Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-07-17
Miseellaneuus &eaaing.
THREE TIMES FOR PRESIDENT.
Career of Mr.. Bryan as the Idol Of His
Party,

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Career Of Mr.. Bryan as the Idol Of His
Party.
Twelve years ago William ]. Bryan
was nominated for the presidency of
the United States at Chicago for the
first time Mr.. Bryan was renominat-
But the convention did not acknowl-
edge his dictatorship, repudiated his
candidacy for vice president and came
near rejecting his demand that the
free silver coinage declaration of 1896
should be reaffirmed. In 1904 Judge
Parker was nominated without diff
Guilty, but a vigorous opposition devel-
oped within the convention, and, win
ming a victory in the resolutions COM
mittee, forced him to write his gold
standard telegram and thus created
dissensions which helped to aggravate
his defeat 1t was in the 1904 conven-
ton that Mr.. Bryan made a most Wig
orous campaign in the committee on
resolutions, the session of that body
lasting for seventeen hours. For the
third time Mr.. Bryan has become the
candidate Of his party. Three times
was Henry Clay, an unsuccessful can
didate for president. Three times
Andrew Jackson was a candidate for
president and twice he was elected.
In 1924 the election went into the ma
tional house Of representatives, and
John Quincy Adams, chosen. Grover
Cleveland's record equaled Jackson's.
James G. Blaine was an aspirant for
the nomination for president at the
hands Of the Republicans three times.
but landed the prize only once. Will
liam ]. Bryan was born in March,
1860, at time when the country was
deep in trouble, so that he has been
the party nominee three times before
he has reached his fiftieth year. His
career has been varied. His aptitude
for politics was early marked, and his
absolute control Of a great national
party like the Democratic has stamp
ed him among men as an adept in his
line. A remarkable feature Of the
nomination Of Mr. Bryan Is that the
former big leaders of the party were
absent from the convention and he
ran the machine himself, took the
nomination rendered him and dictated
It's policies.
Oratory Helped Him to Fame.
Mr.. Bryan is Of Virginia stock His
father was Silas L. Bryan. who was
born in Culpepper county. Va. at the
foot of the Blue Ridge and lived there
Illinois, where he eventually became
enough Of a politician to be elected
state senator. Mr.. Pryan graduated
from the Illinois college in 1881, and
Turnbull. who later became United
states senator. and was one Of the
most remarkable men Of his day. The
influence Of Turnbull upon the young
law student had much to do with
forming his mind and his future ca
reer. He settled at Jacksonville, ILL.,,
and within a year married Miss Mary
E. Baird, the only daughter Of mer-
chant in the neighboring town Of Per-
ry. Bryan was now "a years of age.
He had a wife,. was a fluent talker.
had very little law practice, but plenty
Of pluck and hope. He visited Lincoln.
Neb., in 1887. upon invitation Of a COL
lege chum. Adolphus Talbot. He soon
was Of opinion that the country Of the
Platte offered better opportunities
than Illinois and he moved to Lincoln.
His law practice was not worth much
more than $500 per year. and there
did not seem to be much chance Of its
increasing But stroke Of fortune
came. Mr.. Bryan was elected a dele
gate to the Democratic state conven-
ton at Omaha. During lull in the
proceedings he was Invited to make
few remarks. That was the turning
point in the life history Of the young
man. His remarks attracted attention;
next they thrilled his hearers. and
finally he captured the convention. The
next day he found himself instead of a
struggling lawyer one Of the foremost
figures in state politics. His theme
was reform of the tariff and anti-dis-
elimination by the railroads. The
farmers were deep into those subjects.
Bryan was overwhelmed with invita-
nd 70 q
spread. Soon he was known as "The
Boy Orator Of the Platte"
Gets Into Congress.
In 1889 he declined the nomination
for lieutenant governor, but a year
later he accepted the nomination to
congress from his district. The dis
trict was naturally 5000 Republican,
but the Republicans of the state had
for some time been affected with pro-
hibition ideas imported from Iowa. and
had committed themselves to an
amendment to the state constitution
prohibiting the liquor traffic, as it was
prohibited in Iowa. Bryan won by
Glib and was elected two years la
ter by 140 majority. He was given a
place on the ways and means commit
tee and became a lieutenant to Will
liam L. Wilson on his great tariff
fight
Becomes Free Silver Champion.
During his second term in congress,
Mr.. Bryan became the open champion
of free coinage of silver, and was made
the chief lieutenant Of Bland. He was
continued on the ways and means COM
mittee and was the first, it is said, to
suggest the income tax clause in the
Wilson tariff bill. At the end Of his
second term, Mr. Bryan undertook the
editing Of the Omaha World d-Herald as
a free silver organ, hoping to win elec-
ton as United States senator. But
the enemy contracted for two columns
Of space on the editorial page of Mr..
Bryan's paper, and used it so effectual-
ly that Bryan went to court to annul