Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1897-01-30
1.-THE FIRST BATTLE"
EXTRACTS FROM HON. WILLIAM
JENNINGS BRYAN's BOOK.
souri,, Weaver of Iowa and Tel
ler OF Colorado.

Chicago, Jan. 25.-The last pages of The
| First Battle the Hon. W. j. Bryans
| book, have gone to press, and w. s. Con-
| key & Co., the publishers. expect to have
| the first copy bound in about a week. The
| book will be a story of the campaign OF
| 1876 its important events and issues, and
includes the most noteworthy incidents
OF MIR. Bryan famous tour.
1t also contains the principal addresses
| and documents relating to the silver
| movement and some of Mr. Bryan's
| speeches. Considerable space is given in
connection with the SILVER agitation while
| in congress and prior to the Chicago con-
vention, and to a discussion of the elec-
tion returns and an analysis of the polit
ical situation.
One Of the interesting features of the
book is the biographical sketeA written
by Mrs. Bryan. She concludes the sketch
thus:
10 give an estimate of his character or
of the mental endowments which he may
possess would be beyond the scope of this
article. 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, Cen
eral Weaver of Iowa and the Hon. Henry
M. Teller of Colorado, whom the author
considers ''the foremost champions Of BIZ
metalhsm in their respective parties
The early chapters are devoted to an
account of Mr.. Bryan's connection with
the silver movement and the develop
ment of the silver sentiment. Then fol-
low chapters devoted to the republican
and democratic national conventions, in
Guiding the memorable contest over the
Chicago platform.
A chapter is devoted to the silver pa1-
ty convention and another to the popu-
list convention. Many interesting Incl
dents of the tour east and west are given
and also quite a number OF anecdotes
The Bolting Democrats.
In a chapter devoted to tpe ''bolting
democrats" Mr.. Bryan says:
The only criticism which / desire to
record 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 minor
lty did not fairly, honestly or honorably
use that name, but in such a way as
to mislead the voters. 1 had at all times
defended the sovereign right Of a citi
zen to follow his conscience and his
judgment in political matters, and to
make his party affiliations congenial to
his convictions, but a fraud attempted
against the voters Is no more defensible
than a fraud attempted in a business
transaction. Had the Indianapolis con-
vention Endorsed the republican ticket,
we might have found fault with the views
of the gold democrats but their method
would not have been open to attack. TO
nominate ticket however, without the
intention of voting for it, and to hold
public meetings for the ostensible pur-
pose of aiding the ticket, but for the
secret purpose Of aiding a ticket which
o1 tod jy,+~ IN,
to national affairs new kind of war
fare, which, in nay judgment, history
must condemn
AS to the statement in Mr.. McKinley's
letter of acceptance that 1.-The mills should
be opened instead of the mints," Mr.. Bry-
an says: This was an epigrammatic SEN
tence and did considerable service in turn
ing public attention from the money ques-
ton to the tariff question"
About the Trusts.
He says this about the trusts: "Our
country has, in my judgment, much to
fear from the political influence 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
mis- experience from his practice, the at
torneys for the great corporations come to
be considered the leading attorneys at their
respective bars. In appointments to pub
lie Office, corporation attorneys have not
only the advantage which their profcs-
slonal prominence gives them, but they
also have the advantage of friendly rela-
tions with the prominent officials of other
corporations. Thus it may happen, with
out the intention of the appointing power,
and may happen more easily with the in
tention of the appointing power, that offi
cials appointed to enforce the law will be
biased against the law which is to be on
forced. 1t may even happen that judges
upon the bench will retain after eppont
ment the bias acquired in corporation
practice
Regarding the civil service he says: Il
do not believe thatIife tenures as rule,
are wise thing in a government like
ours. The fact that the people make fire.
quent changes In their public officials in
case Of elective offices is conclusive proof
that life tenure Is not popular"