New Britain herald., 1915-06-09
BRYAN'S CAREER IS
 VERY SPECTACULAR
Life Devoted to Politics, Lecture
 Platform and Peace

OI SIaI6 because or a question or prln- ! ciple at critical moment in the na- tions history added another sensation i to spectacular career-a life devot- |
 ed to arduous political campaigning, ! the lecture platform and the cause | of universal peace.
 Attracting attention when he went ] to congress, in 1891, he leaped into l prominence at once with a speech that electrified his audience. The tall, ] lanky Westerner had early earned the l name of Boy orator of the Platte His famous "Cross of gold and crown of Thorns" speech in 1896 at the psy- chlOgical moment in the democratic i convention won for him the nomina- tion for the presidency. When the ] Spaish- American war broke out he enlisted and went to the front as col onel of a regiment he helped to form. On his return he again came into prominence at the democratic con- vention of 1900 and throughout his campaign against Mckinley advocat-
 the Philippines and a policy of "anti-
 imperialism"
 Acclaimed "PeerIess Leader" Notwithstanding his political de- feats he was acclaimed as the peer
 less leader of democracy and was supported by a large personal follow ing. He made speeches in nearly every city and town in the country and his bitter polical fights with fac tions in many states kept him in the forefront of public attention, always dramatically and in circumstances of
 vivid nationwide interest.
 When MT. Bryan returned from trip around the world in 1910 and was greeted by great crowd in Madison Square Garden his speech advocating
 government ownership of railways stirred up a sensation in democratic politics It was shortly after this that Woodrow Wilson, then president of Princeton university, wrote the famous letter to Adrian Joline, declar- ing that the speech made him feel that MT. Bryan ought to be knocked into a cooked hat" E Switched to Wilson.
 The record of MT. Wilson as gov ernor of New Jersey in advocating progressive legislation attracted Mr. Bryan to him and. he visited the gov ernor at his Princeton home. AL though instructed as delegate for Champ Clark, MT. Bryan caused an- other sensation at the Baltimore con- vention in 1912 by his fight on the Tammany leaders of the New York delegation. He switched his support ! to MT. Wilson at a critical moment, circumstance to which has been
 ascribed MT Wilson's nomination as
 we'll as the birth, of a personal feud
 with Champ Clark. :.... During the national campaign of 1912, MT. Bryan made many speeches for Mr. Wilson, principally in the far West. The two men met for the first time during the campaign at Lincoln, Neb., when they spoke from the same platform several times and received tremendous ovation. Later Colonel B. M. House, a mutual personal friend, brought them together on the subject of the secretaryship of state, place
 which Mr. Wilson felt he owed to Mir. Bryan because of the 7latter's position in the democratic party-r.,- ..s Lecturing and Politics. While holding the portfolio, of sec-
 retary of state MT. Bryan has con-
 tinued in the public eye, not alone through his official acts, but his devo- l ticn to two things-lecturing and poli- ! tics. One of the first sensations of |
 his official career was his announce | ment that grape juice would be sub
 stituted for alcoholic beverages when |
 ever he entertained members of the [ diplomatic corps His statement that !
 s12,000 year was not sufficient for | a cabinet officer and that he, there
 fore. must lecture to earn more money
 was another episode which drew forth | comment around the world. He dis
 regarded newspaper criticism, declar-
 ing he had never absenred himself
 when official business required his
 presence in Washington. His letter
 concerning the distribution of patron
 age in San Domigo to deserving
 democrats was another incident
 widely discussed. a & MT. Bryan's opposition 10 the nomi-
 nation of Roger Sullivan of Illinois
 and his activity in other primary
 fights continued after his official
 Identification with the Wilson admin
 istration. His editorials in his news
 paper. the "Commoner,' on prohbi- ton and woman suffrage the signing
 Of thousands of pledges in temperance
 meetings where he spoke and his advocacy of these issues irrespective
 of the attitude of silence of President Wilscon, have furnished political gossip over his future plans and ann
 bitions. .,~-
 .s Least Ambitious of Cabinet.
 Members of the cabinet who know
 Mir. Bryan most intlmaSeiy declare however, that he has always been the least ambitious man. ats the cabinet
 table, and unswervfng in his political support of the president. He used
 has influence in congress to keep the ranks of the administration demo-
 crats solid for the tariff anc currency bills v
 The secretary handled personally tho negotiations of nearly thirty peace treaties between the United states and
 +in-, h.,r li d