Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-14

Will announce from there the executive
committee of the national committee
which will have charge of the campaign.
BRYAN REACHES HIS BIRTHPLACE.
Salem Turns Out to . Man and Woman to
Do Him Honor.
SALEM, Ills, July 14.-Never before in
Its history has this quiet little town of
e,O00 people been SO abiaze in glory as it
was last night. Ordinarily the citizens
retire for the night by o'clock. AT IL it
Is as quiet as country church yard is ut
midnight. There is nothing left with
which to ompare the stiffness that prevails.
But last night it was different. w. j.
Bryan, leader of the Democratic national
campaign, native of the place, returned
here. The whole town was out to meet
him.
The streets are lined with huge maple
trees which were brilliant with Chinese
lanterns. In every house there were rows
upon rows of candles placed in the win
tlows. Every building, no matter how
humble, was lighted. Every anvil from
every blacksmith shop in the town was
brought out into the public square, around
which are located the business houses.
Enthusiastic citizens loaded them with
powder and when the train bearing the
hOnOred son Of Salem and his wife ar
rived these anvils doomed forth a salute
that sounded like the cannonade of heavy
! artillery. Then there were sky rocket:
and roman candles and red fire burning
| along the route by which Bryan was
conducted to the home Of his sister. Hi
| will remain for the next two days.
| 1t was not the wish of Bryan to have 8
celebration here at this time. But two
short weeks ago he called here to attend
the death-bed of his mother. She dice
and was buried here by the side of Judge
Bryan, who passed away sixteen year:
ago. But the peoples enthusiasm and theil
desire to honor the man who went ava,
from here scarcely score Of years ago un
known to fame got the better of them
and they gave vent to their feelings
| When the carriage reached the home o
his sister his former fellow-townsmel
were there by hundreds.
They demanded a speech and Bryan &C
quiesced. As he stepped out upon the littl
vine-covered porch in front of the home O
his sister he showed by the twitching o
the muscles of his face and the huskines
Of his voice that he was deeply affected
He said: Il assure you l appreciate tn
friendly interest you manifest, and NOR
Sd because in this there is no party, and
see here my friends in all parties-person
Of different political faith as well as thos
who agree with the principles which
have advocatcd-and am deeply touche
with this manifestation of your estteeI
and confidence
He closed his speech by saying that b
only claimed the votes of those who b.
! lieved that by voting for him they wei
doing the best thing for the countr,
LET your ballots register a freeman
will and then no matter who is elected "
will be satisfied"
[ When he had ended his talk there we
, loud and enthusiastic applause. Thel
were no other speeches. The people
| Salem retired to their homes and Brya
} and his wife entered the cottage worn o,
, from the excitement Of the day.
All along the line from Chicago Il
{ nominee received an ovation. At RAJ
E tout, Champaign, Toona, Tuscola, A
0 cola (where Mrs. Bryan received the bul
\ Of the attention), Nation, EffinghaT
: and Odin the people were out almost {
masse, and at several places Bryan MAJ
| speeches Four miles south of Effingha
!. there were bonfires on the side Of the 70,
Z lit by farmers. Everybody was anxio
. to see ''Our Billy" and Bryan shoe
hands by the thousand. When the ira
!. pulled up at Salem there were people
n hand ready to welcome Bryan from U
l. over Marion county.