Political conditions in 1900--Kern declines to run for governor--The Morss dinner--Accepts at midnight--Frank B. Burke--Kern nominated--The campaign--Defeat--Speech at Bryan birthday dinner--Recognized as Bryan’s Indiana lieutenant--Keynote speech in 1902--The battle of 1904--Kern supports Parker--Refuses nomination for governor--Consents on plea of Parker--Parker’s verification--Defeat. VIII--EUROPE AND ASHEVILLE: AN INTERLUDE 144 Europe for rest--Green Smith--Incongruous tourists--Joke on Smith--Catches cold in campaign of 1906--Forced to Asheville--Life there--Letters to John, Jr.--Recovers. IX--RUNNING WITH BRYAN 156 Kern and the vice-presidency--Pleads poverty--Bryan offers room in White House--Letter to _Indianapolis News_--En route to Denver--With Bryan at Lincoln--Vice-presidency not discussed--Discussed in Denver--Boom dinner at the Savoy--Kern’s silence--Indiana delegation organizes to push him--His only words to delegation--Selected by the leaders--Marshall’s nominating speech--Nominated--Hero of the hour--Stops at Lincoln--Town “Kern-mad”--Meets with Bryan and the committee--Publicity of contributions before elections--Embarrassment in the enemy’s camp--Reaches home--Non-partisan reception--Kern’s speech--Tribute of Kokomo--At Bryan notification meeting--Kern notified--His southern tour--Meets Sherman at Chicago--John, Jr., stricken--Kern’s eastern tour--John, Jr., worse--Cancels dates--Indiana tour--Election night--Kern’s affection for Sherman. X--BATTLE FOR THE SENATE 188 Kern announces candidacy for senate--Opposed by the breweries--The other candidates--Lamb’s warning against secret ballot--Scenes at the Denison--At the state house--Analysis of vote--Defeated--Alibis--The famous Morrow interview--Convention of 1910--“The Governor’s Plan”--The fight--Kern’s attempt to refuse the nomination--Meredith Nicholson’s comment--Nominated--Beveridge’s position--Kern’s keynote--Views on the speech--Fight for progressive Democrat votes--Kern’s attacks--“Mary of the vine-clad cottage”--Roosevelt, Bryan and Parker--Victory. XI--KERN’S FIRST CONGRESS 209 Demoralization of Republicans in congress--New Democratic senators--Their progressive trend--They rally about Kern--Kern leads fight for reorganization--Nominates Shively for leader--Named on Steering committee--On Finance committee--Favors Shively for the place--Relations with Shively--A famous pension speech--Canadian reciprocity--The “Farmer’s lobby”--The Lawrence strike--Position in Stephenson case--The Archibald impeachment. XII--KERN’S FIGHT AGAINST LORIMERISM 226