Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-16
THE DOLLAR DINNER
Observation-Disclosures
Given in Tb3CountTy'
NEARLY 5000 PARTICIPANTS
r,rr Hundred and SeTenty-FiVe Of
hem Women.
SPEECH OF WILLIAM j. BRYAN,
No word Of Hostility for Democrats,
Who Have Left the Party-Thc Chi
cago PIatform-Our Government in
the Philippines Dcsponsms
.,-rru or WILLIAM j. BRYAN.

Democrats, at the Grand Central Idlact
Tonight, in point Of numbers, was one OF
the biggest affairs ever held in this city.
Nearly 300 men and women sat down al
long tables in the various rooms oil 'he
lig palace. There were AN kinds OF poo
Die there. dressed I'm an kinds Of clothes
White men clb0wcd with coioIeu men
and white women with coiored women.
There were four japanese ana three chi
nese present. bur the Chinese were mere
4, sp,c.ators. and sat up in the second
save. They said they had come 10 see
Bryan.
Tbe main han presented a different
aspect from that of the Metropolitan
Opcra~IIouse at the ten-dollar dinner Of
the Democratic club
~ FLOWERS.
There was no flower establishment.
but -ust great long avenues of tables.
covered with plain white plates. The
only Communications were lunches of
celery and eraniteware co6ee-pots. The
boxes about The hall We're festooned
with flags. sllken banners being sus-
pended between the flags At the back
0f the stage We're two American flags
tne other that OF Bryan. Small portraits
NJ Bryan were placed between the flags
ou che balconies.
Du the stage was an immense floral
horseshoe OF carnations. roses and hello
tr.te. 10 had. worked in flowers. the
words: "Womeus Bryan League" Be
low the rei carnations. on white roses
wos The name Bryan Surrounding all
We're th, numerous. '16 10 J." ana back
ON one ore ~ the cane-bottom chairs.
was magnificent bouquet OF roses.
Amer U beauties. but not even on the
guests tab.. was there q single flower.
LIKE BARBECUE OR CLAMBAKE.
Looking fram the top tier the hall pre-
ee.t.. SCENE such as is seen at western
baI. OPP Rhode Island clambakes.
brass 0.a- ot thirty-nve pieces ON the
balcony o.-4lrsed music throughout the
evening
Iaa diners began to arrive at the Grand
Central Palace at o'clock. There We're
l1 policemen i'm and about the place.
Ile women. 20 the number of 40. dined
81 The long han just off the second gall
lr They sat down TO the tables at $50
clock.
FIRST EXCITEMENT.
Tho FIRST excitement of the evening oc-
D.lrtl when the Russian-Americlu Dem
e.i-tic Association. go strong. from the
I-lth Assembly District. marched in
They were received with cheers.
There was no concerted attempt 10 seat
tie 5000 diners simultaneously About Z
lock nearly every seat AT the mems
bic was occupied, ana the service began.
over six hundred walters started into
the main han, with soup, a few minutes
before o'clock.
Ihe menu included soup, fish. roast
beef turkey ice-cream, coffee. and
cigars Three thousand bottles of wine
were ei"tuitously served by a wine
company.
ARRIVAL OF BRYAN.
William Jennings Bryan did not arrive
uuul shortly after o'clock. Crowds on
the outside sieualled his appearance Jy
tremendous cheering lie came in cab
and was escorted through a tremendous
crowd to the walung-room outside the
main ham, Here he shook hands with
t.e committee Then he was escorted
to the guests table. a long table in
'front.' of the platform. Following came
o.. speakers OF the evening.
OVATION TO BRYAN
The band played "Hau 90 the CHEF rs
Bryan was hurried down one vt the main
als.es. There was tremendous cheering
and waving of napkins. Diners stood
on chairs and tables waving franucally.
The demonstration lasted five minutes.
among those Who sat at the guests
table were james d. Brown. presiding.
ou his right Vs. j. Bryan: ON his lcft.
Charles a. Iowue o. Minnesota: O. II.
hciuohti Nllafn McNary, secretary
20 the Democratic State Committee. OF
minnesota, Mayor =. r. RVmOOks Of
Covngt0n. Ky, Bolton Han. George
frederick Williams, Congressman |
William i. Ryan. of Rochester; 4. $.
I."netnd. Of Virginia; colonel Thomas
smith. ~ Virginia, and John Clark Rid
I.Ia
THE CROWD REPRESENTATIVE
-. crowd was thoroughly represen-
i.a one. and before the dinner was
-lel hundreds of the diners left !
seats and crowded about the guests
. and began 10 shake hands with !
ae. Bryan This was stopped with |
much oMculW.
BRYAN WILDLY CHEERED.
40 o'clock the committee and the |
..s assembled 90 The platform. Bryan |
I' I.I great ovation, the diners in |
t. Instances again standing ON chairs |
tables and the women waving nap |
wildly. James r. Brown called the |
.e 10 order and introduced George /
" Williams. OF Massachusetts, who |
given a fine reception. The crowd |
.. eallerics mean time had increased, |
e.. there were az least 5000 people IN !
Hai The mention OF Henry Georges |
. evoked am extraordinary demon |
.N9n. %. n. =. Belmont was next in |
.ced. and read "a speech from manu- |
The Keynote OF his remarks fol- |
....
SPEECH OF o. H. y. BELMONT.
The issue in 1900 will be. Are We 90 be |
rolled by the cosmopolitan money |
or are We 10 Doe freemen of this |
republic? Nothing more; nothing |
The Republicans have ranged them
'.. Ou the side of the trusts. which |
Hs the assured wealth Of the few |
thc unremitting labor OF the many |
these trusts iu many cases are con-
.d abroad.
iae Republicans have ranged them
1920 the side of mOnOpolies and the
0ertration OF wealth. They have |
't'1 themselves 80 the side Of con-
'.ng me municipal state, and ma
ic2islation by wealth. They were
n avcnging the insults and injuries
.A' enemy. and only did so when push
To 20 by the Democracy OF the c0un-
~ 4hey are guilty Of carrying on our