The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-10-29

Chicago, Oct. 2S.-Twice this afternoon
the largest hall in the business district
of Chicago was filled literally to sufroca-
ton with people to hear William j. Bry-
an. Outside on the lake front and streets
adjoining, unable to gain admission. were
crowds that would have filled the hall
twice again. Eight other large meetings
were addressed by Mr.. Bryan before mid.
night i'll various parts of the city
The most important gathering of the
series was the big MONDAY meeting of
BUSINESS men Mt Battery ID armory. on
the lake front, and probably next in point
of interest was the big meeting for wo-
men IN the same place il couple OF hours
later.
The crush at the afternoon meeting
even exceeded that of the ..noonday meet
ing. Painting women were carried from
the hall every few minutes For two
hours before Mr.. Bryan arrived it was
impossible to gain admission, and thou
sands gathered on the lake front in the
hope Of participating in an overflow meet
ing, Hlt this was impossible, owing to
Mr.. Bryan's many engagements The
nominee appearance upon the stage was
greeted with IL mighty cheer of applause.
Humid eds of ladies in the audience had
small American flags and as they chcered
they waved the flags in unison. Just as
Mr.. bryan was about to begin his address
he noticed Il large number of men in the
windows on the roof of the building, and
fearing danger, he declined to proceed
until 5hc roof was cleared.
Long before the hour for the business
mems MONDAY meeting Battery ID was
packed. The seats had been removed
.hn Nod Df Id ,.,n
ence stood solid, shoulder to shoulder
The great girders that supported the roof
FURNISHED seats for Il number of venture
some admirers and the galleries We're
packed. The hail was crowded to its ut
most.lmit. General c G. Howard called
the meeting to order. Mr. Bryan received
an ovation that lasted for more than five
minutes and bid fair to continue indefi.
nitely.
Z General Howard obtained the attention
OF the audience, however, by saying that
Mr.. Bryan asked one question, whether
sthose present were all business men. A
thousand voices answered Eyes, and in
the lull that followed one mans voice
rose clearly us he said eve mean bust
ness.n (Cheering)
Mr.. Bryan said in part
II have said so often that those who as
'"hiS w pC oiic plllS business men some
times make Il great mistake in assuming
that the prosperity Of our nation rests
upon them, and am coming to-day to
talk to business men and to say to them
that in pleading the cause of the farmer
and the laborcr am trying to lay Il sub.
stantlal foundation upon which the bust
ness oil this country can be done. CAP
plauSe.) If you are engaged in mcrchan-
disc, engaged in the exchange of wealth.
Supposing that the prosperity of the pro
ducers depends upon you, YOU deceive
yourselves Wealth must he created be-
fore it can be distributed Those who
created wealth could live though they
went out of business. | could live if the
producers of wealth 20 out of business
(Applause.) ! believe that policy is best
for the country which begins with those
who toll and gives them first the inspira
ton to work and then protects them in
the enjoyment of the rightful shares of
thc-procceds of their toll, and proceeds
from chem up to the upper classes of so.
ciety who rest upon them. And | chal-
lenge you to find in the pages of recorded
history single instance where prosperity
came down from the upper crust OF soci-
ETY.. 1t always comes from the masses
the foundation of society. (Applausc.)
II want to talk TO you business men for
another reason. | believe that many of
the business men are being tyrannzcd
over by financial influences. CA voice:
y on are right.O You point back to the
time of the war to find your heroes. |
tell you that the year 1896 has developed
heroes in this nation. (Applause) l
know business men who have been sum.
moned before their bankers and told if
they insisted upon talking for free silver
their notes would not he extended. |
Know one man who was summoned into
the bank and told that if he did not stop
talking for free silver lac would have to
look elsewhere for accommodation and
that man told his banker that he realized
that he was in his power; that if he had IL
MIND to he could call for the payment of
his notes and close up his store and wipe
out all the profits OF the years of indus
try But he said; Sir, you may DO il if
YOU Will. believe that humanity is in
VOWED You can take my property, but
you cannot take my soul Great APP
plause)
My friends, believe that the mcrcan-
tile classes have suffered rs much by gov.
eminent by banks as any other class OF
the people, and when | preach doliverancc
oil the common people from the money
changers, preach deliverance of the bus
ness men from.the tyranny of the banks
applause and chcers.) say that the
man who loans you money has no right
20 control your vote ('That is good, ,
and cheers.) | say that a man, who be-
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