Bryan started practicing law in Lake Charles. In 1904 or 1905, he moved to
Bremerton, Washington, and continued practicing law there. He was the Bremerton city attorney in 1907, 1908, and 1911. As city attorney, he successfully campaigned for municipal ownership of the Bremerton water supply system and waterfront dock. He served as a member of the
Washington State Senate from 1908 to 1912. He was affiliated with the law firms Bryan & Ingle, Bryan & Best, and Bryan & Garland. He then sold his law practice. Bryan was elected as a
Progressive to the
Sixty-third Congress (March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1915). He was the first to represent
Washington's at-large congressional district. He introduced a bill for government ownership of railroads, but it was defeated. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination to the new 1st district seat in 1914 to the
Sixty-fourth Congress. He sued his opponent
Clarance B. Blethen and his publication
The Seattle Times for their characterization of him in cartoons and editorials during the congressional race and Bryan settled out of court. Bryan owned and published the weekly newspaper
The Navy Yard American from 1915 to 1917. After resuming his law practice, he was prosecuting attorney of
Kitsap County from 1926 to 1930. He was opposed to liquor and gambling and had a feud with sheriff John Stanioch. He published leaflets titled
The Broad Axe that shared his views. From 1933 to 1936, he was the president of the Bremerton Port Commission. He sold his share of his law partnership to James Arthur following Arthur's return from World War II. He then returned to practice law with his son James W. Jr. in 1950. He practiced law in Bremerton until his death. Later in his career, he argued against the purchase of private power facilities by districts with public utilities. He was chairman of the Kitsap County Public Utility District. ==Personal life==