The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-30
YOUNGEST SENATOR
:. naYAN HAS HAD RE- N MAnkADI1E CAaEE4.
q still More Brilliant Future is Pre- aiefed fer F1orida's Yeung Statesnaan by His Friends
 aDa AAm4RgrUs

Pensacola. Fla. Dec. .--{spscasLy-- William James Bryan. Ff0ridA's new United states senator, bs9rs the dts- tinction of being the youngest men- Der of the United States Senate. 1iav- ing just reached the age of 31 years, he will appear upon the floors of ths up- per branch of Congress as q mere lad compared with the venerable and gray haired members of that body.
 Mr. Bryan. however. will De one of the brilliant and respected members of the assemblage, and 1t is predicted in Florida that his career in the national halls will be as meteorfc as in his po- Hticaf life in Florida. Five years aso he was an unknown in Florida politics, but through his successful manaee- ment of the candidacy of Governor Ma poleon B. Broward. his brilliant record as County Solicitor of Duval County, and his excellent race in 1904 for dele gate at large from the State to the Democratic National Convention. has marked him as one of the potent fac- tors in the politics of Florida.
 Born n FIoPiAa.
 William J. Bryan is q South Florida boy and son of Hon. John M. Bryan, one of Florfda's best and noblest citi- zens. The father is native of Ham ilton County. of this State, and has been prominent in politics, holding, the position of representative, State Sena- tor and member of the RsiiroaA Com mission, in each case making a most desirable record.
 William J. Bryan is a native of Or. ange County, or that portion of 1t which after division by the Legisla- ture became Osceola County. He was q young Florida cowboy, and looked after his fathers cattle and worked on the orange grove which has father owned. He attended the high schoo at Kfssfmee. and later attended Emory College, where he graduated with honor The year after he tried farm fng by day and hard study by night thus fittfns himself for Washington and Lee University at Lexington, Va, where he again achieved many honors, graduating at this great institution in June, 1893.
 He then went to JacksonvI11e to practice faws entering the office of Baars and Bryan the latter being his brother and the former city attorney of Jacksonville. He afterwards rented ae room adjoining the law ohfceS of D. Q. Fletcher, working with MT. Fletcher an many cases. Afterwards he formed a co-partnership with his brother, and this faw firm of Bryan and Bryan is one of. the leading nd most successful in the State.
 In 1892 Mir. Bryan was overwfeIn- fng1y elected County Solicitor of Duval County, and has held the office ever since. He has always been vigorous in uphoiding the law and In the prosecu- tfon of criminals. Shortly after his election to this office Mir. Bryan noti- fled the liquor interests that the law would be enforced and then, little later. instituted prosecutions. The law was declared to be unconstftutfonai by the courts of Jacksonville, but later, when another fudge aseended the won out and closed the saloons on Sum day.
 Then came the gambling prosecu- tfons. all keepers of gaming houses be- ing convicted in two terms.
 In 1sos Mir. Bryan married Miss Allan. 8 charming and popular belle of Lexington. Va.
 Then came the famous Broward- Da- wis eambafsn for Governor of Florida. Mr. Bryan allied himself with Governor BfowaFds forces and managed his campaign, successfully landing him Tn the coveted office.
 In 1908 he instituted the license prosecutions In Duva1 county, striking high and low alike. and filing total of 1900 informatioBs, bringing wealth of money into a depicted treas ury and solving the license for the county. t4'E
 Tn 1904 he was candidate for dsle- gate from the State at large to the Democratic National Convention, and was not only elected. but led his ticket by more than 1000 votes
 Public Statement Made.
 Mr. Bryan yesterday made the fol- lowing statement regarding his ap- pointment:
 q wish tfie untagged and unterrifed democracy to know that I am going to devote every power and energy of body, mind and soul to making them the best Senator any State has ever had. ,af.
 q shall costume to be candidate, and will not retire from the race, un- der any conditions, until after the votes are counted.
 From among those who are candi- dates for the nomination of United States Senator, believe tl1at he should be chosen who can best serve the people of Florida In crystalfzing their Democratic faith into national law. It is purely a question of ser- vice.
 That Democrat can render the best service who is really and sincerely,