New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-09
Mr.. Bryan's appointment by Presi-
l.. UNI $40. ~ooo rJoJ bv Dap,

Mr.. Bryan's appointment by Presi-
dent Wilson was regarded by Demo
Gratis not only as a suitable reward Tor
services performed. but as guarantee
Of peace within the party. IL meant
that the Wilson regime would unite
the progressive element in the Demo-
cratic party with the conservatives. 1t
meant that the possibility OF the for
nation of 4 new political party was
extremely remote. Mr.. Bryan himself
voiced this sentiment soon after the
Baltimore convention.
"The necessity for the formation Of
a third party" said the man who had
put Mr.. Wilson through the convention,
"s the thing have been struggling
against. ! came here, delegate,
week before the fight began, and ]
have been working to that end ever
since. Many of these people were more
bent upon eliminating me than they
were upon electing a candidate
From the time of the convention un-
til the day the personnel Of the Cabi-
net was announced Mr.. Bryan's name
was linked with the state portfolio
He deprecated all such gossip, and in
January. 1913. his paper. THE Com
moncr," published the following in its
editorial column:
"A public official has no right 10
discharge political obligations at the
expense of the public. Cabinet po-
sitions ought not to be regarded as
currency with which to pay debts.
The Commoner' declines TO dis
cuss cabinet possibilities. but it
ventures to express the hope that Gov
ernor Wilson will be governed by
a higher motive than gratitude in the
selection of his official family. In other
words. the welfare vf the party and the
welfare Of the country, not the am
billions of men or the interests OF IN
dividuals. should be considered"
Mannuvres at Convention.
When the appointment of Mr.. Bryan
was announced il was said that Presi-
dent Wilson had considered no other
man for the Office. Some said that Mr..
Bryans efforts in behalf Of Governor
wilson al the Baltimore convention
we're inspired by self-interest. They
declared that his hope was 70 down
lark with Wilson and then step in
himself. In his insertion of the single
-erm plank they saw a desire TO become
q candidate himself in 1916.
Mr.. Bryan promptly announced that
he had no Presidential ambitions. Be
fore his selection as Secretary OF state
was announced il was even said that
he would not take that Office. In sup
port Of this view il was pointed out
chat the Senate and House committees
or Foreign Affairs would be composed
os men opposed to Mr.. Bryan's views
and ne would thus find himself shorn
Of the powers belonging to the office.
Beginning with free silver in 1896,
Mr.. Bryan has been the prize discov-
erer Of national issues for his party.
Sometimes the party found the discoy-
cries embarrassing. but Mr.. Bryan's
pride in them never failed. In 1900
he proudly and successfully offered
INSTRUMENTATION, and in 1906 he prof
fered the suggestion Of government
ownership and operation of the rail-
roads.
A Lawyer in His Youth.
When he was nominated for the
Presidency in 1896 Mr.. Bryan was the
Youngest man to attain that distinc-
ton. He was tEen thirty-six years
old. His birthplace was Salem, Ill. In
1881 he was graduated from Illinois
College and was valedictorian of his
class. He studied law at Union Law
College Chicago, and in the office of
ex-senator Lyman Trumbull.
After being admitted to the bar he
settled in Jacksonville, Ill. His wife,
who was Mary Elizabeth Baird, was
also admitted to the bar, and helped
him in his law practice. The practice
of law never proved successful finan-
cialy for Mr. Bryan, and during the
years that he relied upon it he never
succeeded in laying by the $4,000 a
year that was his later habit.
1t was in 1887 that Mr.. Bryan moved
to Lincoln, Neb.. and three years later
he entered politics, being elected to
Congress in that district. He served
two terms. When the Spanish war
broke out Mr.. Bryan became colonel OF
the Sd Nebraska Volunteers and got
as far as Tampa.
"The Commoner," his paper. which
was at first a weekly and has recently
been changed to a monthly, Mr.. Bryan
established in 1901.