The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-07-02

lparade of standards about the hall,
Hill turned to one of his friends and
lsaid, "That ends Bands and every
Iother boom in the convention.
Bryan lived a fairly successful
Iordinary American life prior to that
convention. He had been a power in
Illinois in the small communities in
which he lived, and had removed to
Nebraska because he believed the OPP
portunitles were greater there. AS a
member of Congress he had not
shown paticularly bright. True, he
Twas popular among the Western
members, and some OF his friends
yet relate with glee how, when a
Democratic leader wanted to end a
debate In the House he sided over to
the Republican ''whip" and whisp-
ered, "If you don't call this wind
Ijamming off. I'll set the Nebraska
|cycione lose and he'll talk for a
week" Those who tell the story al
ways wind IL up with the remark
IFAnd there was a quick vote on that
bin
| uit itpObhltu
on questions of political economy in
the early 90's and his editorials on
the coinage question had widespread
popularity which was added to when
he was named, but beaten, for the
Senatorshlp of his adopted State.
Bryan's campaign of 1896 was
Spectacular. He was the first candi-
date for the presidency to tour $4,000
miles to advocate his own election
He invaded the "enemy's country"
twice that fall In Madison Square
Garden he defied Tammany Hall and
its leaders. With his voice so husky
he could hardly be heard he domln-
ted the meetings with his personality
and It Is now generally admitted
that had tn election been held in
September he would have been ell
lected. Beaten at the polls he devated
ed the next two years to lecturlng
on bimetallism. In May, 1898, with
the Spanish-Amerlcan war in pro-
gress he raised the third Nebraska
regiment OF volunteers and was COM
Imissloned its colonel.
Two years later in 1900, he domln-
taed the next National Democratic
convention, wrote its platform and
forced his own nomination. He 1t was
who made Imperialism the ''burning
issue" and he toured the country
In behalf OF this fresh child of his
brain, only to be again defeated.
There has been steady advance
In the mens development ATatur-
Ter years had given importance In
his mind to things he formerly deem
ed less essential, and he was also
realizing that changed conditions In
public affairs demand new methods
of treatment. As a result there was
born his magazine-The Oommoner
It proved the foundation for Bryan's
present fortune, boosting his yearly
income from $1,000 to approximately
$4,000.
Up to the assembling OF the 1904
convention 1t had been expected Bry-
an would fight the Elstern element
In the partly and again forced his
own nomination. But he did nothing
of the sort. His enemies within the
ranks now declared he was afraid
to run against Roosevelt. but no
matter what the reason, he devoted
his energies to seeing that the plat !
form OF the party was not obnoxious |
TO himself and his friends, and then
permitted the nomination OF Alton B. |
,F1rktr AIlcusft IONS of treatohery
the Bryan followers, who declare that |
the Nebraskan supported the ticket |
Loyalty.
Parker's defeat emphasized Bryan's |
supremacy in the party. and when
he left In 1906 for his tour of the |
World, he was everywhere acclaimed
as Democr1cy's leader. At Toxic, Ma
Mia, Bombay, Cairo, Jerusalem st.
and England he was en-
greeted and when he
returned home to be met more as
''conquerlng hero" than as a Quar-
antine, he was escorted by marching
clubs, and mounted police through |
the streets OF New York, lined with
thousands.
IN MS lHlIldl Speecn hluer nS re-
turn he limited at the possibility OF
a new creed for Democracy govern
mental ownership-and was at once
by many OF the big men
In his party, including such as Sena-
tor Daniel oa Virginia Steadily
his own views In the
face of opposition, he said he was
willing to leave tn ematter to the
people
Since his rdturn Bryan has de-
voted his energies 10 lecturing
through the country. This Is a
Typical Bryan day: Up at 7 a. m. from
a long railway ride, greets a recep-
tion committee, eats breakfast,
makes a speech to a student body II
VI $50. meets party central COM ID
nlttee at 10. at 1915 addresses y
big audience In church or town hall d
10 ows this with talk to an over