The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-16


night in point OF numbers was one of the
biggest affairs ever held in this city.
Nearly 5000 men and women sat down at
long tables in the various rooms at the
big palace. There was all kinds Of people
there dressed in all kinds of clothes.
The main hall presented different as
pect from that Of the Metropolitan opera
house at the Ten Dollar dinner of tho DEM
ocratic club. There we're no flower embel-
lishments but Just big long avenues OF
tables covered with plain white plates. The
only ornaments wero punches of celery and
granite ware coffee pots.
The balconies were festooned With fiags
and with silken banners. Suspended be-
tween the flags at the back of the stage
were two American flags draped, one bear
ing the portrait of Jefferson and the other
the portrait OF Bryan. Small portraits OF
Bryan were interspersed between the days
on the balconies.
ON the stage was an immense floral
horse shoe OF carnations. roses and hello
trope. 1t had worked In flowers the words
''Women's Bryan League Below in red
carnations on white roses was the name,
Bryan" surrounding all were the numer-
ais, 16 to 1.
A brass band OF thlrty-fve pieces on the
balcony dlscoursed music throughout the
evening. The diners began to arrive at the
Grand Central palace at 5 o'clock.
The women, to the number of AIS, dlned
in tho long hall just off the second gal
lery. They sat down 20 tho tables at $50
o'clock.
The frst excitement OF the evening oc-
eurKed when the Russian American Demo-
cratic association, $50 strong. from the
Ninth assembly district, entered the hall
They were received with cheers. There
was no concerted attempt to seat the 5000
liners simultaneously. All were told TO so
IN and cit down. About o'clock nearly
every seat at the mems tables was occupied
and the service began. Over coo waters
were started out in the main hall with
soup few minutes before o'clock. Tho
monu included soup. fish, roasted beef,
turkey. ice cream, coffee and cigars Three
thousand bottles Of vines were gratultous-
~ served by wine colnpdnN'
William j, Bryan aid not arrive until
shortly after o'clock Crowds on the
outside signolled his appearance by ire
meudous cheers lis came in cab and
was escorted through a tremendous crowd
30 the waiting room outside the main hail.
Here he shook hands with tho committee.
Then he was escorted 20 the guests table,
long table In front Of the platform. Fol-
lowing eamo the speakers Of the evening.
The band played Hail 10 the Chief as
Mr.. Bryan was hnrrylng down one of tho
main aisles. There WAS tremendous
cheering aud waving OF napkins, piuA 3
stood on chairs and tables waving ran
tically. The demonstration lasted Ave
minutes.
Among those who sat at the guests
table We're James r. Brown, presiding; on
his right, w. ]. Bryan; on his left, Charles
A. Towne OF Minneapolis. o. n. Z. Hell
mort, William s. McNary, secretary OF
the democratic State committee OF Mime
apolis Major j, l.. Rhlmoohs Of Coving-
ton, Ky; Bolton Hale, George Fred Will
Jams. ex-Congressman William r. Ryan
CT Rochester, A. 5. Townsend OF Virginia.
Colonel Thomas Smith Of Virginia and
John Clark Ridpath.
The crowd was q thoroughly represart-
alive one and before the dinner was con-
clnded hundreds OF the diners left their
seats and crowded about the guests table
and began to shake hands with Colonel
Bryan This was stopped with much diff
dculty.
At o'clock the committee and speakers
assembled to the platform. Bryan received
vooiferous ovation, the diners in many
instances again standing on chairs and
tables and tho women waving napkins
wildly.
james II. Brown called the meeting Ia
order and introduced George Fred Will
Jams Of Massachusetts, who was given a
tne reception. The crowd 10 tho galleries
In tse meantime had increased aud there
were at least 5000 people IN the hall The
mention OF Henry Georges name evoked
an extraordinary demonstration
., II, r. Belmont was next introduced
and read from manuscript.
JOHN Clark Ridpath spoke on Thomas
jefferson"
When Mr.. Ridpath said that jefferson
stood above Adams aud Otis and was the
most intellectual democrat that ever lived
hundred voices shouted mo no. Bryan
Bryan"
MIR. Williams whispered something [,
Mr.. Ridpath and the latter said II az,
eept the suggestion" aud bowed 10 colone
Bryan.
At the close of Mr. Ridpata's speech
horseshoe OF flowers was presented /,
Colonel Bryan. who arose ana bowed.
John 5. Crosby spoke on "Ciyil Lib
erty.v
Judge Taryin opened his speech by say
ing that THE republicanism of Lincolr
- greatly different from the revenuelsn
OF Hanna"
The next speaker was Jerome O'Neill
who spoke on "Lahor's Hope"
EvCongressmen Charles A. Towne spok,
nert on "Amerlcanism
The crowd waited patiently through al
the speeches. There were at first man,
calls for Bryan. but when Il was seer
thar the programme was 10 be adhered I,
they stopped calling and waited. Mr.
Bryan sat In full view OF the entire au.
dience In = calmly interested manner. ant
he bowed frequently at the calls made OF
him.
In introducing Mr.. Bryan CHAIRMAN
Brown said that Abraham Lincoln HAD
como out OF the West to save the Nation
and another man has come from the IVES
to saye the Nation. A perfect tempest O
applause from the men andNwomen brok,
out Tho applause subsidedA but started
afresh. The band struck up. hut eoult