The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-03-29
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN

W 1LL1<AfA Jl~N~NA-*dA1 AtAA nv
Did any of you know the classic
countenance and the imperious domi-
nance OF the Lame Lion of Virginia,
the late John ". Daniel?
Few, indeed. were those WHO could
over-match him in oratory or debate
n pouring out upon his political op-
ponents the unmeasured vitriol Of his
wrath, ne was almost without peer,
in his day.
In the St. Louis convention at which
Judge Parker was nominated for the
: esidency, it happened that Ben Till
man was chairman of the committee
70 draft the national democratic
z ,atform, and that Daniel and Bryan
set in that committee. Bryan was
:fere contending with great vigor for
certain things which Daniel opposed,
and running debate between them
ensued; finally, Daniel got the floor,
and with whitening scorn opened up
! he walls of his wrath on Bryan, and
| OG1IilSd LLiS ldLLSi Will I'D SIllS
twice wrecked the democratic party
merely to crafty personal ambition.
Daniels remarks became so bitter
that the chairman interrupted his tor
rents of personal denunciation and
Icalled him to order; at which point
Bryan rose calmly from his seat and
said: "Mr. Chairman, l ask that the
gentleman from Virginia be permitted
70 continue his remarks"
! Since that day | have had warm
spot in my heart for the Hon. W. J.
Bryan. He is good sport; and I
extend him friendship and greeting,
las citizen of Florida.
Thus | was made to know that Bry-
an was a big man and sincere in his
purposes, and anxious that free dis
cussion of all public questions be in
dulged, with utter disregard of his in
dividual feelings; that no pride of
opinion surmounted his love for his
country, whose interests were ever
promoted by untrammeled debate upon
public questions.
The man who was big enough to
dominate national democracy for
eight years, and who had twice led the
vanguard of its hosts in defeat, was
thus found to lay aside all personal
pride and egotism in order that the
good of his party and his nation could
be promoted by what of truth the
wrath of the senator from Virginia
might bring forth.
1t is a great honor to any man to
sit in the Senate of the United States
of America; the biggest and the best
are none too big, or too good, to cope
with its vast responsibilities. There
the greatest and the purest may moi
hope to gain the approval of all fac
tions and all classes, but he should
command the respect of the world
and, despite all popular clamor, be
content to go to his death fighting un.
= der the glorious standards of truth
: | believe Mr.. Bryan has the inter
ests of rural people too much at heart
to tolerate legal recognition of specia
advantages to union labor, for he wei
2 knows that no compromising advant
= ages can be made available to nearly
r fifty millions of our rural people.
= In behalf of our farmers and rura
: producers, l look to Mr.. Bryan fol
/ justice, not favor; and let us hope
that, as junior senator from Florida
2 he may make every citizen proud Of
I tie state and the nation as he sits il
that august body, where none will
surpass him in honor, in independence
and in intellect.
If any should deny him rank among
the best Of his fellows in that body
y none can be found to rate him among
. the weakest.
Florida, l love you; and l am fo
Bryan! Sincerely yours,
William Hooker
: Ocala, Fla, March %, 1922.