The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-07-30
eeress Leader Deocrayfor More Than Generation

as ne passed through the tnEoHS, no
man knows. Bryan never wore his
heart on his sleeve and had killed
more than one fair young political
boom with his own hands. He knew
that in politics the man who Yields
the sword must also perish by the
sword. But he made no sign.
The Break With Wilson.
Although Bryan had broken years
before with the party leaders, ne
always retained a large following
among the masses of his party, In
the south and west, especially. He new
err had been strong in the east. His
break with the Wilson forces, when he
resigned his office as Secretary of
State in 1915, had alienated him from
the bulk Of the new men who led the
party for eight years under Wilson.
Bryan was named to head the Will
son cabinet in 1913, partly because of
the part that he took in Wilson's
nomination and as a graceful recog-
milton on Wilson's part, but more be-
cause Wilson needed the help of the
Bryan Congressman and Senators from
the west and south to carry his poll
cies into legislation.
There never was any real friendship
between Bryan and Wilson. Both were
men accustomed to giving orders, not
to taking them. There was too much
iron in both constitutions to bend. The
result was forecast by friends of both
men. When the World War broke,
both Wilson and Bryan were pacifists.
AS it progressed, Bryan adhered more
and more to the idea that the United
States should withdraw from all Euro
pean interests and not under any con-
dition allow the United States to be
dragged into the conflict. Wilson; at
the start, as pacific as Bryan, found
himself gravitating the other way.
Wilson and his Secretary of State
were getting further and further a.
part on the foreign policy Of the Unit
ed States.
Differed In Lusitania.
Then came the Lusitania disaster.
Just what happened will remain a
secret, unless Bryan divulges it in his
memories-if he. wrote any. The story
current in Washington at the time and
told by Senator Lodge on the public
platform was that the ultimatun to
Germany, calling her to account, was
written by Bryan and Wilson, and that
Bryan included confidential note, to
the effect that Germany could regard
this as matter Of form and not worry
about it-that it was only diplomatic
gesture. Wilson objected to the con-
q. a. aTnh nf
the cabinet threatened to resign II
any "kicker" appeared in the ultima
tum. Garrison was one. Wilson then
eliminated the confidential section
and Bryan resigned. Bryan believed
the unsoftened ultimatum meant war
and he was against war.
Wilson issued a categorical denial
Of the story Of a confidential note. SO
did Secretary Tumuity. Bryan and
Garrison refused to talk. Lodge later
issued statement which. in effect,
said: 1.-THE President denies. The
President is always right. Therefore
this version is an error"
1t is said that the bitter feud be-
tween Wilson and Lodge dated from
that statement. Wilson regarded the
apparent evasion as an insult. He be-
lieved an absolute withdrawal was the
least apology Lodge could have made.
Be that as it may, the Lusitania I'LL
timatum marked the retirement Of
Bryan from official life. 1t was sent,
minus any, confidential note.
BryaHs Early Ambitions.
Bryan from a lad, had four ambi-
tions-to be a farmer, to be a poll
tician, to be a writer and to be law
yer. He realized all of them.
Bryan was born in Salem, ILL.,, on
March 10, 1860, and as boy, was "a
strong full-limbed little fellow, whose
chief aims in life seemed to be play
ing and eating. On both his fathers
and his mothers side he came of hon
est. right-living, God-fearing people,
for both. the Bryan and the Jennings
families were simple sturdy, earnest
people and deeply religious. They
never attained great wealth, but they
always had plenty for the care and
comfort of their own.
Bryar's father, Silas Lillard Bryan,
was a man who backed up his high
ideals with a strong character and a
great capacity for work. His ancestors
are said to be Irish. A .a,rtain Will
liam Bryan, big lazz owner, who
lived in Culpepper Colity, Virginia,
more than a hundred years ago, is the
first one of the Bryan family whose
name is known to his descendants.
William Jennings mother was Mar
iah Elizabeth Jennings, who was born
near Walnut Hill, Ill, in 1884. The
jennings family came from English
stock.
Born Democrat.
Bryan's father was a Democrat of
Democrats and soon after his marri-
age entered into public life by serv-
ing in the state senate of Illinois for
eight years. To this he added IL years
on the circuit bench and then was
nominated for congress, but met with
defeat. Returning from the bench he
devoted his time to his law practice
and to church affairs.
Until he was ten years old Willie"
Bryan romped and played and did his
share of the chores on a farm short
distance from Salem, which had been
purchased by the elder Bryan when
William was little more than g tod
dler.
About this time William was sent
to public school. After entering Whip
pie Academy, one of the preparatory
schools of Illinois College at Jack
sonville, he suddenly took deeper in
terest in his studies and that serious
ness of purpose which doomed SO
strongly in his later life became mani