Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-16
BRYAN'S FAREWELL.
His Fellow Citizens in Illinois Town Give Him
Reception.

Salem, Ill. July 15,-Salem paid her
farewell, today. to w. j. Bryan in a
grand demonstration that exceeded by
far, the pyrotechnic reception given
him on his arrival here. Monday night.
Yesterday morning, the preparations
were begun and the result is the trans
formation of the Democratic candi-
dates birthplace from an ordinary
county seat to a place of variegated
color and lavish decoration. In front
IF the old court house where Mr.. Bryan
made his maiden speech, and where
his father presided as circuit judge for
many years, a platform with founda-
ton of empty oil barrels had been
erected and this was covered with red,
white and blue bunting and other en-
bellishments.
In response to proclamation of
Mayor Lakin. nearly every house
noated the national standard, or some
other adornment. and pictures of Mr.
Bryan, most of them clipped from daily
papers. were prominent in the windows
Of shops and private residences. Bust
ness was suspended and the whole
town prepared itself for making the
lay litt SItdltSt Dlttt EodltIl iidu ever
experienced.
Excursions We're run by the Balti-
more & Ohio, Southwestern and the
Chicago Paducah & Memphis roads.
and people from nearly all the neigh
boring villages and the surrounding
country took advantage Of the oppor-
tunity offered by the cheap rates to
hear Mr.. Bryan. A promise that Gov
ernor Altgeld would also make an ad-
dress was another attraction. Four
bands had been engaged for the oc-
casion, and the three. who 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 party of newspaper men in a
stage drawn by mules. Two or three
times the stage was nearly overturned
II bad places in the road and once 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..
y
today. He viii leave Salem by the Bal
timore & Ohio Southwestern ON the ).
train, Thursday morning; will get to
st. Louis at SIS. and after changing to
the Missouri Pacific train. will renew
the journey at . O'Clock. He is sched-
uled to arrive in Kansas City. that
evening. and win probably make a
speech there. The night vii be spent
at Kansas City. and the next morning.
at Il o'clock. Mr.. Bryan. Mrs. Bryan
and their three children vii start by
the Burlington line for Lincoln, where
they are due to arrive that evening.
ut 6 O'Clock. The trip through Ne
brasiia will be made in the day time.
and Mr. Bryan will probably make sew
eral Informal speeches en- route.
With reference to a published story
that Mr.. Bryan had not been polite in
declining the offer of railroad com
pany to furnish him with a special
car, a gentleman 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 ordinary passenger.