The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-07-24


49, zszsS ton from McKendree
college, entered upon the practice OF
law at Salem. Politics also engaged
his attention. From 1852 he served
eight years as state senator, and per,
formed the duties of circuit judge
from 1860 to 1872. He was member
of the state constitutional convention
Of 1870. His death took place in 1880
AT Salem William Jennings Bryan
spent his boyhood on a farm in COM
pletely rural surroundings. Taught at
home by his mother until he was ten,
the lad attended the public schools
until his fifteenth year. After taking
a course at Whipple academy, Jack
sonville, he entered Illinois college in
1877, and graduated as valedictorian
from that institution in 1881. While
in college he took high standing as a
student, and was member of its lit
erary and debating societies. For two
years after his graduation he studied
law at the Union Law college in Chi
cago and in law Offices.
On his admission to the bar he be-
gan practice at Jacksonville. In 1887
he removed to Lincoln, Neb., and be-
came member of the law firm of Tai
bot & Bryan.
The year 1888 saw the beginning of
his career as a politician. In May of
that year he was a delegate to the
Democratic state convention, held at
Omaha, and there won a reputation
as public speaker. His ability and
services as an orator, displayed in
many subsequent addresses on tariff
reform and local Democratic issues, led
to his nomination for lieutenant gov
ernor, but he declined the honor.
Entrance Into Politics.
In 1890 he was nominated for con-
gress by the First district Democratic
convention. The platform of that
convention, written by himself, en-
bodied a free silver plank and de-
mands for free wool, lumber, sugar,
coal and iron ore on terms similar to
those afterward passed by the house
of representatives.
Mr.. Bryan was elected by a plurality
of 6,713. Once in Washington he soon
p1ade his mark as an orator, a friend
of silver, and a radical advocate of
tariff reform. He distinguished him.
self IN the conferences of Democratic
mem Sers by voting for the most radi-
cal reductions of duty, for cutting
rates On manufactured goods and for
inserting the income tax in the tariff
measure. His vote helped to bring
about the income tax measure and
the coupling of it with the tariff sched-
ules.
Besides being an active worker In
committee, Mr.. Bryan gained recogni-
ton in general debate. He leaned at
once into fame by his speech on the
tariff In the Fifty-second congress.
Clear1ess of diction, force of reason
ing and attractiveness of delivery
marked him out at once as one of the
born orators of the house. He spoke
on that occasion for the united Demo
cratic party, and was showered with
congratulations from all elements
among his party associates.
Upheld Silver Standard.
Later Mr.. Bryan turned his attention
more closely to the silver question.
and was soon travelling through the
south and west denouncing the ini-
guilty of the gold standard and pro-
claiming the benefits of silver as
basis of currency.
His denomination came in 1892.
After making a brilliant campaign
against Judge Allen W. Field, the Re-
publican candidate, Mr.. Bryan was
again elected. In congress he now
added to his reputation as an orator.
Already recognized as an able cham
pion OF the cause Of tariff reform and
Democratic principles, he made sew
eral notable speeches on the tariff.
the income tax, and other important
questions
A second speech of his that became
famous was that which he delivered
August 16, 1893, against the uncondi-
tional repeal of the purchasing clause
of the Sherman act of 1890.
During both his terms in congress
Mr.. Bryan was member of the WAYS
and means committee, and did much
to further important measures of leg
islation. He was nominated a third
time, but declined the honor.
His nomination for United States
senator followed; but as the Republic
ans had majority in the legislature.
he failed of election. 1t was in the
campaign of 1894 that Mr.. Bryan held
two joint debates, one at Lincoln.
and the other in the Omaha Coliseum,
with John M. Thurston.
Out of congress Mr.. Bryan gave
most of his time to the public discus
sion of national and state politics. His
many speeches in favor of the free
coinage of silver increased his repu-
tation until he came to be recognized
as the leader of the Democracy in
Nebraska
Nominated for Presidency.
In July, 1896, he was a delegate
from Nebraska to the national conven-
ton of the Democratic party at Chi
cago. His fervid speech on that &C.
casion in behalf of free silver took
the delegates by storm and led to his
nomination for the presidency.