Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-18

was among the youngest. A few months
previous he had celebrated his thirty
first birthday.
Next to the smooth shavcn, boyish
Bailey of Texas he was the youngest
member Of the house. He sat away
back near the rail with Kilgore, who
unexpectedly acquired fame by kicking
open the main door, which Reed had
ordered locked while counting ''visi-
bic quorum.
Bryan attracted little OF no attention
To the men even from the west his abil-
ity was unknown. He was locked UPON
rs one of the accidents Of politics, ike
George Fred Williams, who seconded
his nomination for the presidency
Sherman bodr and others, who came
from districts never before and never
since represented by Democrats
He Vas guilty Of the crime Of being
Il young IMAM. He could not deny it. It
was und1Eiably written all over his
smooth, clear cut face; was revealed il
! the sparkle Of his dark brown eyes, and
| was undsuiably betrayed in his first
/ speech. ncwcry and spread eagle, which
was side tracked to The Congressional
/ Record without being delivered. Put
aside ty the leaders, who deny any lati-
/ tudc 10 incXpcrierce, hc sat day after day
/ III his seat, watching parliamentary
/ tricks and subsletics and mentally col
lccting knowledge Of men and affairs.
| which he used with surprising tact ana
force when his opportunity came.
| lis years We're betrayed only in his
/ f@cc and his suppressed speech. He
/ looked the statesman and dressed with
1 fitting d nifty. IL season ard out. defy
ing the trCriCal sun of the long August
days in the nation capital, he appeared
ii Il long A!-ch PRICE Albert, black
Craytt 2I.l bl-ck trousers, which showed
10 signs CT SIi!0r's attention.
lie N.,.s TGlctuSi III his attendance,
sat throughout the long sessions and
then "ent home. The allurements CT
society. Che o..icial functions. the sena-
torial teas and the congressional junkcts
he psf aside IS pitfalls to Ee avoided by
a HAL who came from district nor
maliy Republican. With probably only
two years t. sc:vC, aud with every in
certiye for rrat;cat man suddenly
raised from. yGarIy income of next to
nothing TO -, GEO TO save enough 50
that whom l. got b2ci. to his dusty law
ycr's des.;, empty Of briefs, me could
provide fo.' lis family until his profes-
sion brought Inn substantial returns.
Bryan made friends even with his
great handicap of youth and inexperi-
cree. He had charm Of manner that
wen lin rcccgnition and invited cent
dencc. J=dGe Crisp was impressed with
the promise il the ySInS, smooth shaven
member f-o,:. the valley OF the Platte.
Ee had helped Crisp i'll his canvass for
the speahcrsiIip, and Crisp put him on
the important ways and means commit
tec-an exceptional honor, which, while
it gave him . standing, exposed the
speaker to much criticism.
The wisdom of Speaker Crisp's iudg-
nent in appointing the young Nebras-
kan upon the ways and means commit
tee was shown when Mr.. Bryan made
his first. speech. II was a brilliant plea
for tariff reform and made the biggest
hit of the debate.
The house was in confusion when he
began speaking. but III five minutes
every Democratic lc-ier sat about him
listening intentiy. The Republicans
soon paid the young orator the Same
compliment. the galleries began to FIJI
ND ard the crowd remained until be
had finished