Charie
11-29-2003, 08:30 PM
Grandpa and William Jennings Bryan
by Charie
You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold
This line from a speech given by William Jennings Bryan in 1896 caused trouble in the Huff family who lived on a farm outside of Hersey, Michigan in 1900.
My great-grandfather Paul Huff, emigrated to the United States with his family and became a naturalized citizen in 1900. *He also became an ardent Democrat and was involved in campaigning for Bryan when Bryan, with his cry of "free silver" *was wholeheartedly against putting American money on the gold standard.
There was a Democrat rally in town at which a tall pole had been erected and upon which a huge tinfoil (silver) ball had been placed to accompany the usual band and speeches. *Great-grandfather, of course, attended. *Afterward, the band dispersed, the speakers left and the only thing remaining was the silver ball on the pole.
Several days later, after a rainy period, my great-grandfather and my grandpa Ed, 21, took the wagon to town to get supplies. *As they neared the spot where the pole with the silver ball stood, my grandpa was quick to notice that the tinfoil ball, from all the rain, had rusted.
Having reached the age of 21 and become a man, I guess Grandpa thought he *could speak out on any subject to his father. *He pointed at the ball and said, "Look Dad! *It looks like your free silver has turned to gold!'
He was sprawled in the grass beside the road almost before he realized that his father had punched him right in the nose and knocked him out of the wagon.
Grandpa was a lifelong Republican.
by Charie
You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold
This line from a speech given by William Jennings Bryan in 1896 caused trouble in the Huff family who lived on a farm outside of Hersey, Michigan in 1900.
My great-grandfather Paul Huff, emigrated to the United States with his family and became a naturalized citizen in 1900. *He also became an ardent Democrat and was involved in campaigning for Bryan when Bryan, with his cry of "free silver" *was wholeheartedly against putting American money on the gold standard.
There was a Democrat rally in town at which a tall pole had been erected and upon which a huge tinfoil (silver) ball had been placed to accompany the usual band and speeches. *Great-grandfather, of course, attended. *Afterward, the band dispersed, the speakers left and the only thing remaining was the silver ball on the pole.
Several days later, after a rainy period, my great-grandfather and my grandpa Ed, 21, took the wagon to town to get supplies. *As they neared the spot where the pole with the silver ball stood, my grandpa was quick to notice that the tinfoil ball, from all the rain, had rusted.
Having reached the age of 21 and become a man, I guess Grandpa thought he *could speak out on any subject to his father. *He pointed at the ball and said, "Look Dad! *It looks like your free silver has turned to gold!'
He was sprawled in the grass beside the road almost before he realized that his father had punched him right in the nose and knocked him out of the wagon.
Grandpa was a lifelong Republican.