The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-27
WILLIAM j. BRYAN HERE
DEMOCRATIC. CHIEFTAIN HOLDS A
RECEPTION AT THE GRAND.
Quiet Talk with the Leaders as to
tine Revolt Against Silver by
MOrss and Others.

After wait OF several hours the Demo-
cratic lea ders were rewarded last evening
by the arrival of William Jennings Bryan,
who came from st. Louis over the Big Four,
reaching this city at 6:10 o'clock. Parks NJ.
Martin, chairman of the Democratic state
central committee, had received word that
Mr.. Bryan would arrive at 2 o'clock in the
afternoon, and he gathered the clans to
greet him. Quite crowd assembled at the
Union Station, but when the train pulled in
Mr.. Bryan was not on it. The faithful re-
turned to the Grand Hotel, and several tele-
grams were sent to st. Louis inquiring on
what train Mr.. Bryan had left. Several
false alarms were received, and the faith
full sailed forth from the hotel to meet all
the afternoon trains. The ranks Of the re-
ception party had thinned considerably
when Mr.. Bryan finally did arrive, but it
happened that crowd Of molders, going
home from the convention that was held
here, were at the station. and they had
enthusiasm and to spare with which to give
the free silver leader a welcome.
Mr.. Bryan and party went to the Grand
Hotel. During the supper hour the lobby
filled with politicians anxious to be in on
it." There was wide diversity Of opinion
as to Mr.. Bryan's presence in the city. 1t
was whispered about by some that there
was to be a momentous conference. The
free silver leaders, it was said, had become
so alarmed by the great number of brethren
who were joining the followers Of the new
evangelist, S. e. Morss, editor of the Senti-
mel, that they called Mr.. Bryan here to
throw in his influence to help put down the
revolt. 1t was a time for the bated breath
and set white lips of the melodrama if the
lobby were TO be believed. Others pooh
poohed this idea. MIR. Bryan had merely
stopped over here, they said, on his way to
Greenfield, where mass meeting would be
held on the morrow. When Mr.. Martin was
asked If there would be conference he re-
piled that there would not.
BRYAN HOLDS A RECEPTION.
When Mr. Bryan finished his dinner he
was conducted to the rooms on the second
floor. In which commercial travellers are
wont to spread out their samples. The crowd
in the lobby was directed to gather in these
rooms. which it hastily did. Lines were
formed and passed before Mr.. Bryan, shak-
ing his hand. John w. Kern stood at his
side and presented the more prominent Of
the party leaders. He 'joshed' everybody.
Mr.. Bryan had a smile and a few words
of greeting for all. Young men who had as
pirations, but had not the honor of Mr..
Kern's acquaintance, had to shake Mr.
Bryan's hand without the formality of a
presentation 1t was noticeable that as they
approached the great leader their faces took
on strained expression, as If 1t were all
event at hand. When the ordeal was passed
and the warm pressure of Mr.. Bryan's hand
was still felt they FASTENED TO join their
comrades and exchange opinions. Whatever
fore, these young men were now radically
in favor of the free-silver policy. They
1t would have taken supreme courage
to say word against the 16-to1 policy
while Mr.. Bryan was present, but there
free-silver leaders were banking much on
the Greenfield meeting to-day, 1t was said.
1t was announced that Mr.. Bryan had de-
sired to save his strength for the three
addresses he is to make to-day. He will
point out TO the people that the money
question is still the most important issue
before the American people-even more i'm
portant than "expansion'-and he will urge
on the party leaders that it is fatal TO the
platform at this time 1t is known that
elaborate preparations have been made for
the Greenfield festival" Excursions will
be run from many towns and at the fair
grounds, where the meetings will be held.
speaking stand had been erected to ac-
commodate five hundred people.
Hernly, chairman of the Republican state
central committee, yesterday, that Mr..
Bryan is to be paid $500 for his three
speeches tomorrow at Greenfield"
After the reception last night dozen OF
the party leaders met Mr.. Bryan behind
closed doors and prospects and plans were
talked over. The situation in Indiana was
explained. All the why's" and "wherefores''
of Mr. Morsss backsliding were set out be-
fore Mr.. Bryan. He, in turn. told the news
OF the situation as he had gathered 1t In
the States through which he had been
speaking. 1t was denied that 1t was real
conference" but, nevertheless, outsiders
were barred. These outsiders" were prone
TO raise roar" because they were ex-
cluded. They claimed they had noticed an
inclination TO keep them out Of the recep-
ton committee. On the other hand 1t was
said there was no organized recep-
ton committee and that anyone was well
come to be a member of 1t who desired.
Still, the less important lights of the party
were dissatisfied not liking the exclusive
ness that seemed TO them to be undemo-
cratic and altogether "uppish." This feeling
a diGpufa a