In the IHSAA State Meet of 1912 held at Purdue University on May 18th, the Hon. William Jennings Bryan appeared toward the end of the meet and gave a five-minute speech. Bryan was the Democratic three-time nominee for President of the United States, 1896, 1900, and 1908 and at the time President Woodrow Wilson’s Secretary of State.

In his speech Bryan said that “baseball is good because it is Democratic – prize is nothing – preparation is everything, he was not a ‘runner’ nut a ‘jumper,’ even jumping 12’ 4” in the standing broad jump”. He was later informed that Purdue’s famous four-time Olympian and world record holder Ray Ewry jump was 11’ 5”. However, most accepted Bryan’s statement.