People's voice., 1900-10-25
THEY KNEW BRYAN.
The Garland Brothers were Raised with
Him In illinois and c. E Elliott At
tended College at Jacksonville with
Wm. J. BRYAN.

The following appeared in the VOICE
four years ago. The same gentlemen
would give .he sarre words of commenda.
ton today:
The Garland br2therS, Tom and Fred,
are natives of Salem, ILL.,, the birthplace
of VIM. J. Bryan, the Democratic nomi-
nee for president. They went to school
with him and were as intimate with him
as school boys get to be. Later in life
they ran meat shop at Salem. Their
slaughter house was located on the Bryan
homestead.
A VOICE representative called in to
talk with the Garlands about Bryan
Tuesday. We found Fred busy waiting
on customers, but he called in helper
and gave us few minutes Of his time.
"What do you know about William /.
Bryan?" asked the VOICE representative.
Hesitating little he replied, well,
| knew him well, went to school with
him and have worked in the harvest
field with him. There were three Of the
boys, and l think they had three sisters.
Willie was always considered the smart
est one Of the boys. He was good
worker, good student and a genial
companion. He had the friendship and
good will Of everybody who knew him.
1t was kind of talk around that Willie
Bryan would make his mark some day.
l see an interview in the Kansas City
Star by one Downing who said that he
was conceited. l do not know Mr..
Downing, but,he certainly did not know
him intimately. II Willie BRYAN was
the least bit conceited never could de-
tect it. He was very neat always in his
appearance, took great care to be clean
and presentable but he was not conceit-
ed. think he took more care in that
regard than since he has grown older.
Is that all you want to know about
him?'
What about his habits?"
"He had good habits. do not think
he had single bad habit. His family
were regular church-going people. l
think they belonged to the Baptist
church at Salem. Willie did not chew
smoke, drink and l never heard him
swear"
WAS he of an excitable nature?"
mo sir; not bit of it. He always
knew what he was doing. If you had
known his father you could realize why
Judge Bryan, as he was called, for he
was circuit Judge for a number Of years.
was one of those staid old citizens who
never got excited at anything. He also
pursued the even tenor Of his way no
matter what happened and Willie was a
good deal like his father in this respect.
The Bryan family stood high there, espe-
cially as to morality and intellectually.
They were not wealthy but we'll to do.
The Bryan farm was one Of the best i'm
proved in the country. As associates,
Mr.. Bryan and l parted company about
the time he started to college. He used
to come back to Salem often and was
always warmly greeted by hosts of
friends. saw him at Winfield a year
ago and heard him speak. He looked
perfectly natural. He came over to We'll
lington next day and spent the day with
my brother Tom"
The VOICE man then sought the pres
ence OF Attorney c. E. Elliott, who went
TO college with Bryan. Mr.. Elliott was
one year behind Bryan in the course.
Mr.. Elliott said:
II knew Bryan well. He was always
in the lead Of his classes, was bright aud
active, genial and commanding in pres
ence. He was an exemplary young man
so far as habits were concerned. He
was always cool and self-possessed, was a
great favorite in I'll circles. He was ire
sistible in debate and It was freely pre-
dicted that young Bryan had bright
future before him. He is certainly an
honor to any association with which he
commingles."
Both Of these parties being OF opposite
political faith to that Of Bryan, the COM
plimentary words spoken may certainly
be considered well merited,
Judge Chapman Of valverde township,
L. B. Collins Of Wellington, and perhaps
Others here knew the Bryan family well
and attest the high character Of the
Democratic candidate.
Mr.. Bryan spent Sunday in Wellington
a year ago enroute from Winfield to
Enid, o. T., to make a speech. He
formed many acquaintances and mixed
easily and gracefully with the people. A
gentleman who was with him the after
noon of that day, in company with other
gentlemen, said they tried to draw him
out on some stories. Some smutty sto-
ries were told, but never one did BRYAN
relate. He conversed freely, but his sto-
ries were Of different character.