The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-05
BRYAN'S FIRST CAMPAIGN
Ran for Congress Against Great
Odds in Nebraska.
Nominated by Leaders With Belief
That lie Would BE Defcated-Dis-
trict Overwhelm inEiy Republican
-ChafIenged His Opponent 70 Joint
Debate to Secure nm Audience.

Debate TO Secure an Audience
1.-THE rise OF William ]. Bryan in politics
has been as rapid as it has been remark
able" said a resident of Nebraska to q
Times reporter the other day. Ten years
ago he was unknown. Within less than
six years after he was first nominated fol
Congress he was the candidate OF a great
party for the Presidency Of the Unitei
States. and. in the eyes of what are known
as the plain people, the foremost figure il
our public life.
THE unprecedented manner in which hi
has forged to the front has been due tt
his sterling worth, his keen knowledge o.
human nature, his faith in himself, and hi,
ability to grasp and make the most Of Al
opportunity. He is a fighter, courageous al
all times, not with that impulsive bravery
that inspires men to make q single. dash.
ing charge. but with that steady undaunted
spirit that enables the solder to stand or
the firing line all day. and give and take
at all times.
considered the most remarkable feat evei
attempted by any candidate. but. in my
opinion, 1t does not compare with his frs,
campaign for Congress in the First district
OF Nebraska in 1890. Four years ago he
had the inspiration OF the greatest prize al
hacking Of devoted, though disorganized
following. He had the hope OF winning.
In 1899 he had no encouragement except
that which came from within himself; he
was nominated in a district hopelessly Re-
publican. and even those who aided in
putting his name before the people were
not honestly for him.
Bryan came to Nebraska in 1887. He
had been a struggling young lawyer in
Jacksonville. ILL.,. where he went TO col
lege. and where he married his wife. He
entered into the practice Of law with A
r. Talbot, young man whom he had met
while studying law in Chicago, at the
Union College Of Law. Talbot had not
much business, although he had an at.
forneyship for a railroad, but he liked
Bryan well enough to share his growing
practice with his former chum.
MI. Bryan With q Beard.
when Bryan came to Lincoln he had
more the appearance of an ambitious
young doctor trying to look old. than any
thing else A heavy black beard covered
his face, and the man who met him in
those days would hardly have thought
that underneath the SNUG looking hir-
suite growth was a face whose strong
lines would be as familiar to the Ameri-
can people as the rugged countenance of
Lincoln.
Bryan plodded alcng practicing law,
but his associates at the Lancaster County
bar always said that he spent more time
reading works on political economy, CON-
stitutional history, and great public ques-
lions than he did in pcring over the Ne
braska statutes and code pleading No
one can blame him for that. He is natu-
rally man for public affairs, and have
no doubt that he took more pleasure in
reading Adam Smiths Wealth Of Ma
tions' than he did in wading through
-Greenieaf's Evidence or books of SINH
lar character. He did not make much
money. but he lived frugally, and never
heard OF his owing man g cent.
His first real appearance in public was
At the Democratic State convention in
1883. He was one of the delegates from
Lancaster County. Of course he was a
new man for the honor. but Democrats
were scarce in Nebraska in those days,
when it was said that yellow dog could
run for an ONCE in the State and be
elected on the Republican ticket. Bryan
made speech at the convention which
marked him as coming man, and he
made the old leaders prick up their ears.
From that time on Bryan began to be
talked or He was asked to deliver
speeches during the campaigns, and his
work was remarkably effective He was
In demand as an orator on the Fourth of
July and other occasions. He soon be-
came one OF the most prominent figures
In the Democratic party in Lancaster
County. The old State leaders, such as
J. Sterling Morton, N S Harwood. Euclid
Martin, and others began to be troubled
In spirit. Here was man who threaten
ed their supremacy. 1t is true they had
never won fight. but then there was
patronage to distribute, and 1t always
went TO the most powerful faction in the
party. Besides. this young fellow, not
yet thirty years old, had a lot Of danger
Gus ideas. He actually believed that all
men were born free and equal, that the
poor should have equal opportunities
In life with the rich, and lot of absurd
DSsASao eAAoe "SAS 60 3cou 40 OcntioOus
Nominated for Congress.
''Then they put their heads together
and decided to kill of the brilliant young
upstart. They decided to nominate him
Tor Congress in the fall Of 1890. Their
plan worked to perfection, for the fool
ish young fellow really coveted the
chance to enter the lists against the Re-
publican champion, even though he had
not yet won his spurs. There were plen-
ty OF men who would have been glad to
have taken the nomination IL 1t were not
for the fact that hopeless defeat stared
them in the face. Therefore. young Bry-
an was led to the slaughter block.
''The old State leaders chuckled, for to
them It meant his political death, and
they would no longer be troubled with
him. The First Nebraska district then
consisted OF Cass Douglas. Gage John
Bon, Lancaster. Nemaha. Otoe, Pawnee.
Richardson, Sarpy. and Saunders Coun-
ties. 1t has since been redistricted. The
district was at that time Republican by
about 1000 majority.
So Bryan was nominated. He had no
organization behind him. no enthusiasm:
his name was not then one to conjurc BIZ.
He was untried, practically a laughing