A series where we take a #lookback at the stories and history of our community, brought to you by Mick Pryor, Financial Advisor with Edward Jones.
William Jennings Bryan visited Riverton on the evening of September 22nd, 1916. Newspapers reported that “the largest crowd ever assembled in Riverton” gathered to hear Bryan speak.
Bryan was on a tour of the West, visiting Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana to campaign for Woodrow Wilson, who was running to be re-elected as President. Bryan was a famous political figure of the time. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives and was the Secretary of State under Wilson. He later resigned from that position after Wilson entered into the First World War in 1917. Bryan’s rise to fame was initiated when he became the youngest person to run for president during the 1896 election against William McKinley at age 36.
Byran was a staunch Democrat and a key figure during the progressive era (1890s-1920s). He was against the gold standard, was a member of the anti-imperialist league, and argued against monopolies.
In Riverton, he spoke about issues of the time like Women’s Suffrage, the 8-hour law (a law designed to limit the working day to eight hours), and the “Mexican Situation.” This referred to an incident at the U.S./Mexico border during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) where forces under revolutionary Francisco Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico. The United States army later retaliated. 
Caption: Riverton Main Street circa 1910-1920s. Riverton Museum Archives
Bryan only stayed in Riverton for thirty minutes before heading to Lander on the Northwestern passenger train. He even spoke directly from the train platform. The Riverton newspapers (the Review and the Chronicle) detailed Bryan’s stop in the town. The Review noted that the crowd was enthusiastic and proclaimed that Bryan was “America’s greatest statesman.” The Chronicle, however, conceded that the crowd was large but argued that it “lack[ed] enthusiasm.” The article further criticized various policies of the Wilson administration, and by extension Bryan’s part in that administration. It even stated that Wilson’s government “kills patriotism… [and] will not receive support from Americans with real blood in their veins.”
The Chronicle ended its article by stating “[t]he train on Friday evening was over an hour behind time, but that is as nothing compared to the distance Mr. Wilson will be beyond Charles Evans Hughes [the Republican presidential candidate] when the votes are counted in the electoral college.”
This, however, would not come to pass. Despite the scathing review, Wilson not only won re-election in 1916, he also carried the state of Wyoming by larger margin than in 1912. It would seem that Bryan’s campaigning was successful and that the residents of Fremont County were in fact enthusiastic. Wilson won the county with 53.89% of the vote. The people of Riverton not only showed up for Bryan on September 22nd but also for Wilson on election day November 7th, 1916.
Next up for the Fremont County Museum
December 13, 2pm at the Riverton Museum, “Santa’s Workshop” Bailey Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
December 13, 10-4pm at the Riverton Museum, “Christmas Open House”
December 13, 6-8pm at the Pioneer Museum, “Old Fashioned Christmas in the Pioneer Village’ Bailey Tire/Pit Stop Children’s Exploration Series
December 13, 11-3pm at the Dubois Museum, “Holiday Open House”
Thru December, 9-5 at the Riverton Museum, “History Day Exhibits” Shoshone Schools
Call the Dubois Museum 1-307-455-2284, the Pioneer Museum 1-307-332-3339 or the Riverton Museum 1-307-856-2665 for detail regarding their programs.
The Dubois Museum, the Pioneer Museum in Lander and the Riverton Museum need your financial support. In the current economic environment, the museums are more reliant than ever on donations from the private sector to continue to provide the quality programs, collections management, exhibits and services that have become their hallmark over the last four years. Please make your tax deductible contribution through the Wind River Cultural Centers Foundation www.windriverccf.com or by sending a check to Fremont County Museums 450 N 2nd Rm 320 or taking it directly to the museum you choose to support.