Devil Doc
When Death smiles, Corpsmen smile back
It's the birthday of one of the least successful presidential candidates in American history, William Jennings Bryan, born in Salem, Illinois (1860). He ran for president as the Democratic candidate three times, and he lost each time. He's probably best remembered today for his role in the famous "Scopes Monkey Trial" (1925). Bryan argued against teaching evolution in public schools in part because he objected to Social Darwinism, and he believed that the theory of evolution was fueling the Eugenics movement.
But he was also an extremely influential politician. He became a Democrat because he believed that Republicans weren't addressing the concerns of poor rural farmers across the country. Bryan believed farmers were the victims of gold speculators and corrupt loan agents. He was also one of the early supporters of women's suffrage, corporate income taxes, labor rights, the eight-hour workday, antitrust laws, and the direct election of U.S. senators. He was one of the first people to advocate expanding the powers of the Federal government to help ordinary people, and it was that idea that became the new foundation of the Democratic Party.
But he was also an extremely influential politician. He became a Democrat because he believed that Republicans weren't addressing the concerns of poor rural farmers across the country. Bryan believed farmers were the victims of gold speculators and corrupt loan agents. He was also one of the early supporters of women's suffrage, corporate income taxes, labor rights, the eight-hour workday, antitrust laws, and the direct election of U.S. senators. He was one of the first people to advocate expanding the powers of the Federal government to help ordinary people, and it was that idea that became the new foundation of the Democratic Party.
