"Heap Big Talking Papoose" Bryan Visits Ogden and Union Station

William Jennings Bryan is famous for his "Cross of Gold" speech and portrayals of him in the film "Inherit the Wind," but few know, or care, that he could really rouse a crowd, if not an entire city, just by the power of his voice and presence.

He did precisely that to Ogden on July 21, 1897.

The Standard in 1897 made its political stance clear on its masthead.

Oh what excitement! Bryan had unsuccessfully run for president in 1896, but was still the darling of the Democratic Party. He was touring the country, fighting for "bi-metalism," a policy that linked the value of silver to gold at the ration of 16:1, which sounds boring (and is now, to be honest) but the monetary policy, if not the entire economy, was at stake.

It's complicated -- you can read the wikipedia article on it here (click) and even listen to him give a bit of the speech here (click) --  but the bottom line was that bi-metalism would mean more money in circulation, which proponents said would improve the economy. Bankers resisted bi-metalism because a strict gold standard gave them more control over the economy.

The Ogden Standard was fiercely in favor of bi-metalism because it was felt it would help the state's agriculture, at that time a major industry. When Bryan came through town on a speaking tour, then, Ogden -- which was also a Democratic stronghold -- pulled out the stops.

The entire town was invited to come to Union Station to greet him. A parade took him to the home of D. H. Peery which stood at the corner of 24th and Adams Avenue. Crowds fill the city's opera house, which stood where the later Orpheum Theater and, now, the Utah State Office Building, stands.

What a circus.

"A procession was formed with the Ogden City Brass Band in the lead," reported the Standard. "and the party was driven direct to the residence of D. H. Peery, Sr., who had placed his palatial residence at the disposal of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan. ... On either side of the carriages occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Bryan were platoons of bicyclists and following them came citizens in carriages. They came up 25th street with carriages three abreast,the sidewalks and streets lined with a cheering mass of humanity. The carriage line reached half a mile..."

Wow.

The Standard hailed Bryan as "the next president" even though he had just lost the election eight months before. More than 5000 residents went to the reception. The theater itself was packed. William Glasmann, who also happened to be owner and publisher of he Standard, was the master of ceremonies.

Bryan's speech was almost entirely transcribed by the Standard, quite the feat by whoever had to take the dictation and then write it all. There were no tape recorders then, but stenographers could keep up with anyone.

Reading the speech, even in your head, you can get a hint of the power he could wield with his voice and language. Politicians today read texts carefully vetted by an army of writers and focus groups, a process that guarantees a bland performance by even the best orator -- as President Obama, sadly, proves every time he opens his mouth.

Bryan, who was from Nebraska, hailed from an era when speeches were spoken with power, force and meaning.  The story doesn't mention it, but I'd bet he didn't even have notes, let alone a teleprompter.


"Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen: In talking to you tonight upon the subject of bi-metalism, I want you to understand that it is not my thought that you need to be convinced on the subject because I know that the people of this state have it fixed in their minds and are acquainted with the arguments which support our position,"  and then went on for several thousand more words, mostly, he said, just to reinforce their beliefs, to make them more ardent in their support.

 "No man can afford to rob his neighbor, either upon the highway or by legislation because he can never repay in money for the scorn, contempt and hatred cast upon him for his actions," Bryan concluded. The paper reports a call for "three cheers"  was like "wildfire, closing the meeting in a blaze of glory."

After the speech Bryan visited a nearby camp of the Washakie Indians, who made him an honorary member of the tribe. Glasmann introduced him by saying "Great Chief Washakie, I have with me a visitor who came from a country many moons away. He desires to make the acquaintance of the tribe of the Washakies. I take pleasure in presenting 'Heap-Big-Talking-Papoose of the Platte."

Heap Big Talking Papoose? Gotta love that, eh?

Bryan getting on a train in Ogden. This is the only photo the Union Station Archive has of his visit.