Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1925-08-01
NATION MOURNS DEATH OF
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN
Dies Suddenly In Dayton, Tennes-
see, Following Great Battle
For Christianity
BODY WILL REST In
ARLINGTON CEMETERY

William Jennings Bryan, the Great
Commoner, died suddenly last Sunday
in the home he had taken at Dayton,
Tennessee, about 4.30 in the after
noon.
Mr., Bryan gave no warning of such
a sudden taking off; indeed, his gen.
eral health and his special fitness on
the fatal day, were subject of favor
able comment, both by himself and his
friends.
Eating a hearty lunch, he retired to
his room for his usual nap. His faith
wife, thinking he had slept longer
than usual, sent their chauffer to a
waken him. Then the reality became
known. He had died all alone-with
what suffering, no one knows.
Mr.. Bryan was born in Salem, ILL.,,
on March 10, 1860, the son of Silas
L. and Maria E. Jennings Bryan. He
was educated at Illinois College, grad
uating from that institution in 1881
with the highest honors of his class.
Entering the profession of Law, he
soon drifted into politics, and up to the
day of his death was controlling
factor in governmental affairs. He
was elected to Congress from Nebras-
ka in 1891, but defeated for the Sen
ate in 1894. Three times, in 1894, 1900
and 1908, was he nominated for the
presidency. Three times he received
big popular votes land three times de-
feated by small pluralities.
In 1912, at the Baltimore Conven-
ton, he championed the candidacy of
Woodrow Wilson for the Presidency.
No one who was present during that
Convention of Conventions, will ever
forget the heroic figure of Bryan, as
he sat on the projection of the speak
ers' platform, watching the course OF
events, and, seemingly dominating the
forces that were seeking to put the
nomination over for Champ Clarke
Not once did he lose his head on the
situation, and Wilson's victory was a
pure and simple Bryan achievement.
After Wilson's election, Bryan was
rewarded with the office of Secretary
of State, but after two years he re-
signed, his resignation growing out OF
differences with Wilson over the ques-
lions arising from the German diff
culties.
BRYAN never ceased to be a delegate
to Presidential Conventions; from 1896
to 1924 he was a conspicuous figure
in these national assemblies, and his
presence always betokened trouble fol
Wall street, and an active support OF
the laboring man. Time and time a.
gain it was widely circulated thai
Bryan's influence was on the wane
and that at each succeeding conven'
ton nothing need be feared from his
opposition to plans of ambitious poll
ticians. But just as often he woult
return accompanied by the same back
ing of the multitude, and demanding
all his old consideration.
After abandoning the law for poll
tics, he supplemented his work along
such lines through journalistic media
He was editor of the Omaha World
Herald from 1894 to 1896, and estab
lished "The Commoner" weekly pc
litical paper at Lincoln, Neb., afteI
his defeat by William Mckinley, and
in 1906, he made a tour of the world
where he was enthusiastically receiv
ed.
Bryan was always in the public eye
His first appearance was as a foe tt
the gold standard, and his famous
"crown of thorns" and "cross of gold
speech is still ringing down the ave
nues of time, and still considered equa
to the best flights of American ora
tory. He fought the moneyed inter
esests, was a staunch supporter Of pro
hibition, and sacrificed his life in tn
useless, senseless, ridiculous episod
at Dayton, Tenn.
Here he belittled himself, some
what, in trying to give legal supper
to a doctrine of faith seeking to uphol'
the religion of Jesus Christ before
temporal tribunal; and, like the Sa
vior of Mankind he gave his life and
in dying proclaimed the Almighty a
King of Kings and Lord Of Lords.
It is possible that the great Ameri