The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1915-02-17
What Docs Walker Owe Bryan2

The first insallment of that series oil
articles in defense of William Jen-
nings Bryan, which l announced in
this column on January 30 would soon
appear in two well-known periodicals,
may appear in the March number of
Co. George Harvey's North Ameri-
can Review, and it may not. This ar
ticle, to be headed "The Worlds Debt
to Bryan" was prepared by Harry
Wilson Walker, formerly of Spring
field, Mo. If it appears it will be
under the pen name of "Rathgar,
not under Mr.. Walkers real name.
And thereby hangs another tale.
Mr.. Walker, after submitting the
proof sheets of the article to Mr.. Bry-
an, who corrected them and interim
ed liberal further complimentary ref
erences to himself, as well as elimin-
ated all reference to the one-term
plank of the Baltimore platform, was
told by Bryan that, of course he
(Walker), was so well known as an
old loyal friend of his that after this
article and the others that were to-
follow in Bryan's defense were pub
lished under Walkers name, it would
be impossible for him to appoint Mr..
Walker to any position, because Of the
criticism which would follow. Bryan
explained that he had appointed a
"few of his loyal friends" to office
and that a storm of criticism follow
ed 1t would, therefore, be impossible
for him to do anything in that line
for Walker. However, to show his
appreciation, he said he wanted to
give him something. Stepping to the
safe of his office, Bryan opened the
door and reached in. Walker had
fleeting vision Of roll of federal re-
serve notes coming out, but, instead,
Bryan drew out one of those little con-
ceits of his, which he had made from
some old swords-a miniature plow-
share-which he handed to Walker
as keepsake.
Walker, who has been in politics all
his life and not long ago wrote his
tory of Tammany Hall for the Satur-
day Evening Post, had mingled emo
tions as the cold steel thing was plac-
ed in his palm. He told the first
friend he met on the street about the
incident, and when he got home and
told Mrs. Walker about it-well,
there was some suggestion about
throwing the plowshare at Bryan as
he passed by next morning. Walker,
who had been asked as an old friend
Of Bryan to write these articles Of
account of the general criticism of
the secretary of state in the press,
as well as among men generally, was
advised TO stop publication of the ar
ticle. He had already received pay
for it, but decided not to allow use of
his name, hence the request to Col.
Harvey to substitute the nom de
plume,
Walker ever since the last election
has expected some good appointment
at Bryan's hands, but the only thing
he got was five weeks jobe as agent
of the State Department to go
relief of Americans caught in Europe
when the war started. He received
only nominal remuneration for this.
Bryan sent him to Senator o'Gorman
to see if he could not be appointed 4
deputy United States marshal in
New York, but O'Gorman threw up
his hands and said Bryan knew he
could get nothing from the admins
tration because he has opposed it so
strongly in the Senate. Next, Bryan
sent Walker to Joe Folk, who said
Bryan knew that he (Folk) had moth
ing to offer.
About ali that Walker has to show
for his twenty years loyalty to Bryan,
therefore, is his plowshare, to which
he hopes to add the proofsheets of
his story as corrected by Bryan in
the latter's handwriting.
How He Saved