New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-17
BRYAN WAS AFTER A JOB.
HE WANTED TO BE A PRESS AGENT. OR
PRESIDENT OR SOMETHING.

WHEN A NOMINATION FOR THE SECOND POST
WAS OFFERED TO HIM HE WAS ALREADY
SEEKING THE rIRsT-HE ASKED FOR
CHANCE TO BOOM SOME OF THE
HERALD SQUARE PLAYS -
THERE WILL BE PLENTY
OF CHANCES AFTER
ELECTION.
The present Presidential canvass Is without
doubt. in some respects. The most remarkable
that the country has ever seen. But there have
been few things about 1t more remarkable than
the story which anne to light yesterday OF an
application made by william jennings Bryan.
the Popocratic nominee for President. for
position as a theatrical press agent within about
two weeks Of his nomination.
The application or. rather. the applications.
for there were two OF them, were made to Will
lam ]. Block the manager of the company play
ing The Heart Of Maryland" He was con-
nected then. as he Is now. with the management
OF the Herald Square Theatre. in this city. and
with the attractions which make that house the
starting point for their tours OF the country.
friends and classmates at the Illinois State Col
lege in Jacksonville. They had not met In a
long time, when MIR. Block visited Lincoln. Neb
about year ago. as the manager Of "Puddn-
head Wilson," which a play emanating from
the Herald Square Theatre. Mr.. Bryan was the
correspondent of "i'he Omaha World" and he
went to see the play, so that he could write about
II for his paper. At the theatre he met his old
friend Mr. Block ard they renewed their
quaintance.
OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN AN ACTOR.
Mr. Bryan. in talking with the manager re-
marked that he Thought he ought to have been
an actor The notion OF a theatrical career
seems to have clung to him. for about the first
of the year he wrote to Mr.. Block, asking him
whether he could find a position for him as
press agent. Mr. Block and his associates seem
not to have been in need of agent at that
time. for the letter VAS neglected. Later Mr..
Bryan wrote again to the same effect. This was
In June only n short time before the Chicago
Convention. Mr.. Bryan was at the time MEM
bcr Of the contesting delegation from his state,
which was finally seated by the Convention.
Here then, was Mr.. Bryan between two
strange alternatives. He had applied for the
position OF press agent for n travelling theatrical
| company and in short time he was to be
ncminated. as 1t proved. for the greatest office
in his country in the world. IL has been
hn,ed that the nomination Of Mr.. Bryan was
not much Of an accident as II appeared-that
| il was Intended by those who brought 1t about
| from the beginning. In this case was Mr.. Bryan
| attempting 10 get position as press agent.
| in order that he might have some good en-
ployment to fall back upon In he did not
become President Of the United States?
THE PROPOSITION ENTERTAINED.
At any rate mar who is in position "
! know pretty well what he Is talking about said
! last night that the proposition OF employing
Mr.. Bryan actually entertained by Mr..
Block and his associates. and that he would
probably have been So employed II his nomina-
tlon for President had not taken him out Of the
field Of competitors for the somewhat humber
/ position undo the management Of the Herald
Square Theatre.
Every effort was made Yesterday 10 get a
positive confirmation or denial Of this story. and
all Inquiries led to the belief that ii was true.
Mr. Block. To whom tho application was directly
made is in Philadelphia. where The Heart of
Maryland is now playing at the Broad street
Theatre. 4 dispatch from Philadelphia last
night reported that. when asked about the story.
Mr.. Block at first would say nothing but finally
he was persuaded to acknowledge its truth.
"Yes" he said Il. is true that Mr.. Bryan ap-
plied for "A position press agent for our com
many in December last. out of friendship for
him can say nothing more about IT,.
TO all other questions Mr.. Block would make
no reply except To say that he was not respon-
sible for the publication OF the story.
HOW THE STORY CAME OUT.
/ forth in
number of .'Leslic's Weekly" Arthur Horn
! blow the dramatic editor of that paper, yester-
day made the following affidavit
.I.eslie's weekly" Informed me he had heard that
William Jennings Bryan. the Democratic candidate
dr., dressed I a letter to the manager OF the Herald
SQUARE Thear 1ppyag or to ee ne pSnSn Sn Sn Di
theatre and " 9cfran nck K ns msnNyaf wSrf 5e or the
ad S Of %"S 1sT ccmp"%y o p and ST. Block
formed me that 1t TO him, and not 70 Mr..
for inc S' pos POSITION referred to
dressed He further stated that ne Was scno" hns
sent 10 him last January. I asked II might ,, see
the III" letter MIR Block said that he DID mo not think hnS
linn linn II h" knew where the letter was Mr. Block
said that he had 1t In his possession ,,,orv,o,,
| The above IL a true statement OF my interview
with Mr. iilpSk AZ ARTHUE T,,1; MoRHnL%% sss. Wssky
| '"oi" ~ '' BERTHA l.. CLARKE,
Notary Public. y. Y. e.. NO ~
Several Of Mr.. Blocks friends and associates
| said Yesterday that they had heard the story ne
| fore and believed 1t. They asserted that TO the
hest Of their information and beef Mr. BLOCK
had ,bs letter written to him by Mr. Bryan ask
| ing for the position Of press agent sun III MS
nossession. but that he would not show 1t. be-
cause he did not .hihk that 1t would De ac'ins
| rightly towards Mr.. Bryan to do So