The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-16
Perfect Ovation Given the Dem
OcTatic Leader,
PEOPLE OF ALL CLASSES
Listened to the Young Western
er's Eloquent Words
LABORERS AND MlLLlONAIRES
Mingled Together at the Love Feast
OF True Democracy.
COL. BRYAN's SPEECH IN FULL
He Scored the Money Changers Who
Attempted to Thwart the Peoples
Will and Condemned Repub-
lican Imperialism


son Dinner of the Chicago platform demo-
crate at the Grand Central Palace tonight
in point of numbers was one of the biggest
affairs ever held in this city. Nearly 5000
men and women sat down at the long
tables in the various rooms at the big PAL
ace. There were all kinds of people there,
dressed in all kinds of clothes White men
elbowed with negro men and white women
with negro women.
The main hall presented different aspect
from the Metropolitan opera house at the
ten-dollar dinner of the Democratic club.
There were no flower embellishments, but
Just big long avenues of tables covered
with plain white plates. The only orna-
ments were punches of celery and granite
ware coffee pots.
The balconies 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 por-
trait of Jefferson and the other the por-
trait of Bryan. Small portraits of Bryan
were interspersed between the flags on the
balconies
Ike Magic Name of Bryan
On the stage was immense horseshoe
of carnations, roses and heliotrope. 1t had,
worked in flowers, the words: Women s
on white roses was the name Bryan"
Surrounding all were the numerals ZIG
to L."
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
The women, to the number of 475 dined
In the long hall just off the second gallery.
They sat down to the tables at $50
o'clock.
The first excitement of the evening oc-
CURED when the Russian-American Demo-
cratic association, 25O strong from the
Eighth Assembly district entered the hall.
They were received with cheers
There was no concerted attempt to seat
the 5000 diners simultaneously. All were
told to go in and sit down. About o'clock
nearly every seat of the mems table was
occupied and the service began. Over 600
walters started out into the main hall with
soup a few minutes before o'clock. The
menu included soup, fish, roast beef tur-
key, ice cream, coffee and cigars
Three thousand bottles of wine were
gra ratuitousy served by wine company.
W. j. Bryan did not arrive until shortly
after o'clock Crowds on the outside sig
nailed his appearance by tremendous cheer
ing. He came in cab and was escorted
through tremendous crowd to the waiting
room outside the main hall. Here he shook
hands with the committee.
"HaiI to the Chief"
Then he was escorted to the guests
table, a long table in front of the platform.
Following came the speakers of the even
ing. The band played Hail to the Chief"
as Mr.. Bryan was hurried down one of the
main aisles There was tremendous cheer
ing and waving of napkins. Diners stood
on chairs and tables waving frantically.
The demonstra tion lasted for five minutes
Among those who sat at the guests
table We're: James r. Brown presiding; on
his right, w. J. Bryan; on his left. Charles
A. Towne of Minnesota; o. H. p Belmont;
William s. McNary secretary of the demo-
cratic state committe of Minnesota Bolton
Hall, George Fred Williams, Ex-Congress-
w. e. Ryan. of Rochester; A. s.
Townson, of Virginia. Colonel Thomas
Smith, of Virginia. and John Clark Rid
path
The crowd was thoroughly representa-
tive one, and before the dinner was con-
cluded 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
ficulty.
At o'clock the committee and speakers
ascended to the platform. Colonel Bryan
received vociferous ovation, the diners
In many instances again standing on chairs
and tables and the women waving napkins
wildly.
James r. Brown called the meeting to
order. and introduced George Fred Will
liams, of Massachusetts,. who was given a
fine reception.
Checred For Henry George
The crowd in the galleries meantime had
increased and there were at least 5000
people in the hail. The mention of Henry
Georges name evoked an extraordinary
demonstration.
o. H. p. Belmont was next introduced,
and read his speech from manuscript.
John Clark Ridpath spoke on Thomas
Jefferson" When Mr.. Ridpath said that
Jefferson stood above Adams and Otis, and
was the most intelligent democrat that ever
lived, hundred voices shouted mo, mol
Bryant Bryant"
Mr.. williams whispered something to Mr..
Ridpath. and the latter said:
''I accept the suggestion" and bowed to
Colonel Bryan. At the close of Mr.. Rid