Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-09-28
A TRAGIC ILLUSTRATION.

treated to a recent passage between
William J. Bryan, Democratic can
didate for the presidency, and Joseph
G.. Cannon, speaker of the house of
representatives, in which, at long
range, those leaders have talked at
each other about their respective for
tunes. Mr.. Cannon referred to the
accumulated his fortune in a spirit
OF humor---to which Uncle joe is
somewhat disposed-but Mr.. Bryan
took it seriously and proceeded to
tell the public about his possessions
and how they were acquired. The
first item was one of some 81 900 as
proceeds of The First Battle" the
book he wrote after his first defeat
for the presidency-one devoted TIC
that campaign. Then followed Others
concerning his earnings on the lee
ture platform and from other work
OF a more or less political character.
He claimed TO be worth $4,000
and in effect admitted it had all
been made by the utilization of his
party prominence for the purpose OF
gain
In Idaho. particularly, and in
many other sections, that passage
and the manner in which Mr.. nry-
an disclosed his methods of earning
money will recall to many minds an
incident OF his career which perhaps
T,,N1 rsxa0c al.
come conviction that there is a
weak ness Ia his character which
blinds him to prophecies in the mat
ter of money-getting.
1t will be remembered that, few
years ago. Rhode Island man nam
I'd T,nilo s. Bennett visited Idaho for
the purpose of making an exdnifna-
ton of mining property. One sum-
mer afternoon in a four horse coach
ne and his companions left the 1dan-
Ira for a trip into the interior. All
went well until the party reached a
hill leading down the Round valley
There the brakes failed to hcNd, the
coach pushed upon the horses and
the animals broke into a run. The
\ drsved, in his frantic efforts to check
the speed. threw his weight upon the
brake rod. which snapped; he was
thrown OF, and the horses dashed
terror -stficken down the hill. At the
bottom there was turn on which
the coach skidded and 1urched. and
in the ensuing wreck Mr.. Bennett
was pinioned against a tree and In
Etantly killed.
[ The death OF a man OF wealth un
Der such tragic conditions attracted
a great deal OF attention. This wa:
Increased when It was found That
among the papers left at his home
was a 7etter expressing desire that
Mr.. Bryan should BE given $25.VoC
from his estate 1t seems the victim
| OF this Idaho accident had become IN
\ fatuated with Mr. Bryan and had de-
termfned to do something for him
| financially. His admiration wat
purely political, so far as the public
| could discover, and nothing wa,
ever unearrhed to indicate that tn.
famous Nebraskan had any claim
whatever which would entitle Kim tc
invade the estate of the widow to
collect this irregular legacy.
Probably - out of every 400 per
sons thought Mr.. Bryan would never
lay claim to TIE moaey. The public
did not dream that q man big enough
to stand forth before the country -
perennial candidate for the presa-
dency would stnop to asking . widow
| to divide with him under such cir
cumstances. Those, even, who rec
oknised that. in the Pursuance oil
gain he was not restrained by that
dignity and sense OF propriety which
should actuate anyone holding a
commanding position. did not believe
he would make an effort to secure a
portion OF the Bennett estate. But
they were mistaken. He grabbed
at the $4,000 far more eagerly than
| he ever went after his share of the
box receipts from any political lee
ture. Bringing suit for the amount.
re carried 1t through all the courts.
and, although ne was defeated at
| every Stcp, uc uoSSCuiy pS~N 49,
the effort to take the money from
widow and did not desist until the
tribunal Of last resort had said to
HIM, "Thou shalt not"
This is one Of the incidents of the
career Of the gifted leader which has
made a very deep impression here in
Idaho. where the tragic death Of Mr..
Bennett occurred. Nor did 1t create
less marked interest elsewhere. for
e, en- the close friends of Mr.. Bryan,
in manu- instances. profoundly re-
GREETED his action. Among the null
titude who had been disturbed by his
lack of dignity and sense Of proprie-
Is manifested in the capitalization Of
Lis political leadership. this deplora-