Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1900-08-14


poliiicai career really heeoh with bis
nomination for congress. SHE con-
vcntion was held June 80, 1890 he
was given the nomination because. as
he says, no one else would take it.
Before this Mr. Bryan had gained
fame as q campaign orator. having
canvassed the district ia 1883 in behalf
of j. Sterling Morton, afterward Sec
retary Of agriculture, and then a can-
didate for congress 1nat same year
he was made a delegatA TO the state
convention, and offered the second
place on the ticket but declined.
Prior to his nomination for congress-
he had made several speeches IN Omu-
ha and other towns in his state on
the tariff question. His defeat was
predicted by all except himself The
campaign as'fought on the tariff Issue
solely. Mr.. Bryan made an aggressive
campaign He ran 1000 ahead of his
ticket, and received a plurality OF 6,70O
over the man who had previously
beaten j. Sterling Morton by 35oO
His success was rewarded at Wash
ington, where Speaker Crisp gave
him place in the ways and meaps
committee. Mr.. Bryans first speech
In congress was delivered March 10,
1892 1t was plea for free wool,
and papers of all shades of politics
warmly commended It, In his second
campaign Mr. Bryan faced discour-
aging outlook. The state had been
reapportioned in 1891, the First dis
trict being cut in two. with Omaha
eliminated Allen w. Field was NOM
mated as his republican opponent.
Judge Field resigned from the district
bench to enter the canvass The dem
ocratic. committee lacked funds, and
there was no outside assistance. The
entire republican strength was con-
centrated against Bryan, the big rail-
road corporations openly fighting him.
Mr.. Bryan worked indefatigably in the
canvass. He again ran $500 votes
ahead of the ticket, being triumphant
ly reelected,
Atthe next congressional session Mr..
Bryan was reappointed on the ways
and means committee and rendered
much service in subsequenr tariff
legislation. His public speeches in
congress during his second term were
on the tariff, income tax, coming the
seigniorage, anti-option bill, election
of senator's by the people, the railway
pooling bill, and some other measures
of Importance.
Early in 1894 he wrote letter de-
clining to again become a candidate
for congressional honors. BY this
time he had become the recognized
leader of the Nebraska democracy.
At the state convention, which met |
%, 1894, DR.. Edwards, of
placed Mr.. Bryan in nomina-
ton for United States senator. Dele !
gates from every section of the state
the nomination, and on the
roll call it was made uRanimous.
Then began a historic campaign.
The Nebraska constitution provides
that at the general election preceding
the election of senators by the legisla-
ture the voters Of the state have
right to declare their preferences for
that position. Mr.. Bryan's meetings
were largely attended and enthusi-
astic. Maj. Mckinley and John NJ.
rhurston were challenged to joint
iebate. The former declined, but the
after accepted.
At the first debate the Omaha Coli
eum was crowded with 1900 people
md at its close Mr.. Bryan was car
led to the street by his enthusiastic
admirers. Although the vote in the
state legislature resulted in the cleo
ion of John NJ. Thurston to the Unit
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