Graham guardian., 1906-09-14


bureau for the Omaha newspapers
and writing grapevine specials for
such newspapers and magazines as
cared TO print stories teeming with
the atmosphere of the great west.
Tracy is a republican, but he and
Bryan were friends.
"Have you chance, Will, TO
land the big prize?" was Traoy's
inquiry as they stood at the top of
the serpentine stairway which led
from the editorial floor to the busl'
ness Office below.
II may have, Frank" was the
answer. ave think that this sill
yer movement has taken strong
hold on the people and there is a
chance that we may have a suth'
clent number of delegates to con-
troll the convention. There will
not be much merit in the fight. IfI
we have the delegates in sufficient
numbers we will seat our fellows.
If the gold people are in stronger
force we will be denied a hearing.
The boys IN the World Herald
Office wished Bryan good luck. 1t
was half serious joke that he
might be possible presidential tim
Der. The late Carl Smith, then
managing editor, afterward of the
Chicago Record, was one of his
rooters, so was r. L. Metcalfe,
known to every politician in Ne
braska as "Met" and now editor of
the COmmoner, but then the edi-
torial brains Of the World Herald.
In the composlng.room BILLY"
Boyer, one.time side partner of;
Bill Nye on the Boomerang, sound
ed the Bryan slogan, and general
ly from basement to roof he was
spoken Of as likely possibility.
"Bob" McDopagh, the telegraph
editor, even went so far as to fig.
ure on a consul's job IN some Of the
places he had read about in the
night report Of the old United
Press, and Bryan departed with aS
strong line of mental science
working for him as is possible to ,
project from any one locality.
Before Bryan went to Lincoln |
to hang mp his shingle as lawyer
he studied at the old College of
Law in Chicago, but those in bis
class at that time did not credit
him with possessing the stuff of
which great lawyers are made. AS |
an orator, however, he excelled
them all, and he admitted then, as /
he has since, that it was more
pleasure for HIM to talk than to
eat. He made his first great hit
in Nebraska when he debated with
former Senator John NJ. Thurston
at Omaha. Bryan easily van
quished the then attorney for the
Union Pacific railroad and secured |
u good foothold in politics when
be was elected to congress from
the district which included both
Douglas and Lancaster counties.
At the rcdistricting Bryan faced
an opposition which was too great
for him to overcome, and he was
retired from congress.
During Bryan's stay at Wash
ington he improved his opportuui-
ties to perfect himselfas an orator.
His power IN that direction is the
result of close application and
practice. 1t is said that he re
hearsed every speech be made at
the national capital with great and
exceeding care, and that Mrs.
Bryan was in the habit of visiting
the house of representatives when
ever he was scheduled to speak in
order to critcise his delivery and
suggest Improvements in cnuncia
tion which might benefit him later
1t is ten years ago that William
Jennings Bryan came to Chicago
with his contesting delegation and
occupied an inexpensive room in
small hotel. He was poor man
then, practically unknown as fame
goes in this big land His coming
caused division in his party and
il into two strong factions
so strenuously opposed to each
other that his two campaigns for
the presidency were unavailing, !
But the personality of the man was
sufficiently strong to make him the
very powerful factor he demon
strated himself TO be at the st.
Louis convention-the only in
dlvidual who could bring order
from a bowling mass of delegates
by merely raising his hand and
whose voice could be heard to the
corners Of the hall when
ever he chose to speak.
At the end of u decade this man
returns, enthusiastically welcomed, q
all factions of his party joining in
the democratic state
Of Illinois thrusting