The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-07-24
BRYAN AND HIS CAREER


As Viewed by His Law Partner.
Ca. h. Talbot, a prominent Nebrask
Republican and now candidate 70
the state senate.
Bryan is to be admired for every
thing except his politics, and | know
he is honest in his politics. Viii
Bryan and l were class mates in tn
Union law college in Chicago. W.
entered the college the same day, il
1881, and we left it together W,
usually occupied adjoining seats, ant
during two years we were tho closes
or chums. first met him three year.
before in Galesburg at an oratorica
contest. He represented Illinois eel
lege in the contest and took secont
prize. l don't remember his subject
now, but he made deep impression
Even then he had a considerable repu
tation as public speaker. He hat
while in college stumped the state OF
Illinois for W. N, Springer, will
whom Bryan was always on the mos
intimate and friendly terms. Con
gresham Springer, you know, go
Bryan a place On the ways and means
committee. Will was known as a ready,
witty talker, and he was much in de-
mand. His utterances were usually
carefully prepared in advance and were
always polished and graceful. While
we were attending the law college he
delivered an address on Abraham Lin.
coin that was very generally comment
ed on.
AS matter of fact, we were bot b
poor boys, struggling to make our way,
and neither one of us thought much
Of the future then 1t kept us busy
taking care of the present. We were
both utterly without means and had
to work our way through college.
worked in one law office, and Will in
another Lyman Trumbull's, by the
way-for s. per week. We paid all of
our expenses out of that. In those
days we lunched pretty regularly on a
nickel's worth of cracker and apples.
but we dincd heartily at night.
We were graduated in June, 1888.
Will went to Jacksonville to engage in
to Lincoln Immediately. | didn't see
him again till 1887, when he came
west on some legal business. He
stayed in Lincoln with me over Sun
day / was away parts of the day,
and SO did not see much of him, but
before saying good-by | suggested that
he come out to Lincoln and go into
partnership with me. | told him /
would guarantee him living, and
that was about all he was getting in
Jacksonville. | told him he was just
the kind OF man to come out west
and grow up with the country.
Some time afterward he purchased
a lot ON d street for $500 or 5000. His
father in law, M. Baird. sent him the
money to build the house, s2700 /
think. He settled down TO the prac,
tice of law, but he devoted some at
tention to politics almost from the
first and within year and half of the
time of his arrival in Lincoln he was
nominated by the Democrats for con-
gress.
Bryan is an upright, conscientious,
Christian man. | have never known
finer character | am positive that
he went into politics with no selfish
motives. He is thoroughly convinced
that the country is beset with con
ditions that call for the highest pa
triotism, the noblest endeavor, and he
regard it his duty to help right what
he says are the wrongs of the people
/ could give you many instances of his
Observation-Disclosures.
Two years ago man from New York
sat in Bryan's private Office there try
ing to get him to make contract to
deliver 80 lectures at s10J lecture.
Bryan was poor then, as he is poor
now. and l urged nim to accept the
offer But he would hardly listen to
the man. He said he would not
speak for money. He was not in poll
tics for himself, but for the people, and
he did not expect to make anything for
himself He said he would not take
anything but his expenses. why, "
he remarked, :" it is necessary that
those who can should give their lives
to the work of emapcipating the peo-
pie. Somebody has got to do this,
and | have made up my mind to enter
into it heart and soul, but net for
my own benefit He didn't sign the
contract
When he was in congress he had an
offer of $40, 600 year to become the
counsel of large corporation, but he
told the officers he would not act as
their attorney for the entire profits
of the concern. He has been repeat
eddy urged to make his home in Dem
ocratlc states, with the assurance that
he would be elected to the United
States senate and kept there the rest
Of his life. but he said he preferred
to remain in Lincoln, and he will
continue 10 keep his residence in this
city.