Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-01
BRYAN WAS SQUELCHED.
How Mason Won the Great Debate at
Muscatine, Iowa.

TTpH tue NnlchSe inter ocedn
When Col. William ]. Bryan was making
one-day and one-night stands all over the
country as the paid orator Of the Bimetal-
lie League, in 1895, he reached Muscatine.
Iowa, on the same day as Senator William
e. Mason of Illinois. Somebody asked Ma
son If he would consent to a joint debate
with Bryan on the silver question the next
day. Mason replied that a Joint debate at
any time or place was always in order so
far as he was concerned. No matter about
the question-make it silver or any other
thing they pleased, many things as
they pleased; whatever Bryan was willing
to talk about he was willing to talk back
at him.
Bryan was not well disposed at first to-
ward the contemplated arrangement. The
local democratic committee thought that
Bryan might do great work in the COM
munity with such an opponent as Mason.
Nobody here takes him seriously" said
Jockey" Hayes of Clinton, who represent
ed that district two terms in Congress.
You can make a chopping block of him. ."
Bryan finally consented. The debate last
ed two hours. 1t was to have lasted two
hours and a half Bryan taking the first
hour. Mason the second, and Bryan using
one-half hour in closing. The shortening
of the program grew out of the nervous
agitation of Bryan. In his opening address
he went over the ground he had been ac-
customed to travel in his set speeches He
made excursions to defend the points of his
argument most vulnerable to ridicule
against the anticipated attacks of his OPP
ponent. He pointed out the exact location
of most of the Mason jokes.
Mason made no effort to be serious. Mr.
Bryan. he said, had told them just where
his speech was weak. He had hoped that
Mr.. Bryan would leave that for him to do
but as Bryan had not. the only thing left
him was to point out where the Bryan
speech was strong.
Why" he said, with that peculiar
shrug of the shoulders which gives most of
its effect to the Mason oratory, its strong
er than anything 1 ever heard. The old
greenback party, which cut some figure in
Iowa once, proposed to issue notes for
money. They were at least willing to
promise to pay. What Mr.. Bryan wants to
do is to coin money of false value. l had
a client over In Chicago not long ago who
had been indicted for counterfeiting He
owned up to me that he had done the work.
Because says he, I've heard that you
lawyers fight harder for a guilty man than
you do for an innocent one. and a lawyer
can always lie better when he is lying than
when he is in doubt about it. / made the
queer and showed it, says he, but the gov
eminent is in the same business. My coin
amt hundred cents and neither is this :
he said, taking silver dollar out of his
pocket
You're populist' said I.
" I'm not said he; I've told you I'm a
counterfeiter, but that's the worst that can
be said of me-
Il couldn't save him." said Mason, sud
denly drawing his neck down into his
shoulders and giving his face grimace as
indescribable as the drawI he gave his
voice. Hes in Joliet now. l hope my
friend Bryan will take warning from his
fate"
The manner much as the matter of
this deliverance set the audience in a roar.
Bryan's face alone remained set. 1t was
pain that the dignity of the orator had
been offended. and that he was making a
heroic struggle to assert 1t, against the
crowd. AS it is a maxim of Mason's story
telling that the story teller is in honor
bound to laugh with his audience he had to
wipe his eyes before resuming.
Il m afraid | have scared our young
friend more than Intended he said, with
mock gravity, when his voice could be
heard. He should not take me too serious
ly at all times. 1 do not say that he will
ever violate the law against counterfeiting
What he wants to do is to repeal it,
Mr.. Bryan left town at once