Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-16
A GREAT DEMONSTRATION
rendered William J. Bryan at
the Place of His Birth.
IT WAS A GENERAL HOLIDAY
And the Entire Town Was Decorated With
Bunting and Photographs.
HIS ITINERARY EN- ROUTE HOME
Declines an Invitation to Address the st.
Louis Merchants Exchange-Refused
Special Car and Rides as
an Ordinary Person.
1T WAS A GENERAL HOLIDAY
HIS ITINERARY EN- ROUTE HOME

Salem, ILL.,, July 15.-Salem paid her
farewell today to William ]. Bryan in
grand demonstration that exceeded by
far the pyrotechnic reception given him
on his arrival here Monday night. Yes
terday morning the preparations were
begun, and the result is the tranSforma-
tion of the democratic candidates birth
place from an ordinary county seat to
a place of variegated color and lavish
decoration. In front of the old court
house, where Mr.. Bryan made his maiden
speech and where his father presided as
circuit judge for many years, platform
with foundation of empty oil barrels
had been erected, and this was covered
with red, white and blue bunting and
other embellishments. In response to
proclamation of Mayor Lakin nearly
every house fioated the national stand
ard or some other adornment, and pic
lures OF Mr. Bryan, most of them clipped
from daily papers, were prominent in the
windows of shops and private residences.
Business was suspended and the whole
town prepared itself for making the day
the greatest little Salem had ever ex-
perienced. Excursions were run by the
Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern and
the Chicago Paducah and Memphis
roads, ana people from nearly all the
neighboring villages and the surround
ing country took advantage of the op-
portunity afforded by the cheap rates to
hear and see Mr. Bryan. A promise that
Governor Altgeld would also make an
address was also another attraction.
Four bands had been engaged for the
occasion, and the three which helped the
Salem orchestra to make music headed
delegations from nearby towns
Mr.. Bryan was late in reaching Salem
from Centralia last night He went to
Odin by train and made the journey from
that junction to Salem with a party of
newspaper men in a stage drawn by
mules. Two or three times the stage
was nearly overturned at bad places in
the road and Mr.. Bryan was obliged to
jump to save himself from being cast
into the mud. Mrs. Bryan and several
Salem people preceded Mr.. Bryan in a
surrey.
The detailed programme of Mr.. Bryan's
trip to Lincoln was announced today
He will leave Salem by the Baltimore
and Ohio Southwestern at 5:23 o'clock
Thursday morning; will get to st. Louis
at S:23 and, after changing TO the Mis-
souri, Pacific train, will renew the jour-
ney at 8 o'clock. He is scheduled to ar
rive in Kansas City that evening and
will probably make a speech there. The
night will be spent in Kansas City and
in the morning at IL O'Clock Mr.. Bryan,
Mrs. Bryan and their three children will
start via the Burlington line for Lincoln,
where they are due that evening at 6
o'clock. The trip through Nebraska will
be made in the day time, and Mr.. Bryan
will probably make several informal
speeches en- route.
With reference to a published story
that Mr.. Bryan had not been polite in de-
clning the offer of a railroad company
to furnish him with a special car, a
gentleman here who was present at the
interview says that Mr.. Bryan was not
discourteous to the railroad managers.
He simply thanked them for their offer
to furnish him with the special car and
expressed desire to travel as an ordi-
nary passenger.
day Mr.. Bryan saw a great many visit
ors, all old friends; had his picture
taken on the porch of the house in which
he was born, with his three children
about him, and took a walk about the
town. During the afternoon he visited
the Park hotel and had chat with the
newspaper men there.
II am not being interviewed said Mr.
Bryan smilingly, half a dozen times in
answer to questions from the journal
istic contingent. One of these questions
was whether he would challenge Major
Mckinley to a joint debate, and the re-
ply given was returned.
dispatch from Lincoln, Neb, saying
that the people of Lincoln were losing
enthusiasm over the statement that the
QeIlOcTdtlc HOIliute WOulu uOl HIKE lllS
headquarters there was shown to Mr..
Bryan.
"You may say" he answered, that
my personal headquarters and residence
will be at Lincoln during the campaign.
I will reach Lincoln Friday evening at 6
o'clock, and will probably go to Omaha
Saturday evening. On Monday l will re-
ceive the delegates from Colorado Utah
and Wyoming en- route to the national
silver convention. Further than that I
have no plans"
Mr.. Bryan added that he would make
no political speeches until he was notified
of his nomination.
Among the telegrams received by Mr..
Bryan yesterday was one from the st.
Louis Merchants exchange asking him
to address that body on his passing
through Thursday. This he has been
obliged to decline, as he will remain
there long enough only to change cars.
The Jefferson club of st. Louis also sent
a request asking Mr.. Bryan to fix an
early date for speech in the auditorium
there, and promising a big demonstra-
tion.
A heavy wind and rain storm came up
at noon and for while there was a
stampede among the hundreds of visit
ors. who believed that cyclone was i'm
lninent The rain ruined the decorations,
and when 1t had ceased Salem presented
a sorry and bedraggled appearance.
Court House park was mire when
the rain was over, and the 5000 people
who were crowded into the square had a
very uncomfortable feeling under foot.
A reception committee and several
bands escorted Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan from
Mrs. Baird's residence to the park, and
their appearance was the signal for
hearty cheers.
After the cheering had ceased Mr..
Bryan began slowly and distinctly.
When he referred to his father and to his
mothers recent death there was much
feeling In his tones The speaker said
very little about politics, and Mr.. Bryan
expressly discIaimed any intention of
making a political speech.
'Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentleman
and fellow citizens" he said. have no