Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-09-10
Campaigning With Bryan.


short periods at home or at rest In the
large cities. Equally strenuous was
the life he led the journalists VINO
journayed with him.
With exception of the trip to Chic
ago when he went to confer, in the
latter part OF July, with the national
committee. Mr.. Bryan has remained
at home. There are two reasons Tor
this. One is that both he and his adj
visers have been of the opinion that
wisdom dictates his remaining OH
the stump the greater part of the
campaign. with his contributions large
~ limited to set speeches and inter
views and statements.
The other Is that the Bryan of 1908
f. physically far different man
from the Bryan of 1896 and even OF
1900. He is now AZ. and twelve years,
added to thegreat drains made upon
his vitality by his two previous cam
paigns, have taken away great par,
of the endurance that was his as
man Of SO.
Bryan Now More Prone to Rest.
In his first campaign he was the
marvel of his newspaper fellow-travei-
ers. Between speeches he chatted
with them on various topics. passing
tests, and telling stories, and the in
slant the train stopped he was out
on the platform. often to deliver an
|impassioned. speech in eloquent Ian
guace.
In his second campaign he was more
prone to rest. Between speeches and
stations he would frequently retire to
his stateroom. and with cravat and
waistcOat loosened, would lie at full
length on the floor dorpping into
'dCze at will.
1t is seldom that light is burning
at his study at Fairview after ~
o'clock at night during the SIX weeks
between his nomination and bis ffrst
i.,cu-sion into speech-mak.nE. ara
the newspaper mans vigil usually
ends with the late afternoon leaving
time enough for golf and an evening
in pursuit of pleasure downtown.
Nine o'clock in the morning seldom
find a correspondent on the job. A
long about 10 the assembled half doz-
en- visit him in body. and fire their
questions at him. Rarely has he any
response to make for publication. III
he has anything to give out. he sends
his secretary down to the tent with
copies of it, In the afternoon the
corresponds pay him another visit. and
the morning experience is repeated.
Between times the correspondent
loll about in easy chairs in the big
tent Bryan has provided for their &C
comodation a block west of Fafrview.
at the foot of the big brick driveway.
Down this must come those patriots
who gain his ear. In the cottage
close by is a room fitted up with tele-
graphgraph wires, and operator
puts in about five hours day there
most OF the time doing nothing.
Being on the job is the hardest
work connected with following Bryan
this campaign. On the road 1t is vast
" different from the old days. the
speeches at Des Moines. Indianapolis,
Topeka. and Minneapolis were all IN
type beforehand. and arrangements
were made to deliver copies in every
newspaper office before their delivery.
Later. perhaps, the old unrest will
seize Bryan. and he will attempt to
duplicate his feats Of eight and twelve
years ago. and then the correspond
l&nts will have something like work 10
perform. but it is lazy mans jolt
they have now.
Failure Of Election May Kill Him.
In 1896 Bryan was very optimistic OF
the outcome, but in 1900 he was much
less certain. The campaign was list
less and lacked much of the spectac-
ular that characterized his first one.
This year Mr. Bryan is sure. very sure.
Of the result. He believes he is 60
ing to be elected, and he has reason
ed it all out how 1t will happen.
One curious thing one hears over
and over again from friends of Bly,
an here. 1t is that il defeated. ne
will not live long. Asked for reasons.
they say that the disappointment will
be 80 bitter that he viii 60 to pieces
physically.
II is difficult for one who vas with
him on election night in 1886 and IN
1900 to believe that even his third re-
lection will have any such effect upon
him. On both those nights he was
close to the point Of breakdown. His
eyes were swollen and red. his voice
husky. and his movements languid.
Three hours after the polls closed In
1896 his wife slipped upstairs to read
bulletin and found him sleeping as
peacefully as a child. In 1900. when
he came downstairs about II O'Clock
after a succession Of bulletins without
q single ray Of encouragement. ne
had q joke and q smile for each men,
Der Of the group.
But it Is different this time" these
friends say. Even nc must feel that
this is his last chance. II defeat
comes now II ends il all for him-and
the Presidency has been his life's am
bifion from a boy"
What Bryan himself thinks on this
M.