' office.
IJlG NdtFfI IN I'll attCt hNg -
had hardly begun when Mr.. Bryan en-
tered on a political career. In 1890 the
Lincoln delegation to the First congress
slonaI district convention presented Ills
name as a candidate for congress. At
tina time he was comparatively I'M
known In democratic circles. The dis
trlct was considered hopelessiy repub-
lican. and the young attorney was
n;,on e. npoIr 4iop nora for the rpa-
son that no other democrat wanted 1t
than for any other.
The campaign was something Of a sur
prise for the people OF the district. He
wrote his W platform and went into
the canvass with a demand for free
wool. free lumber. free salt. free sugar,
free iron ore ana free coal. Silver cut
no figure In the campaign. Before cleo
ton day rolled around Bryan's reputa-
ton as an orator had been estab-
lished. on election night II was
known that ne had defeated his
republican opponent in dis
trlct which two years before had elected
a republican over J. Sterling Merton by
$500 votes. When the returns were all
in 1t was known that Bryan had been
elected by a plurality OF 300 votes.
EUttIlnS uloIi nlS htHt ''ii'
gress Bryan was elevated still higher
In the ranks OF democracy by being
named as a member of the committee
on ways and means. to a new smbe
an honor almost beyond precedent.
on March IL. 1892, he delivered the first
speech In congress that gave him fame
as an orator in national circles. That
speech brought him first within the eye
OF the entire country.
Returning home at the end Of the con-
g%ressional session in 1892 Bryan was re-
nominated by his party. His second
campaign was not n repetition OF his
former triumph. as IL was conducted n
der altered conditions. The census or
1890 had resulted I'm a reappointment
cf Nebraska's congressional districts
and Bryan found himself confronted
by an almost certain majority OF $500.
He also faced two opponents instead OF
one. He made an energetic campaign
and was elected by a bare plurality OF
144 votes. 4,
During his second term in congress
he served on the ways and means COM
mittee; but IL was during this session
that he became prominently Identified
with the cause of free silver coinage
His speech against the repeal Of the
silver purchasing clause Of the Sherman
act, delivered on August Is, 1893, added
largely to his fame as an orator.
In 1894 he declined to stand a third
time for congressional m and has
devoted his time almost continuously
since that year in advancing the cause
of the free silver coinage propaganda.
Mr.. Bryan's private life has been OF
a remarkably happy character. His
wife, formerly Miss Mary T.. Baird OF
Jacksonville. was n graduate OF the
same college. They were classmates
for four years ara II was during their
collegiate days that the friendship be-
gan which ended In their becoming part
ners Tor life. Mrs. Bryan'r tastes are
q fawyeH~skssxarxA-She Is. moreover.
ted to the bar OF Nebraska. TREY have
three children. two girls and a boy, and
their home Is one OF the pl~easantcst In
Lincoln.