The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-09
WI. BRYAN MAY WITHDRAW
He Says He Is Seriously Thinking o.
Retiring From Politics.
he YlLKsYoA TINES CORRESPONDENT
kApsas City and Good Times--Eighty De-
[. grees In the :shadc Followed BY
BIIxzard--Talk With Govern
er l.. v. stephens.


Shall once again be rocked by the waters
of the broad Pacific. left Louisville
KY, over the Baltimore and Chic railroad'
and after waiting for an hour or so az
North Vernon, proceeded on my way 10
81 Louis. 1 was amusing myself with
specimen OF the wcll-bred American boy
whose select language ard intesigent
questions shortened the road, when nj
station about sixty miles east OF st. Louis
tnreo gentlemen entered the parlor car.
Yrayel-stained, with beard OF two days
growth. there was no mistaking the lead
er Of the small party. His picture had
been published and republished too many
unes when. one short year ago, six mil
lions OF sovereign voters rallied TO his
standard 10 was william j. Bryan. the
defeated candidate for the highest dignity
our people can confer-whom a turn OF the
wheel would nave made the equal OF mon
archs. now a simple citizen settling with
the Pullman conductor for his fare in the
parlor car This done, / approached and
introduced myself: my card as correspon-
dent proved satisfactory and we settled
In adjoining chairs. ne TO ask questions on
standard--I 10 study the man.
His questions were simple and. TO the
point | declined to give opinions, but
answered freely as 20 facts and while do
ing so. discussed mentally the problem
whether he was seeking information or
merely gathering material for new
speeches He was tired and his voice was
hoarse. but his interest did not wane, ana
came 10 the conclusion. not hastily Dut
deliberately. that he was In earnest In MS
endeavors 10 secure information. While
vas convinced that tine knowledge thus
obtained would be stored for use at some
future time.
HE MAY WITHDRAW.
When the subject was nearly exhausted,
alluded 10 the evidence of returning
prosperity noticeable all along the road.
ne assented. but limited that the I'M
expected rise In price of agricultural pro-
duets was due to the demand from
abroad and added that the wealth OF the
country depended upon the prosperity OF
the nusbandman This uncontroyertible
statement led to my asking plainly II he
thought that the money question would
play as serious a part in the next Presi-
dental campaign.
WHO can tell?" he replied, after pom
dering a few moments. Circumstances
may change. Free coinage Of silver was
the rallying CRY this time, the next years
may bring another to the fore by which
the great majority Of the people will ex-
press their desire for reforms
And will you be again the candidate?"
Il am thinking seriously OF Withdrawing
from politics" was the answer with the
suggestion OF a sigh proving its sincerity.
And why not this sigh? What ambiu-
Gus child of the people so near the acme
OF bliss OF being ruler OF eighty millions
OF free-born citizens, would not stife
sigh al losing such an honor? Unassum-
ing, almost wholly self-educated, real
child OF the people as were Abraham Lin
coin Ulysses S. Grant, and James A. Gar
field William ]. Bryan would have occu-
pied the White House and brought to il
the healthful spirit of unsulied ambition
which Is one OF the mainstays of our form
OF government. Would he have left II as
the same simple American citizen? Per-
haps Il was well for Bryan that the rich
plum fell into the hands Of another.
We parted in ST. Louis. he TO continue on
his way to Nebraska, 1 TO rest over night
In a hotel
My sojourn in St Louis was brief, and
] resumed my overland trip on the Mis-
souri, Pacific. Again | had interesting
company IN Governor Lou V. Stephens.
VINO was returning from the Nashville
Exposition, where Missouri had done
herself proud This State has not suf-
fered from hard times" he said and when
l looked somewhat increduous he pro-
ceeded TO explain that I'm the development
Of their resources the Mlssourians had
foun~ plenty and profitable employment
while other States were suffering.
II is amusing to hear two residents of
di7rent States in the West discuss the
comparative value OF their respective
states. They exaggerate. Of course, but
a quantity OF valuable information may
be CLEANED from the blarney which spices
every assertion This fact stands out
pre-eminenty I'm all the conversations. I
have shared I'm or listened to during my
long journey: The people are well salts
ned. is this feeling going TO last? That
Is question not open to discuss. 1t is
facts 4 am culling for your readers. and
among these none ohtrudes itself more
than that Of the immensely OF our terri
tory.
THE EFFECT OF BOOMs.
The last time ! was IN Kansas City. was
about eight years ago during the boom"
when Will the people of the
Great West learn that boom
r. In reality a boomerang Sc
riously injuring the locality il seems 10
benefity | have seen boomsi IL would
scarcely do TO mention names. but / have
seen property MINATED 10 an abOrmal de-
gree, and when the reaction came. the In
nocent and b0na-fide investors paid the
niiIs ana were legitimate owners of-the
experience Kansas city went down as
other booming towns did. but recovered
In these cases. whether the territory be
larger or small. State or city. there win
be round corroboration OF the old saw
Inc survival OF the fittest.
Spectators naturally desert a place
where their glib-tongue formulating adj
jectves I'm the superative degree cannot
demonstrate the truth OF the proverb that
"a fool and his money"--you know the
rest. Those who remain are compelled TO
put their hands to the pillow. This was
done here. and to-day the territory real
iy. although not admittedly belonging to
Kansas City numbers two hundred and
ffty thousand people. The approach from
the Union Depot is disappointing and mis-
leading. But when you come to the bust
ness streets: when you see the number of
guests at the Coates or the Victoria your
frst Impression disappears to make place
for one OF pleased surprise. There is
considerable building going on, not down
=, town. where here and there a vancant
lot still argues the ownership of some
speculator holding for a rise but In the
residence part OF the city: and these
new houses are silent witnesses of wealth
honestly earned and literally diffuscd.
Kansas City. however. is the natural
outlet OF the state OF Kansas even enough
II be an integral part Of Missouri Kan