Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-16
(By Telegraph to -Pilot.)

(By Telegraph to Virginian- Pilot.)
New York. April 15.-The dollar JEFF
ferson dinner of the Chicago Platform
Democrats at the Grand Central Palace
Tonight in point of numbers MAS one
OF the biggest affairs ever held in this
city. Nearly 1900 men and women sat
down ut long tables in the various
rooms of the big palace. There were all
kinds of people there, dressed in all
kjnds OF clothes. White men elbowed
WITH colored men and white women
with colored women. There were four
Japanese and1hree Chinese present, but
the Chinese were merely spectators and
sat up in the second gallery. They said
they had come to see Bryan.
a COMMISSION.
The main hall presented n different
aspect from that of the Metropolitan
Opera House at the Ten Dollar Din
ner Of the Democratic Club. There
was no flower establishment, but just
great long avenues OF tables covered
with plain white plates. The only orna-
mentations were punches of celery and
granite ware coffee pots. The boxes
about the hall were festooned with
flags. with silken banners suspended
between the flags. At the back of the
stage were two American flags draped,
one bearing the portrait OF Jefferson
and the other that of Bryan. Small
portraits of Bryan We're interspersed
between the flags on the balconies.
FLOWERS ABOUND.
horseshoe of carnations. roses and he
liotropc. 1t had worked in the flowers
the words "Women's Bryan League"
Below the red carnations, on white
roses. was the name Bryan" Sur
rounding all were the numerals 10 TO
Back on one of the cane bottom chairs
4, was IL magnificent boquet of roses.
american beauties. But not even on
the guests table was there Il single
flower.
Looking from the top tier the hall
presented Il scene such rs is seen at
Western barbecucs or Rhode Island
clam balkes. A brass band of thirty
five pieces on the balcony discoursed
music throughout the evening. The
diners began to arrive at the Grand
Central Palace at o'clock.
There were $50 policemen in and
about the place.
The women to the number of AS
dined in the long hall just off the
second gallery. They sat down to the
tables at $50 o'clock. The first excite
ment Of the evening occurred when the
Russian American Democratic Assocl-
alton, go strong. from the Eighth AS
semhly district, marched in. They were
received With cheers.
THE MENU.
There was no concerted attempt to
3scat the 5000 miners simultaneously.
III were told 10 go in and sit down.
About ! o'clock nearly every seat OF
tho mems tables was occupied. and the
service began. over six hundred wait
ers started in to the main hall with
soup few minutes before o'clock.
The menu included soup. fish, roast
beef, turkey, ice-crcam, coffee and ci-
gars.
Three thousand bottles of wine were
gratuitously served by a wine company
MIR. BRYAN'S ARRIVAL.
William Jennings Bryan did not ar
rive until shortly after O'Clock.
Crowds on the outside signaled his APP
pearance by tremendous cheering. He
came in a cab, and was escorted
through a tremendous crowd TO the
waiting room outside the main hall.
Here he shook hands with the com
mittee. Then he was escorted to the
guests table, a long table in front of
the platform. Following came the
speakers or the evening.
The band played Hail to the CHER
as Bryan was hurried down one of the
main aslcs. There was tremendous
cheering and waving of napkins.
Diners stood on chairs and tables
waving frantcally. The demonstration
lasted for five minutes.
a REPRESENTATIVE. CROWD.
Among those who sat at the guests
table were:
James II. Brown. presiding: on his
right. w. j. Bryan: on his left. Chas.
y. Towne. OF Minnesota: O. Ii. =. Bel
mont, William S. McNary. secretary OF
the Democratic State Committee of
Minnesota; Mayor j. L. Rhimooks. of
Covington. Ky: Bolton Hall. George
Frederick Williams. Congressman
William r. Ryan of Rochester: 4. S.
Townson, of Virginia; Colonel Thomas
smith. OF Virginia. and John Clark
Ridpath.
The crowd was thoroughly repre-
sentative one and before the dinner
was concluded hundreds of the diners
left their, seats and crowded about the
guests, table and began % shake hands
with Colonel Bryan This was stopped
with mach difficulty.
AT o'clock the committee and the
speakers assembled to the platform.
Bryan received n vociferous ovation,
the diners in many instances again