The record-union., 1896-09-20
Broken Up by a Violent Storm Which
Swept Over the Capital City.
Pelting Rain Compels Cessation of
His Speaking.
The Democratic Nominee PAYS a
Visit to the Monument Erected at
Fredericksburg, Virginia, to the
Memory of Mary Washington,
Mother of George Washington.

Mother of George Washington.
WASHINGTON, Sept. ia violent
wind and rainStorm which swept over
the city at = o'clock broke UP the Bry-
an meeting, and the promise of it's COM
ing prevented it from being the success
it would have been under more pleasant
conditions of weather. The candidate
had just reached the consideration of
Washingtons farewell address, when
the pelting rain compelled cessation Of
his speech, although probably 1,50O en-
thusiastic auditors braved the elements
and pressed for him to go on. After
waiting few minutes to see if the Sc
verify Of the storm would pass, he gave
up and left the stand
The meeting was held in the old base
ball park, north Of the Capitol four or
five blocks. For this occasion a plat
form eighty feet square had been con-
structed, which was profusely deco
| rated. Around it's edge was strung a
double line of electric globes, but they
were not needed. AT each corner of the
speakers stand the American flag
O'Clock, and at o'clock the hour fixed
We're probably 5000 people gathered in
front of the stand and in the grand
stand reserved for club members. There
were at that time few banners in the
| field, prominent among them that of the
| Bryan Club Of North Carolina, which
asserted that that was the first State to
indorse Bryan for the Presidency.
Five minutes after the hour Mr. Kalb-
fuS, Chairman of the Executive Com
mittee, called the meeting to order, and
! introduced ex-Mayor j. G. Berrett as
presiding officer Mr.. Berrett is an
aged gentleman of four score years and
his remarks were inaudible even to
those next to him on the platform.
| w. A Hoataling, Reading Clerk of the
Fifty-third Congress, read Washing
toms farewell address, in accordance
with the general plan to read the docu-
ment on this day to all the Democratic
clubs. The throng listened attentively
throughout the reading, and at it's close
loudly cheered.
| The organization Of the committee
was then announced. Among the Vice
| Presidents named who were on the
stand We're Senators Butler of North
| Carolina, Harris of Tennessee and
| Stewart of Nevada.
The resolutions agreed upon by the
Executive Committee were then pre-
sented by John A. Clark and adopted.
They unqualifedly" approved the
Chicago platform, heartily and zeal
ously" indorsed the nomination Of
Bryan and Sewall, and pledged them
full, uncompromising and unyielding
support"
| While waiting for the appearance of
Mr.. Bryan the audience was entertained
| by "A. Lipscomb of the district BY this
time the crowd had increased to prob
ably 10000 people, who cheered every
sentiment, and especially every one in
Guiding the name of the Presidential
candidate. He was followed by Hon.
Benton Mcmillan of Tennessee
! While Mr.. Mcmillan was speaking a
dark bank of Clouds portending a
| heavy storm, gathered in the northwest.
but the people stood in their places
waiting for him for whom they had
/ come to hear While they were driving
swiftly down over the city the head of
the procession escorting Mr.. Bryan was
sighted, and the band struck up
Dixie" The crowd broke into tu-
multuous cheers, which were kept UP
at intervals while he was making his
way TO the front of the patform. Then
the demonstration became tumultuous,
2nd was kept up for a minute or more.
despite the efforts of the officials to Sc
cure quiet that the candidate might be
neard before the storm came When he
was presented by Chairman Berrett
there was repetition of the applause
AS Mr Bryan stepped to the front
! little Mabel Cosgrove, dressed in white
| ana silver, was lifted to the stand and
| presented the candidate a bunch OF
| Whlte roses, which he smilingly received
Mr.. Bryan's opening sentence afforded
an opportunity for an interruption that
caused great applause. He spoke of
his return to the city where -four years
OF official life had been spent" A voice
| on the outskirts shouted, "and four
more beginning next March," The ap-
plause and laughter following this grew
| in volume until it swept over the whole
| audience
Almost Immediately after the candi-
| date began speaking the long -heralded
storm again gave indications of break
ing, and the grounds were filled with
dust, The elements We're so threatening
| that many of the audience left, but Mr.
| Bryan continued his remarks as the rain
| began to fall. He spoke twenty-five
! minutes, and was then compelled to
stop, the rain coming down in torrents
| Mr.. Bryan was driven to his hotel
where he held an exceedingly brief re-
ception to the local committee. He was
| then driven to the residence of Mr..
| Bride. where he lived when a member
Ct Congress. Here Mr.. Srysn hastily
changed his clothes and secured an
| overcoat. Under an escort of eight
mounted police the journey to the rail-
road station was made and at GAO the
train pulled out for Baltimore
BRYAN AT FREDERICKSBURG
| FREDERICKSBURG CVa.). Sept. 10
up at dawn and off for Washington
at o'clock was the way Bryan began
his programme for to-day. He arrived
here at 8. delivered a speech at IL and
left for Washington at l 40 p. m.
| At IL o'clock Bryan was taken to the
monument erected to the memory OF
Mary Washington, mother of George
| Washington, who lived here with her
distinguished son for many years. Here
| a Stapd had been erected and fha cond;