Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-16

piled Six and then added. "and 7
really feel fit for as many more" After
he lad discarded his wet garments
and got into dry clothes he came out
IN the dining room of the car for a
lunch. The detective who was with
us, to rid US of the pickpocket pest,
was sleeping in a chair in one of the
staterooms. Mr.. Bryan saw him and
calling the correspondents, he relieved
the sleeping sleuth of his watch and
chain.
In the 1900 campaign the work on
the road was the least difficult that
Mr. Bryan had to perform Profiting
10y his experience of four years before
he secured private car early. and
irSisted that all the short speeches
should be made from the platform of
his car, thereby avoiding, in a great
measure, the necessity of battling
with the crowds. James Dahlmann.
who was afterward known as Omahas
cowboy mayor, and who at that time
was member of the national commit
tee from Nebraska, accompanied Mr..
Bryan great portion of that time.
and insisted on the candidate receiv-
ing the care which his work entitled
him to- His hardest work-that which
tcld more on him than did the active
campaigning-waS at his home, where,
seated at his desk in his library. he
labored from early morning until late
at night. debating letters or prepar-
ing his mos. important speeches. His
physique demanded exercise. and the
sedentary life at home did not give
that exercise. This was really hard
work for him; the other he regarded
as part play. Many times have hid
den his work while he stepped out of
he library, and, seconded by Mrs
Bryan, prevailed on him TO ride on his
thoroughbred horse. Governor. or
drive out to his country place, now the
site of his beautiful residence. Fair
view" On such occasions he would
complain that he ought not 10 take
| the time away from work. and then
| would proceed to discuss the best
breed of chickens for his farm, or
some other matter relating not at all
to things political His wonderful
ability to throw the work from his
| mind when seeking rest was also a
factor in keeping him up during the
| campaigns.
| | have frequently been asked when
did Mr.. Bryan find time to prepare
his speeches." With the exception of
the most important addresses, such as
the notification speech. Labor day
| speech, and others on special occa-
sions of that kind, he did not prepare.
/ 1t was only when he desired to adj
dress some body of people on most
occasion. and wished his
speech sent out before it was deliver.
ed. in order that the newspapers could
have it in advance, that he apparently
gave his subject much thought. His
spontaneous addresses were always the
best. his delivery suffering much when
he read from manuscript. The noti-
lfication speech delivered in Indianapo-
lis in 1900 held a great crowd for two
hours in the hot sun, but it was not
until he delivered the peroration which
he had memorized, and which con
tanned his conception of a perfect ma
ton that there was really any great
enthusiasm. His 1896 notification
speech in Madison Square garden
/ New York city. was carefully prepared
and read from manuscript, and was
a disappointment to those who heard
it, not comparing with the extempo
raneous address made half-hour later
i from the balcony OF the Bartholdl
: hotel. When | first went with him,
told him had been instructed to SEND
every speech in full, whether there
twere repetitions or not, and requested
him to help me as much as possible
by getting me through the crowds
He told me that the shorthand man
Twas the one he feared the most, as il
made him give each speech different
wording. He saw to it, however. thai
III was given a place in the carriage
lat each stop. While in each speech
there was much that had been SAID
before, he skillfully changed the word
ling and in nearly every address some
new thought was brought out These
were suggested to him in various
ways.
i Perhaps an editorial in the morning
paper brought forth some reply; per
haps some one in the audience would
liven things up by shooting in some
question. In the more than 1.40C
speeches made in the two campaigns
mo two were alike-certainly tax or
the resources of any speaker, no mat
er how versatile he may be-
| The correspondents frequently came
20 Mr.. Bryan's relief by suggesting
NEW subjects. and discussing them
with him. Then, too. when they saw
that. because of the frequency of his
addresses. his talking was becoming
more or less wooden or mechanical
lone of the boys would often get out in
the crowd and, hiding himself, fire In
lsome pertinent question in order te
wake him up" In a little town ir
tsouthern Illinois an occurrence of thi:
KIND happened which might have
Tended disastrously ON the part of the
correspondent. 1. was early In The
morning, and Mr.. Bryan spoke from
1.-THE court house steps. This CORE
IspoHdent was late in getting to the