Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-08
BRYAN AT CHICAGO.
HE ADDRESSES A BIG MEETING IN
sHARPsHOOTERy PARK.
AN APPEAL TO WORKINGKEN.
An Exposition of Our Form Of Gov
ernment, Its Uses and Abuses-In-
tegrity of the Daliot-Coercion by
Employers.

| workingmen centered mainly in a meet
ing addressed by William j. Bryan at
Sharpshooters' Park, "A wooded pleasure
| ground, situated at an inconvenient dis
tance from the city. The street railway
service was not of the best. and many
people were unable to reach the park.
Every car that ran TO the grounds was
| packed from noon until after O'clock,
| and those who came by that means suf-
fered much discomfort. The day was
! all that could be desired in point Of
weather, a little too warm for the close
| contact of human beings, but practically
perfect for an outdoor assembly. Mr.
! Bryan spoke from q permanent platform
with a sheIl-shaped canopy and long be-
| fore the meeting began this was crowd I'd
| with prominent members of labor unions,
a number OF them accompanied by their
families.
The crowd began to gather about noon
| and those who came early sought posi-
| tons close 10 the front OF the stand.
Many men and boys climbed trees over
looking the platform, and were able TO
see and hear the better for their exalted
positions Occasionally the limb of
tree broke, and added 10 the fun and *
element of the occasion. Other men
climbed to the roof OF the stand, and.
lying fiat on their stomachs. peered over
the edge OF those below like 30 many
human squirrels The crowd was not as
great as had been expected by the pro ID.
moters Of the event. Just before MI
Bryan entered the park about six ihou-
sand people were clustered arOudd the
central point Of interest. but after Tie
appearance Of the nominee three OF four
thousand entered the grounds, and want
ed to catch a glimpse Of the nominee or
stood on the outskirts of the audience
endeavoring 10 near what he said.
CHARGE FOR ADMISSION.
a charge Of % cents for admission pro-
badly served TO decrease the attendance.
This has always been the custom at the
Labor-Day celebration in Sharpshooters'
Park. but Mr.. Bryan probably did not
know OF IT, or he might have declined TO
speak unless with the assurance that 10
entrance-fee would be charged. He made
free admission a condition Of his appear
ance at the driving park near Knowles
vile week before last, and has always
insisted that no one shall be excluded
through lack of means from attending
the meetings addressed by tim.
The celebration at the park was the
annual picnic Of the Building Trades
Council, representative organization or
men employed in building trades The
crowd which gathered was essentially
one Of workingmen and their families
They enjoyed the address of the nominee
with unconstrained freedom. and made
frequent comments Of an amusing charac-
ter that several times had the effect of
making Mr. Bryan break into a laugh
which spoiled a rounded period
The crowd was exceedingly disorderly
in a good-natured way. Freauent appeals
for quiet were necessary. Two or three
times the jam near the stand became 20
great that several women tainted and
were trod on before being rescued and
revived. Mr.. Bryan once appealed 10 the
people to stop crushing. and stopped an
other time TO hand a glass Of water to
fainting woman.
GOOD-NATURED FAMILIARITY.
Mr. Bryan was received with long-con-
tinued applause and throughout his ad-
dress OF an hours duration was treated
with the utmost good-natured familiarity.
The crowd called him Willie" Billy"
"Old Boy" and Honorable Bin" and
told him to "Hit 'em again" and TO "Give
'em another" whenever he caught the
fancy Of his audience
IL was a few minutes after 9 o'clock
when Mr Bryan's carriage entered the
park. followed by several others. carrying
labor leaders and their wives.
Mr.. Bryan's carriage was followed from
the roa iway through the grounds to the
platform by cheering. running crowd
Of men and boys. There were no police
officers 10 restrain them. and they almost
ieH on Mr Bryan in their eagerness to
grasp his hand. and say something COM
plinentary. BY dint of muscular work
Mr.. Bryan was able TO reach the plat-
form. and smiled his thanks when the
thousands cheered him Justify.
President Carroll. who acted a. chair
man. quickly saw that the crowd was
I'm no mood 10 hear speech from him.
and merely presented Mr.. Bryan.
At the conclusion of Mr. Bryan's
speech. which was the only one made
there was a repetition of the unrestrain-
ed crush on a larger scale In the rear
Of the platform, where the speaker tried
TO get away I'm his carriage Hundreds
pushed IN front Of him and grasped his
hand whether he liked IT or not and
there was a delay Of fifteen minutes be-
fore a passageway could be cleared. Hun
ireds rushed on the platform IN their
med eagerness 10 get near the nominee.
and there was imminent danger Of col |
lapse. Policemen finally got around and
into Mr.. Bryan's carriage. qnd drove |
OF the people who chung 10 the vehicle
until the road was reached.
Following is a full synopsis OF Mr.. |
Bryan's speech:
MIR. BRYAN'S REMARKS.
Ladies and Gentlemen,-I desire 10 |
thank the Building and Trades Councils |
for this opportunity. which they have ex-
tended me, Of speaking TO the people as
sembled on Lab0T-Day.
"Labor-Day has become a fixed event
among our institutions, and it is well |
that II Is so, because Oh this day all over
this nation those who are engaged i'm the
Of wealth meet in order thar
they may commune with each other dis
cuss those questions In which thev are
specially interested. and emphasize be-
fore the world that there Is nothing dis
honorable In the fact that one earns his
bread By the sweat Of his face
IL am glad 10 stand on this day I'm the
presence of those TO whom this nation A.
50 largely Indebted for all that il has had
for all that IL has now, and for all that
Il can hope 10 have. L am not induleing
In idle nattery when / say to you that
no part OF the people or the world are 40
important 10 the welfare OF mankind as
hose whose labor and brains convert the
natural resources Of the world into ma
.erial wealth. l might quotes TO you what
Mr.. Carlisle said 10 these people In 1873
when he described them as the struggling
masses who produced the wealth and who
laiQ the taxes OF the country re IA |