Bryan's canvass in 1890 was very similar to his 

 efforts in 1888 on behalf of J. Sterling Morton. Like 

 most enthusiastic politicians, he was not reluctant to 

 participate in the endless Democratic rallies, the 

 torchlight parades, and the long-winded oratory of 

 rural campaigning. His campaigning was different 

 in degree, however, from that of his Nebraska political 

 colleagues, for Bryan brought a vigor and enthusiasm 

 to the campaign trail which others could not match. 

 Bryan set out on an intensive speaking tour of his 

 area, attending county fairs, standing by at the 

 opening of a bridge, visiting all the county seats and 

 many of the lesser communities in the First Con- 

 gressional District. He followed the urgings of his 

 old friends by conducting a "personal campaign," 

 along with his speaking, making individual contacts 

 in addition to his regular party work. "* Bryan's 

 power over his audiences, his unusual speaking 

 ability and his great physical energ>', made him very 

 desirable as an attraction for local political gather- 

 ings. " Invitations poured in pleading with Bryan to 

 appear at local meetings.'*" Once the campaign was 

 well under way, the scheduling of Bryan's appear- 

 ances became a major problem, so great was the 

 demand for him to speak.*' Both railroad timetables 

 and political strategy influenced the planning of 

 Bryan's congressional campaign. He traveled princi- 

 pally by rail to Democratic rallies and "jollifications" 

 in the rural hamlets where many of the voters in his 

 district waited to listen to him, hence train times 

 often were considered in scheduling speaking engage- 



"'* Bryan papers, letter from Charles A. Barnes, Jacksonville, 

 Illinois, to Bryan, .August 5, 1890, advised a personal campaign. 

 Edward L. McDonald, another Jacksonville friend, advised: 

 "Speak everywhere — kiss all the babys [sic] — you can do it — 

 you have mouth enough for both." (McDonald to Bryan, 

 August 5, 1890.) James B. Meikle of Omaha wrote to Bryan 

 on .August 26, 1890: "My idea of making votes is, that the best 

 plan is to talk to men one at a time and demonstrate to them 

 that it is to their private interest to \ote with your party. Of 

 course there must be speech making torchlight processions, etc. 

 etc. to keep up the enthusiasm of the multitude, but the quiet 

 work is what changes votes." 



"' Bryan papers, Dan Begley, of Papillion, wrote to Bryan on 

 August 9: "When you come to Papillion we expect to have a 

 grand time." 



s" Ibid., letters to Bryan from B. F. Good, Wahoo, .August 

 13; L. A. Dunphy, Colon, .August 19; \V. E. McClanahan, 

 Elk Creek, .August 23. 



*' Ibid., letter from J. \V. Barnhart, .Auburn, to Bryan, 

 September 17, 1890. 



ments.-- The strength of the Farmers' Alliance in 

 certain areas also influenced Bryan's campaign plans; 

 in some counties Democrats hoped for the collapse 

 of the Alliance, while elsewhere Bryan's supporters 

 advised him to cultivate the Independents.'*-' 



Other difficulties hampered the campaign: the 

 candidate had to schedule his appearances in many 

 communities at a time of day or on a certain date 

 when the greatest crowds would hear him, since no 

 electronic means of communication were available to 

 amplify his voice or carry his message to a distant 

 town.*** At Rulo, in southeastern Nebraska, local 

 Democrats bought off the "Indian show" which had 

 reserved the town's best hall, in order to provide more 

 space for Bryan's audience.'*^ Party workers some- 

 times took the liberty of changing arrangements to 

 make the best possible use of a popular speaker. 

 From \Vymore, Bryan heard : 



\\'e have made some change in the program and will 

 send you to Odell in the morning to shake hands with 

 the dear people and have you address Blue Springs 

 people in the afternoon and Liberty at night.*" 



Everywhere the pattern was similar: the candidate 

 followed a ceaseless round of handshaking, jovial 

 conversations, then introductions (often more verbose 

 than eloquent) from local party officials, and an 

 earnest, clear, and simple address on the tariff by the 

 Congressman-to-be, punctuated by repeated rounds of 

 applause, later perhaps a dinner or reception, or if 

 the town was \-ery small, the candidate might iiurry 

 off in a jouncing buckboard or race for the depot to 

 make connections for his next appearance. For- 

 tunately, Mr. Bryan had the necessary physical endur- 

 ance to meet the very taxing demands of such a 

 campaign. Sometimes, he had to face two or three 

 audiences in a single day. Speeches under these 



•■-' Ibid., letters to Bryan from L. .A. Dunphy, Colon, .August 

 19; Francis J. Morgan, Plattsmouth, October 21; H. M. 

 Boydston, Nebraska City, October 22. 



•^^ Ibid., letters to Bryan from Edwin Falloon, Falls City, 

 .August 23, 1890; B. F. Good, Wahoo, August 13; L, A. Dun- 

 phy, Colon, .August 19; John Sherman, Wahoo, August 24; 

 \\'. B. Morrison, Hickman, .August 26. 



'■• Ibid., letters to Bryan from W. B. Morrison, August 26; 

 J. W. Barnhart, September 17; R. B. Wallace, Union, Septem- 

 ber 28; Francis J. Morgan, October 21, 1890. 



'■' Ibid., letter to Bryan from John Cagnon, Rulo, October 

 10, 1890. 



^" Ibid., letter to Bryan from V. .A. Tiven, Wymore, Septem- 

 ber 27, 1890. 



PAPER 46: BRYAN THE CAMP.AIGNER 



61 



