The San Francisco call., 1896-10-27
But the Young Nebraskan Cannot
Refrain From Abiding to
Politics.
SPEAKS FOR FREE COINAGE.
Farmers Flock Into Jacksonville to
See the Talkative Candidate
for President.

JACkSONV LILLE, ILL.,, Oct. 26.-Th1s
was not William ]. Bryan's busy day. He
spent most of it in the environment of old
college association and late in the after
noon left the old educational community
of Jacksonville, where. surrounded by
many of those who knew him as student
years ago, he enjoyed nearly two whole
days of restful quiet, the pleasantest
period since his hardworking campaign
began. 1t is true that his Jacksonville
visit included two long addresses and an
other brief one, but the robust young
nominee, with his record OF thirty
speeches in single day, did not consider
such slight effort as worthy of designation
as labor. He became a boy again in the
morning as he sat with the students of his
alma mater in the college chapel. He
sang with them, and then made some in
teresting remarks defensive of himself
with reference to insinuations that his
purposes in leading the present agitations
were not the best. A thrust at Major
Mckinley was contained in the few
words he addressed to delegation of visi-
tors from the porch of the house where he
was guest, when he said that speech
made from a porch could not be consid-
cred undignifed.
In the afternoon great Democratic
rally was held in Jacksonville, and Mr..
Bryan made two speeches to large crowds,
concluding his second in time to leave for
Alton on the regular train, to which his
special car had been attached. This Mis-
sissippi River town had HIM for three
hours tonight, and the silver people resi-
dent and visiting heard two speeches..
Shortly after 10 o'clock Mr.. Bryan left
Alton, in continuation of his journey. He
is due to reach Chicago tomorrow.
The streets of Jacksonville began to
show evidences early this morning that
some special event was about to take place
in the pretty college town. Vehicles, in
which people had driven many miles,
lined up along the curbs of the principal
Streets while the sidewalks were crowded
with excursionists. The presence of Will
liam J. Bryan and his wife in the ccm-
munity where they were educated and
spent the first years of their married life
was the magnet that attracted SO many
visitors, all of whom had come TO see and
hear the candidate deliver a speech on the
public square in the afternoon.
Horsemen attired in red, white and blue
sashes and decorations OF shimmering sill
yer foil galloped about the thoroughfares
OF Jacksonville from an early hour, and
the occasional arrival of brass bands and
free silver clubs added to the excitement
and interest that peryaded the little city.
Mr.. BRYAN began his day in q very pleas
ant way. Surrounded by students of his
alma mater he made an address in the
chapel of the Illinois State College in the
forenoon in which he denied insinuations
that he was not actuated by earnest belief
in advocating the free coinage OF silver,
and main tanned that ne was anxious to
do the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der of people in the United States.
The little chapel was crowded. No dis
play was attempted, the religious exer-
cises that were practiced in Mr. Bryan's
time and are still maintained being car
rIed out in all their simplicity. Mr.. and
Mrs. Bryan joined the students in sing
ing America" and in the responses to
the twenty-ffth psalm, which preceded
the introduction of the candidate by DR..
J. E. Bradley, the president of the college.
When Mr.. Bryan concluded there was
great cheering, and again the students
broke forth when President Bradley an
nounced holiday in honor OF the Demo-
cratic nominee. The members of the
Sigma Phi Society escorted Mr.. and Mrs.
Bryan to their carriage, singing their
fraternity song and sent another cheer
after them as they were driven away.
The crowd at the public square began
to collect early, and at o'clock, when Mr.
and Mrs. Bryan arrived, about 1900
people were congregated closely around
the broad platform from which the candi-
date spoke, while as many unable to hear
gathered on the streets in that vicinity.
During the hour and quarter occupied
by Mr.. Bryan the enthusiasm was fire.
quent and occasionally prolonged. His
audience was composed almost entirely OF
farmers, and was undoubtedly in SYM
pathy with his expressed views.
Mr.. Bryan also spoke to an audience of
women at the opera-house, where recep-
ton in honor of Mrs. Bryan was held.
In the course of his speech Mr.. Bryan
said:
1t is always pleasing to meet large numbey
of people in any part OF the country, but it il
especially gratifying to find so many willing
to turn out on this occasion when come back
to the city which was for many years my
home. 1t is gratifying to meet again the
friends whom used to know and 10 learn by
their presence and their words that the
quaintance then formed Is continued and the
good will that they so often manifested then is
still evident. l come back as the representa-
tive OF great principle, as the champion of
great cause, as the candidate of those who be-
lieve that the American people are able to at
tend to their own business. [Great cheering.l
After the exercises in the college chapel
Mr.. Bryan made a little speech to the del
egation from the porch of the residence of
his host DR.. r. K. Jones, in which he
said he had been accused of being undig-
nifed in going around the country TO see
the people, but that certainly there would
be no criticism of him in making that
speech, as it was made from the porch of
house, which seemed to be the proper
thing. The thrust was understood and
appreciated by the crowd.
Leaving Jacksonville at 4:15, Mr.. Bryan
reached Alton at o'clock. He made
short speeches on the trip at Roodhouse
and at Jerseyviile and shook hands with
number of people at Kane and Godfrey.
AT Alton two big open-air audiences
both gathered about the City Hall, and
were addressed by Mr.. Bryan tonight.
He spoke from two sides OF the building.
Each address was devoted largely to the
money question. grounds familiar to the
readers OF the nominees speeches being
covered. At 1915 o'clock Mr. Bryan left
Alton for an all-night ride to Lincoln.
ILL.,. where he Will speak in the morning
His itinerary for tomorrow calls for
Bloomington, Pontiac, Dwight, Braid
wood, Joliet and Lamont. with Chicago
scheduled for 3:30 p NJ.
BRIBERY rs ALLEGED.