The record-union., 1896-07-18
An Immense Crowd Gathers to We'll
come the Presidential Nominee.
A Procession, Joined in by People of
All Classes, Regardless of Politics,
March i'm the Rain Through Muddy
Streets to the State Capitol,
Where the Reception Exercises
Took Place.

LINCOLN 1Neb.), July 1.-THE dem
onstratlon in honor of the home coming
of Hon. w. j. Bryan was an event in the
life of that gentlemen of which he can
be proud 1t was probably the greatest
outpouring of people for a like event
ever held in the State, spontaneous and
Whole-hearted in degree and so free
from party bias that there are no sore
spots left among any of the party work.
ers. The demonstration had been we'll
advertised, and it had the effect Of
bringing an immense crowd to Lincoln.
Practically every county in the State
was represented by large or small dele
cations, and the crowd from nearby
States was not small. Hotels were
crowded early in the day by the incom-
iTg delegations, and at an early hour
the noise began, with no sign of ceas-
ing.
The city was literally and handsome
ly decorated with flags and bunting
from one end TO the other, and litho-
graphs of the Democratic candidate
We're in conspicuous places in the win
dows of business houses. The State
House, where the reception was held,
was elaborately decorated. The ceiling
of the rotunda was encircled by an octa-
gon frame of incandescent lights, and
the columns of the rotunda We're
wrapped with bunting.
Early this morning a committee of
ladies began the work of decorating the
Bryan home. Admirable taste was dis
played, and Railways and rooms were
bowers of beauty.
1C 70
depot early to await the arrival of the
party from the south. The train rolled
into the Union depot at Z O'Clock, and
Mr.. Bryan was given a tremendous ova-
ton by the assembled thousands
Tonight Lincoln is delirious The de-
lirium began when the train bearing the
nominee was sighted by the thousands
gathered in and about the railway sta
tion. How many thousands We're there
it would be difficult to estimate. Men.
women and children with tin horns
which they blew Justify, steam caIliopes.
steam whistles, cannon, firesrdckers
and everything else that could be con-
veniently handled helped to turn the
capital city of the State into a pande-
mOnium.
AS Mr. and Mrs. Bryan, with the Lin
coin contingent that had gone to meet
them, stepped from the train a mighty
howl went UP from the crowd, and then
began the din of artificial noise. shrieks.
grunts, whistles and yowls, continued
with persistence that showed a keen
enjoyment on the part of those handling
the instruments of torture.
In some way Mr. and Mrs. BRYAN.
their children and the others with them
managed to get through the assembled
masses and were placed in carriages.
Mayor Graham and a reception commit
tee had charge of the arrangements, and
under their direction the nominees
party were conveyed to the Bryan resi-
dence, No. 1925 D street, where neigh
bors and friends We're waiting to give
them hearty welcome, and an informal
reception was held by Mr.. and Mrs
Bryan until supper was announced.
There was a hasty meal for the process
sion that was to escort the Democratic
nominee to the State Capitol was al
ready forming, and people were getting
impatient for another chance to cheer.
AT $50 o'clock Mr.. Bryan went to the
Lincoln Hotel in carriage to take his
place in the parade, Mrs. Bryan and a
number of friends proceeding directly to
the legislative building 1t had begun
to rain by this time, but the ardor of the
people was not diminished, and when