The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-10
BRYAN 10 THE woRKINaMEN.
a Speech to the People of Moline, a
Manufacturing Town.

Davenport, Ia, Aug. 10--DaYenport
is looked upon by Iowa silver men as
a stronghold Of opposition to the free
silver movement, but the crowd LnaL
filled the platform and adjacent streets
when the Bryan train arrived saturday
afternoon must have numbered 4,OOO
Il was by far the biggest ana most
noisy demonstration witnessed since
the Bryan party left home, with the
exception of the reception at Des
Moines. Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan leaned
over the railing of the rear PLATFORM
and shook hands with all who could
fight their way into reaching distance,
while the crowd was WrtgglIng. strug-
Cling mass of explosive humanity from
the very center of interest to the outer
limits of the large circle. In response
to numerous urgent Invitations Mr.
Bryan spoke as follows:
''They say that this is town that
believes in gold. If so, I want to tell
the people that we will do even bet
ter, for we believe in both gold and sill
ver''
After dinner Mr. Bryan spoke as fol-
lows to another crowd:
I suppose this is what may be called
an after dinner speech, since have
just finished an excellent dinner. am
very glad to see you and to give you
a chance to meet a candidate. I be-
heve that it is the duty of any per-
son, who is a candidate for office, to
become acquainted with the people with
whom he is to serve if elected. There
is an old fashioned idea which, to my
mind, is the idea TO be entertained IN
this country, that the party chosen is
nothing but a hired man, no matter
how exalted the Office or how lOWly- He
is simply employed for a certain time
at a. certain salary. to do certain work,
and the people simply employ him. not
because they desire to, but because
they are too numerous to do the work
themselves. And you have the right
to choose the persons who are to do
your work and watch them all the time
they are at work.
AS the train drew away from the
midst of the crowd Mrs. Bryan scat
tered a number of roses and women and
children We'd with the men in the Strug-
gle that ensued for the prizes. When
Rock Island was reached five or ten
minutes later, the scenes at Davenport
were re-enacted and emphasized. There
were fully 5000 pOple at the depot. Mr..
Bryan was introduced by Mr.. Huesing
and spoke again, recognizing his entry
into his native state in his remarks.
1t was but few minutes ride to Mo-
line, where the depot platform, railroad
yards and adjacent streets were liter
ally packed with enthusiastic people.
AS the train moved slowly through the
yards the crowd SWayed forward like
a tidal wave. Mr.. Bryan left the train
after the station was passed, and, ac-
cOmpanied by Mrs. Bryan, was escort
ed to the platform, where he was intro
duced by a member of the committee
and spoke as follows:
many people assembled to manifest
their interest in the campaign upon
which we are entering, and I am espe-
cially gratified to find those people as
sembled in a manufacturing town,
where so large a proportion of the pop
pulatiOn are what are known as labor
ing men. If our cause does not benefit
those who toll, then we have no right
to ask for it's adoption by the American
people. I believe with all my heart
that the restoration of of the free and
unlimited coinage of gold and silver at
the present legal ratio of Is to l. with
out waiting for the aid or consent of
any other nation on earth, will be of
benefit to all of the common people Of
the United States.
When our opponents come and speak
to the labOring men and try to warn
them against the restoration of silver
1 want the labOring men to submit this
suggestion to them, that they let the
laboring men themselves tell what is
good for them, and not have others
speak for them. A petition was filed
in congress a little more than a year
ago signed by the leaders of all the
Ia Dor organizations of prominence in
the United States, and that petition,
after describing the evil effects of the
decentralization, asked for the restora-
ton of gold and silver at Is to l. I
would be willing to submit this question
to the IabOring men themselves but
am not willing to submit it to those
people who say that free coinage would
ne SOOQ LOT InGIl InaI IneX are not
willing to be benefited for fear the la
boring man will suffer. All I ask of
you is that you study this question, and
when you make up your mind what
ought to be done, so and do it, remem-
bering that in the United States-the
ballot is given to you for your own use,
for your own protection, and that no
man can tell you how you shall use it,
The crowd was so large and so full of
excited animation that all could not
near the speaker. It was claimed that
there were 5000 people present. AS
Mr.. Bryan closed his remarks the Whis-
ties of three locomotives Joined in but
did not drown, the cheering. squad
of policemen pried an opening through
the crowd to the car some fifty feet
away through which Mr.. and Mrs.
Bryan We're dragged and pushed, the
enthusiasts closing in around them each
moment more and more cOmpactly. Mr.
Bryan's hands were given active en-
ployment until the train drew away
from the struggling crowd. It was no
ticeabel that this large assemblage was
composed largely of WOrkingmen and
their families. AS Mr.. Bryan climbed
pack to the car after his Moline speech,
he was heard TO remark, And they say
the WorkingTnen are not with US" Mr.
Bryan is bearing well the fatigues of
the trip, and Mrs Bryan, except when
she now and then gets surrounded and
too severely jostled in the crowds, ap-
pears to enjoy the experience.
To Chicago, st. Louis and the East
Via Burlington Route"
The travelling public is sure to find
the best fast VeStibuled trains from the
Missouri river to the east via the Bur
lingtou Route" Elaborate comps TT
ment sleepers, (same rate as standard
sleepers) free chair cars of luxurious
pattern to St. Louis; standard sIeepers.
free chair cars and dining cars to Chi