The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-03-02
BRYAN, OF CHATHAM, RtDDLnD.

BRYAN, OF CHATHAM, RIDDLED.
On last Thursday q bill, appropri
ating S.. 600 per ennum Tor the repair
of University buildings, came up in
the House. Bryan, Of Chatham, of
she noble 2. P. Populis5s," opposed
tins bill and drew fire from all sides.
A reporter present furnishes this &C
count of the circus:
Bryan talked much about the per
capita expense the students were to the
State Dockery Rep,) interrupted and
said: "Don'5 you know that the per
capita cost of the University to the tax
payer ie only II cente9"
Bryan answered: The people have
not the Il cents per capita and do not
want to be taxed to educate such men
as you"
Ward (Pop) of Duplin, took a hand
when Bryan charged that the Increase
in texes for public school il the revenue
bill was there improperly, by asking:
WAS not this increase in taxation for
schools pat in the bill on your motion7"
Bryan was foored again.
Murphy Dem.) at one time sought
to interrupt Bryan, saying, You are
in error. 1 merely want to give you
some information" Bryan enswered /:
Il don't want no information" And
then the floor, the lobby and the gal
leries roared.
But the tug of war came when Luck
fired into Bryan with his mountain
howitzer. The Buncombe representa-
tive began by saying: Il know I am
right in advocating an appropriation
for the University, because Laee Bryan
On the other side. He Is always
wrong"
Bryan plucked up courage, and made
a hard hit when he asked Lusk: How
were you on the Senatorial question:"
This was a poser.
Lusk was for Pritchard. So was
Bryan. The audience saw Lusk's di-
lemma and roared with laughter as he
stood perplexed in the middle aisle.
But a stern look came over his face-a
way he has of doing when he wants to
crush an adversary. Bryan, though
protesting to be in favor Of silver and
a Populist, had voted for Pritchard.
Way down 10 his heart LUsk has a
contempt for all Populists like Bryan,
who talk silver and vote gold That
Contempt blazed forth On his stern face
for a momene, and he turned on Bryan
and asked:
Didn't your party-every member
Of it-say that you were wrong9
Haven't they expelled you from the
Popullst caucus9 Haven't they said
you were bought upT
This was a sensation long to be re
membered. Bryan has the respect of
no one and even those who were op-
posed to the increase in the appropri
alton rejoiced to see a Republican
Pritchardite scorn him publicly for his
betrayal of principle. Bryan felt it
Notwithstanding as he is. He
had met the indignant condemnation
of his constituents for his vote for
Pritchard. He had felt the sting OF
expulsion from the Populist caucus
Bu5 he had sought and expected tC
find consolation in the Republican
ranks. Surely, :" he thought, eff I an
despised by Democrats, and made ar
outcast by Populists because of my
vote for Pritchard, surely surely, the
Republicans will take me in and give
me kind treatment and considera
ton"
He reCkoned without his host.
Traitors are despised as much by
those who are benefited by theil
! treachery as by those whom they de
ceive. But ''little bill" was destined
to be scorned by Pritchard's manager
and friend, and scorned with contempt,
! too, in the eyes of the whole State.
He deserved it-and deserved II
richly-buf it was in the nature of that
} ''cruel and excessive punishment" pro
, hibited by the constitution.
} But Lusk did not stop with that stab,
He not only scorned Bryan because his
own party said he sold out, but exposed
, him tor trying to sneak through a bill tc
!, take away the appropriation of the Uni
, versity two years ago. He didn't make
any hints. He talked right out in
} meetings, and said: THE gentleman
from Chatham two years ago tried tc
sneak through what he called "a little
bill" to take away the appropriation &c
the University" That was a specific