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Show METCALFE'S DESERTION. Any attempt to picture Richard L. Metcalfe, former editor of Bryan 's Commoner, who has challenged Bryan to a joint debate on preparedness, as an ingrate who seeks to bite the hand that fed him is a grotesque distortion of facts. When Bryan first ran for congress Metcalfe Met-calfe was political reporter for the Omaha Oma-ha World-Herald. In the face of coldness and even disapproval on the part of his employer, "Met, '"who toured the district dis-trict with Bryan, made the young orator ora-tor a hero and a demigod. Xo orator with the magnetism and talent of Bryan had appeared in .Nebraska for years prior to the nomination of the young Lincoln lawyer a practically briefless lawyer at that for many years. He was the sensation of the day. In a joint debate with his opponent, the Republican nominee, he triumphed with an ease and a display of reserve power which astonished his audiences. Nevertheless the articles of "Met" did much to advertise the newcomer and win for him the congressional prize. It is a common but mistaken belief that Bryan was editor of the World-Herald World-Herald at Omaha before Metcalfe took that position. The truth is that Metcalfe, Met-calfe, who had been editor for several years, sacrificed himself to the idol of his political worship and gave Br van the chief editorship, assuming the posi tion of associate editor. This was to further the ambitions of Bryan, who had failed in his attempt to be elected United States senator. The editorship kept Bryan before the public and paved the way for his nomination to the presidency. presi-dency. It also gave him an opportunity to support himself and his family at a time when politics proved a poor provider. pro-vider. After the campaign of 1896 Bryan no longer needed help. He was the most advertised young man in the United States and was able to earn thousands of dollars monthly by his lectures. Meantime, Metcalfe resumed his position posi-tion as editor-in-chief of the World-Herald World-Herald and continued to support Bryan, when the proprietor, Mr. Hitchcock, now Senator Hitchcock, had grown weary of Bryan because of what he believed to be Bryan 's selfishness and ingratitude. As editor of Bryan's weekly newspaper news-paper Metcalfe did as much for Bryan as Bryan did for him. That they should have parted in anger after may years of friendship, if indeed they have so parted, is a reminder that we see life and each other "as through a glass darkly. ' ' "Alas, they had been frtpwls In youth. But whispering tongues enn poison truth; And constancy lives In realms above. And life Is thorny, and youth Is vain, And lo tie wroth with one we love Doth work like madness in the brain." |