Despite their differences over foreign policy , Bryan supported Wilson 's 1916 re-election campaign . Though he did not attend as an official delegate , the 1916 Democratic National Convention suspended its own rules to allow Bryan to address the convention ; Bryan delivered a well-received speech in which he strongly defended Wilson 's domestic record . Bryan served as a campaign surrogate for Wilson in the 1916 campaign , delivering dozens of speeches , primarily to audiences west of the Mississippi River . Ultimately , Wilson narrowly prevailed over the Republican candidate , Charles Evans Hughes . When the United States entered World War I in April 1917 , Bryan wrote Wilson , " Believing it to be the duty of the citizen to bear his part of the burden of war and his share of the peril , I hereby tender my services to the Government . Please enroll me as a private whenever I am needed and assign me to any work that I can do . " Wilson declined to appoint Bryan to a federal position , but Bryan did agree to Wilson 's request to provide public support for the war effort through his speeches and articles . After the war , despite some reservations , Bryan supported Wilson 's unsuccessful effort to bring the United States into the League of Nations
1916 Democratic National Convention
1916 Democratic National Convention
William Jennings Bryan