The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-09-05
BRYAN ARoUsRs THE FARMERS
Speaks to an Enormous Audience
in Grove at Knowlesville, N. Y.
From the New York Journal

NIAGARA FALLS, n. y, Aug. ZS.-
The largest gathering ever seen in Orleans
county, New York, was the one which
greeted William Jennings Bryan in
Knowlesville today 1t was announced
several days ago that Mr. Bryan would
speak to an audience at Medina, five miles
from Knowlesville, today, and the farmers
of Monroe, Orleans, Genesee and Niagara
counties made up their minds to give him
reception Twenty hours before
the meeting the date was changed to
Knowlesville, and couriers sent out along
the roads to notify the farmers that instead
of speaking at Medina the candidate would
attend the farmers annual picnic at
Knowlesville.
By daylight Knowlesville was alive with
people from the towns Of Albion, Middle
port and Medina. About 1000 teams
were in the town. The trains from the
east and west brought thousands. Before
noon the village, that the census gives a
population of 600, contained more than
20, 600 people. The speaking was in
Sections Grove, mile north of the village.
FARMERS ON HAND.
For half-mile on every side of the
grove the fences were lined with the teams
of farmers. The meeting was the most
suspicious yet held in the State of New
York. 1t was meeting composed almost
wholly of farmers, and was largely under
the direction of free silver Republicans
1t was noteworthy for the number of
farmers who had Grand Army buttons in
their coats. The wearers proclaimed the
fact of their former Republican affiliations,
and boosted of the fact that they We're
Bryan supporters. The Bryan Republi-
cans were everywhere.
An hour before the train from Niagara
Falls reached Knowlesville station, which
is a mile from the village, six hundred
wagons gathered at the depot Three brass
bands were in readiness to receive the
Bryan party. A committee composed OF
free silver Republicans and Democrats
seated Mr.. and Mrs Bryan in carriage
drawn by four silver gray horses. When
thinge were in readiness, the start was
made for the village, the procession being
headed by a band playing Marching
Through Georgia
HAD A GRAND ESCORT.
The road to the village from the depot
makes a right angle and it was not until
Mr. BRYAN looked across the angle that he
saw the magnitude of the gathering. Five
thousand people were escorting him to q
town off the railroad in the heart of the
agricultural district and in the strongest
Republican section of New York State.
The stand erected in the grove was sur
rounded by people covering four acres Of
ground The trees about the stand held
hundreds, while thousands unable to gel
within reach of the speaker voice waited
at the entrance of the grove and lined the
path through which the party were to drive
to the stand.
GIVEN A HEARTY CHEER.
When Mr.. Bryan was escorted to thu
stand a cheer was sent up that could bt
heard for a quarter of mile. The peoplt
in the crowd were the sons of toll of which
so much has been written. 1t was the frs
opportunity the candidate had had to ad
dress the farmers of Western New Yorl
and to feel their political pulse 1t showed
the farmers are for the champion of tn,
Democracy.
The presiding officer of the meeting wa
Marcus A. Phillips, lifelong Republican
Mr. Phillips has represented the district il
the Assembly and was the leading Repub
lican in the county until after the St. Loui
convention. When he introduced Mr.
Bryan he was cheered by the crowds an,
voices from all parts of the gathering said
e'We are with you, Phillips. !" Mr.
Phillips remarks were brief. He said
''Fellow Citizens 1t is my privileg
today to introduce to you that great com
moner and next President of the Unitet
States, William Jennings Bryan
The crowd cheered Mr.. Bryan time ant
again.
MR. BRYAN's SPEECH To FARMERS.
Mr.. Bryan said
This is a very unusual spectacle,
have met immense audiences in the cite
where great many people live in small
territory, but this is the largest audienc
that I have ever seen assembled in tn
midst of an agricultural country. Gap
plause. | am glad to notice here tn,
mothers and wives, as well as the sons ant
husbands, because, my friends, our caus,
is the cause in which the whole family
interested IF we are entitled to succee,
in this campaign, it is because the princi
pies which we represent and the policie
for which we stand will be for the benefit
of the husbands and wives, the parent
and children, and all the people of our be
loved land. applause.
l am glad that at this meeting we arr
having as the presiding officer man VIII
until this year has voted the Republican
ticket. | am glad because some Of tn,
newspapers parade before the public tn,
names of prominent Democrats who ar
going to desert the ticket, and | am glaC
that for every Democratic deserter we are
to have accessions from the Republican
party more than enough to make up tht
difference. applause.
A PRACTICAL QUESTION.
Politics Is practical question, and it i.
so simply because it can be comprehepdet
by our people want TO talk practica
politics to you for a little while this after.
noon
Here Mr.. Bryan read an extract from
Mr.. Carlisle speech.of 1876, and com
menting on it, said
John G. Carlisle divided society into
tvs classes. On the one side he put the
idle holders of idle capital, on the Other
side he put the struggling masses who pro-
duce the wealth and pay the taxes of the
country (Applause.) If that division
existed then it exists today More than
that, John G. Carlisle said that a public
officer sworn to do his duty would be con-
trolled in his official conduct by his sympa-