River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1925-07-30
W. J. BRYAN DIES SUDDENLY;
is VICTIM OF APOPLEXY
End Comes at Dayton, Tenn, While
Great Commoner Was Preparing for
Important Religious Campaign.

man class of Illinois college, small
institution at Jacksonville.
Entered Politics Early.
In the political campaign of 1872,
when he was only twelve years old,
his father put him forward to address
a Democratic convention, and although
he was greeted with derisive laughter,
he closed his speech amid hearty and
appreciative applause.
Upon leaving college he began the
study of law in the Union law college
at Chicago and, at the same time, as
student clerk in the office of the emf
nent jurist and statesman, Lyman
Trumbull, of whom Mr.. Bryan said in
later years: ANY distinction | have
gained l owe in great part to him."
A year after his admission to the
bar he married Miss Mary Elizabeth
Baird the only daughter of a pros
porous merchant of Perry, H., whom
he had known and courted in his col
lege days. Soon after their marriage
Mr.. Bryan went tosthe Union Law col
lege, pursued the full course, and then,
when they removed to Nebraska, was
admitted to practice at the bar of that
state. The removal to Lincoln, Neb.,
was made in 1887, on the invitation Of
Mr.. Bryan's former chum at college,
Adolphus r. Talbot, with whom law
partnership was formed under the
style of Talbot and Bryan.
The next year, 1888. saw the young
mans entry into practical politics. He
was sent as delegate to the Demo
cratic state convention at Omaha.
In Congress in 1890.
Mr.. Bryan was first elected to con-
gress in 1890. In 1892 he was reflect
ed to congress by the narrow majority
of 40. During that congress, the Fiji
ty-third, he was a conspicuous lieuten-
ant of Richard p. Bland-of "Bland
Dollar" fame-in his campaign for re-
monetiZation and free coinage of sill
yer at the 16-to-1 ratio, distinguishing
himself with a three-hours' speech
against the repeal of the silver pur-
chase act. He was, of course, in
strong opposition to the monetary pol
icy of the Cleveland administration.
At the end of that second term, in
1894, he declined denomination and in
the fall of that year became editor Of
the World-Herald of Omaha, purpos-
ing TO conduct journalistic campaign
against the Cleveland administration
e, nF pf sill ay,1
in favor of his own election as United
States senator. But his plans went
soon a-glimmering. The Republican
state committee had some time before
secured by contract the use of two
columns Of the editorial page of that
paper to fill with any matter they
pleased and they filed it daily with
matter squarely and aggressively OPP
posed TO Mr.. Bryan's policies. He re-
tired from the editorship in disgust.
Then John NJ. Thurston was elected
/ United States senator and Mr.. Bryan
was left in private life.
He re-emergence came in 1896, when
he was sent as delegate TO the Demo
cratic national convention.
First Nominated for President.
David Il. HILL the veteran Demo-
cratic leader and United States sena-
tor from New York advocated main
tenance of the existing gold standard.
Bryan replied to him in an impas-
stoned speech against the money
power" and in favor Of free silver
closing with the almost hysterlcal per-
Aration: You shall not press down
upon the brow of labor this crown of
thorns; you shall not cruelty mankind
upon a cross Of gold"
That utterance stampeded tie con-