Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-06-02
BRYAN AT HOME.
The Candidate as He Appears Among
His Neighbors.
He !. There considered a Great 1alker Bu'
Not Great Man.

I can drive out there from town, and
it gives me an excuse to get away. IL
is a rest. But it looks just like every
other piece of ground in that neighbor-
hood There is nothing remarkable
about It, Then about that porch, ne
added. with a numerous smile, step
ping out of the front door of his LIN
coin home as he spoke. You Will see
that the old porch ran here and there.
The new pcrdh has taken nothing from
the old one. 1t is an enlargement
and Mr.. Bryan laughed. and waited for
someone to make the old porch eli
paign Joke. which finally came. Inc
painters working upon the improve,
ment grinned sympatheticaliy' anu
Mrs Bryan betrayed some anxiety tha'
the visitors should not tread on the
fresh paint.
Mr.. Bryan bought his thirty-acre
farm some time ago. 1t is suburban
tract. about three miles from the city,
and not a very alluring investment at
the price paid. 1t Is more the fad OF
man who wishes at times to escape the
noise and confusion which surrounds
presidential candidates. The improve
ments upon his house have long been
needed, and the deep veranda winch
now nearly surrounds the small frame
dwelling is a vast improvement 10 the
rather unsightly building so famlllar
to the many who have sought the sill
Yer leader at his home since 1896.
Mr.. BRYAN looks strong and vigorous.
His eyes are bright and his manner
alert. He says he has no more speak
ing dates between now and the DEM
ocratic National Convention. AS 10
what he may do after that event, he
claims to have made no plans. lie
professes to regard the action Of tne
kansas City convention as beyond dis
cussion by him on the ground that as
an event yet to transpire, knowledge
of what will happen is Impossible, ana
any assumption premature. Mr.. bryan
has been described as having aged
materially in appearance since 1880,
but there are few signs OF TINS IN MS
persOn He is more Self-contained III
his manner more man OF the World
in his carriage and dress. although ne
still clings to the black clothes and
wide expansive white Shirt-bosom
which are so familiar to those VINO
have met him during his campaign
tours. His hair has grown thinner on
ton of his head. but he is the same
Bryan of 1896. only more 50.
He and his family have only been
home from Texas a short time. 1t WAS
the morning after he returned that the
delegation of Gold Democrats from the
East called at his home to question
him as to the possibility of securing
modification of the financial plank OF
the national platform. They found
Mr.. Bryan in his shirt sleeves setting
things to rights, but he did not need
his coat on to tell them in plain Eng
glish that he would not consent to an
evasion of the silver issue, even by
general Endorsement of the Chicago
platform. and it would be difficult to
convince any member of this gold
delegation that Mr. Bryan is evading
the silver question in any possible way
during this present campaign. His
neighbors do not credit the stories Of
Mr. Bryan's reported wealth. They say
he gives freely and lives well. and if 1t
were not for the proceeds of his book
sales. and the writing he does, h"
would need other resources.
In Lincoln. Bryan is looked upon as
a good neighbor, but not as great
man. In 1896. in the face Of all the
depression then existing, the people or
Lincoln gave Mckinley one thousand
majority against their townsman. In
1900. they may not hit him quite so
hard, not because they believe in him
more, but because they are more in
different to his theories regard him. as
they express it. less dangerous" than
before. and they have in view the
possibility of his election on the prin-
cple that lightning may strike any
where, an event which would appeal
to local pride regardless of political
beliefs
Bryan has never been looked upon
I'm Lincoln as a man to whom the
people would turn when seeking for
someone to bear grave responsibility.
exercise calm. deliberate judgment, or
fufin great trusts. They have always
called upon him to make their
speeches or plead their causes. His
ready tongue, persuasive manner and
personal influence have been utilized
more than once. and he is regarded
even by his political opponents as the
best man in Lincoln to accomplish a
task where success depends upon the
timely and skilful use of language and
manner.
Even his most ardent followers do
not seem to believe he will be elected
president, but they are holding them
selves in readiness to take advantage
of the opportunities which will offer
in case this event comes to pass. This
is the strongest fusion influence in the
Nebraska situation today. During the
campaign of 1896. the principal streets
of Lincoln We're obStructed by groups
of men discussing the financial ques-
tion. business had been paralyzed by
bad crops. there were many to join the
idle throng, conditions seemed wrong
everywhere, and Bryan offered
change. In this campaign of 1900 the
streets of Lincoln present a different
scene. There are no crowds discuss
ing the silver question. for everybody
Is busy attending to his own affairs.
Today. in Nebraska, 4 man is ashamed
To be seen idle. Mr.. Bryan tells them
they are mistaken, that they are not
so prosperous as they think they are.
lie maintains that prices are so high.
owing to the trusts, that any apparent
increase in incomes is nullified 1t is
this very prosperity, however. which
encourages the Republicans to hope