The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-26
BRYAN'S BOOK.
ssThe First Battle' Has Gone
to Press.
Mrs. Bryan Had a Hand In Its
Preparation.
GIVES HIMA WRITE UP
The Author Takes a Shot at
Gold Democrats.
He Also Pays His Respects OF
the Courts.
GIVES HIMA WRITE VI

Chicago. Jan. 26.-The last pages of
''rhe First Battle w. ]. Bryan's book.
have gone to the press, and the W. B.
Conkey company, the publishers, ex-
pect to have the first copy bound in
about week. The book embodies a
story of the campaign of 1896, its i'm
portant events and issues, and includes
the most noteworthy incidents of Mr..
Bryan'S famous tour.
1t also contains the principal address,
eS and documents relating to the silver
movement and some of Mr.. BPyan'S
speeches Considerable space is given
to his connection with the silver agi-
tation while in congress and prior to
the Chicago convention and to dis
cusSion of the election returns ard an
analysis of the political situation.
One of the interesting features of the
book is the biographical sketch written
by Mrs. Bryan, who thus describes
their first meeting:
My personal knowledge of Mr.. Bry-
an dates from September 1879. He was
then entering upon his junior year. 1
saw him first in the parlorS of the
young ladies' school which 1 attended
IN Jacksonville: He entered the room
with several other students; was taller
than the rest and attracted my atten-
ton at once. His face was pale and
thin; a pair of dark, keen eyes looked
out from beneath heavy browS; his nose
wa sprominent; too large to look well,
I thought; a broad, thin Tipped mouth,
and a square chin completed the con-
tour of his face. He was neatly, though
not fastidioUsly, dressed and stood firm
~ and with dignity
Il noted particularly his hair and his
smile. The former black in color, fine
in quality and parted distressing1y
straight; the latter expansive and ex-
pressive. In later years this smile has
been the subject of considerable COM
ment but the we'll rounded cheeks of
Mr.. Bryan now check its onward march
and no one has seen the real breadth
of the smile who did not see it in the
early days. Upon one occasion heart
less observer was heard to remark that
man whispers in his own year. but this
was a cruel eXaggeratiOn."
AS to the criticism that Mr.. Bryan
had not distinguished himself as law
yer, she says:
Those who thus complain should
consider that he entered the practice at
period began twice and twice became
more than self supporting. At the time
of his election to congress his practice
was in a thriving condition and fully
equal to that of any man in the city.
She concludes thus: ITO give an eS-
innate of his character or the mental
endowments which he may possess
would be beyond the scope of this ar
ticle. 1 may be justified, however, in
saying that his life has been one of
earnest purpose, with that sort of genius
which has been called a capacity for
hard work "
The First Battle is dedicated to the
Hon. Richard p Bland, of Missouri,
Gen James B. Weaver of Iowa, and the
Hon. Henry NJ. Teller of 'Colorad do, whom
the author considers THE foremost
champions of bimetallism in their re-
Spective parties" The early chapters
are devoted to an account Of Mr.. Bry-
ans connection with the silver move
ment and the development of the silver
sentiment. Then follow chapters de-
voted to the Republican and Democrat
ic national conventions, including the
memora bic contest over the Chicago
pla torn. Referring to the fact that the
concluding sentence of his convention
speech had been widely criticised, Mr..
Bryan says:
Il had used the cross of gold and
crown of thorns' in substantially the
same form in a speech in congress but
did not recall the fact when 1 used it
in the convention. A portion of the
speech was extempOraneouS and its ar
rangement entirely So
Many interesting incidents of the tour
east and west are given and also quite
a number of anecdotes.
In a chapter devoted to the boiling
Democrats" Mr. Bryan says: The
only criticism which l desire to record
here is that the gold Democrats sought
to use the party name for purposes of
deception The party name belongs to
the majority of the party and the mi
nority cannot honestly or honorably use
that name in such way as to mislead
the voters. / had at all times defended
the sovereign right of the citizen to fol-
low his conscience and his judgment in
political matters and to make his party
affiliations conform to his convictions,
but a fraud attempted against the Vo-
tiers is no more defensible than fraud
attempted in a business transaction.
Had the Indianapolis convention en-
dOrSed the Republican ticket we might
have found fault with the views of the
gold Democrats but their methods would
not have been open to attack. To NOM
mate a ticket. however, without the in
tention of voting for it, and to hold pub
lie meetings for the ostensible purpose
of aiding the ticket, but for the secret
purpose of aiding a ticket which was
not openly advocated, introduces into
national affairs new kind of warfare
which. in my judgement, history must
condemn"
AS to the statement in Mr. McKin-
ley's letter of acceptance that"the mills
should be opened instead of the minis"
Mr.. Bryan says:
This is an epigrammatic sentence
and did considerable service in turning
public attention from the money ques
ton to the tariff question:
He says this about the trusts:
Our country has, in my judgment,
much to fear from the political influ-
ence exerted by large corporations. The
business of the country is falling more
and more into the hands of corporations
and since a lawyer receives both his
reputation and his experience from his
practice. the attorneys for the great
corporations come to be considered the
leading attorneys at their respective
bars In appointments to public office
corporation attorneys have not only the
advantage which their professional
prominence gives them, but they also
have the advantage of friendly rela-
lions with the prominent officials of
other corporations. Thus it may hap
pen without the intention of this ap-
pointing power (and it may happen
more easily with intention of the APP
pointing power) that officials appointed
to enforce the law will be against the
law which is to be enforced. 1t may
a1-a1a Lannen that ildgeS unnn the