The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-03


If He Was Receiving the Salary Of the
President of the United States For One
Day-PeopIe Paid Him at the Rate of
seventeen Cents a word-Two Thous I'D
Dollars For the Afternoon and Four
Hundred For the Evening Speech
Took New York Drafts
William Jennings Bryan, the idol Of
the great common people," the leader
Of the Simon pure Democracy. and last
ly the late candidate of the triplet for
nation. received on Friday the gigantic
sum OF s., 10000 for two speeches which
cid not consume over two hours time.
He got a draft signed by A. c. Jdoes
for $1,000 for his afternoon effort and
the net little nest egg of $500 for his
evening speech on ''bimetallism.
Democrats come high at any price, but
Mr.. Bryan is away and yonder when
it comes 10 taking sheckles. And the
calamity nowlers for the most part paid
the freight ad went home after the talk,
got behind his barn, kicked himself. and
walked into the house and told his wife
to get a new dress and forgive him for
being an idol worshipper.
Getting down to a mathematical prop
osition few figures may be interesting
10 the old time beThskered Pop. Quot
ing figures used 10 be their long suit,
and the following are submitted. Mr..
Bryan talked al the fair grounds on
Friday afternoon for two hours. For
this ne mad q stipulated agreement in
writing that ne was TO receive 33 1-3 per
cent Of the gate receipts. In order that
the common people" might not be
worked and 10 make himself champ
ion OF their cause, ne had written in this
contract that the price Of admission was
not To be raised, so that the poor devil
would stand an equal show with his
more more fortunate brothers in having
an equal chance to hear him. And this
fact was 50 advertised and the Populists
smAei and said truly he is a great man
and will yet deliver US.
Two hours at $1,000 is 81 900 an hour,
or Sl6.67 a minute. In the time that he
consumed ii is not likely that he spoke
more than 10000 words. This would
be speaking at the rate of 100 words per
minute, which is considered quite fast.
II is more than the average public
speaker usually does, and Mr.. Bryan is
considerably slower in his enunciation
than most speakers. He takes time to
pose and let his words have their ef-
feet Mr.. Bryan uses quite a number
Of ifs, ands, butts. For these particular
IFS, ands, Outs, etc, the people who
journeyed to the fair grounds paid just
a trifie less than II cents a word. Or
inarily considered dear, but wheat is
bringing a good price and they were
twilling to get little dear experience.
In the evening Mr.. Bryan got AS
bushels of wheat. or $500 in the much
iespised currency of the realm. ''If''
Mr.. Bryan had been elected president
Of these United States he would be re-
eeiving just exactly S137 per day. He
received for his Fridays speeches just
seventeen and one-half times as much
as if he had been elected to rule over
the American people.
Mr. A. c. JObes is the treasurer of the
Fair association. IT became his duty as
that official 10 pay out $1,000 to Mr..
Bryan. Before Mr.. Bryan had finished
his evenings speech, Mr.. Jobes went 10
the Bank of Commerce and under the
elare Of the gas lamp he drew a draft
bn New York. 1t read: Pay to the or
der OF the Honorable William Jennings
Bryan two thousand dollars and no
cents" That was for the afternoon
talk. For the evening speech he receiv-
ed another New York draft reading the
kame as the other one, with the excep-
ton that it was $500 Both of the ex-
changes were taken by Mr.. Jobes to
he Carey hotel where they were hand
ed to Mr.. Bryan, ne thanking him for
them. Mr.. Bryan requested Of Mr..
Jobes that he not give out the amount
that he received as he did ont care TO
have it in the newspapers. Mr.. Jobes
when seen yesterday said "a he had
promised Mr.. Bryan that he would not
divulge the amount he could not con-
scientiously do 50. The facts as given
above are correct, but We're cleaned
from other but totally reliable resources |