Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1906-09-12
A Correspondent Who Wit
messed the Great Com
moner's Triumphant
Return to His Ma
tive Land,
AND WHO WAS AT MADISON
SQUARE GARDEN, WRITES
OF HIS TRIP.

The editor has asked that | write
an article OF local historical inter
est for an issue OF the Daily Leader.
The request came while was in New
York, whittier ! had gone To join i'm
the reception rendered Mr. Bryan.
Brimfull of what | saw and heard i'm
the nations metropolis. could not
at this time become interested in
local matters. old or new. however
hard | might try hut IL the Leader
will indulge me. | will gladly joi
down some impressions of my visit
promising at some future time to
furnish the desired article. And I
assure you that what | write will not
be altogether without historical In
terest. both local and national. for
Mr.. Bryan is writing into this epoch
some of the brightest and most en-
during pages OF the nations history.
l wanted to meet at the waters
edge the man / had followed with
unfaltering faith through three
campaigns and up the ascending way
of two defeats. If there is one thing
that We admire as much as any other
in man IL is the heroic quality that
carves out of apparent defeat step-
ping stones To the heights. II is no
slight thing for candidate to al
most reach the Capitol and then see
The white vision fade. Clay and
Blaine, Chase. Breckenridge. Gree
ley, Webster and other great ones
Who had seen this vision. went down
embittered and incapacitated by dis
appointment Bryan has passed
through two defeats as lion might
pass through shower bath. MY frs;
involuntary mental comment when (;
saw him enter his carriage at the
Battery, was: He looks as young as
+ he did ten years ago" II is easy
enough when riding the tide to look
fresh and bouyant and indomitable.
(like Roosevelt. for instance. the
most fortunate man in history but
7fr IS "A different thing to come up
through an always losing conflict
looking like an immortal athlete -
There is something i'm Bryan that
time and battle cannot tire: he Is as
unconquerable as a Viking Like q
tower upon headland rock he has
stood from the beginning and will
stand till the end unbent and un-
bending i'm the fight against plutocra-
cy--the menace OF the Capitalization
of power. This is his great mission
in the world and the carrion Kites
of politics long ago discovered, and
the whipper-snappe statesmen are
fast finding out. that when this man
takes a stand his artillery covers the
whole field The protest that has
gone up from practically united
press against his recent declaration
for government ownership of the
railroads is largely a protest of ig-
norance and haste Ignorance wheth-
er Bryan be right or wrong. II is a
glaring proof OF the fact that too
many editors are but shallow repro
ductions Of the corporation press.
Mr.. Bryan has said that he gave this
question many years of serious
thought before he reached the con
clusions outlined i'm his New York
speech. and yet there are skillet
heads throughout the country who.
after an hours consideration Of the
subject declare that he Is wrong.
This is plainly the most serious and
complicated political problem that
has arisen for solution since the war.
and he is wise man indeed who can
deftly unravel its perplexities Bryan
is not infallible and nc may be
wrong. but if he is as far in advance
Of the times in this question as ho
has been in others. those who con-
denim him now will again acclaim
him a few years hence. OF one thing
however. We may be sure. his Sc
renlty will remain undisturbed
Among the distinguished demo
crats who occupied places of honor I'm
Madison Square Garden saw but
four familiar faces our beloved OK
Governor Hoge Tyler. Senators Mar
tin and Daniel. and John Temolo
Graves, Of Georgia Because of his
championship Of Bryan IN q coutro-
versy with stranger in front OF
ltIotel Jefferson during the ST. Louis
f6ohvcBtion. ! have beeu an ardent
admirer of the brilliant Georgian.
The way he bowled over his antag-
onist ON that occasion was to my en-
tire satisfaction lie is q little mite
Of n man who has done some big
things with his pen, and "a is said
he will scrap" His elcgy Of Grady
IS as beautiful as page In Byrou's