The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-16

jefferson Dinner or the Inlcago iat-
form Democrats at the Grand Central
Palace tonight i'll point of number was
this city. Nearly 5000 men and women
sat down at long tables in the various
roooms of the big palace. There Were.
all kinds of people there. dressed i'll all
kinds of clothes. White men elbowed
with colored men and white women with
colored women. There were. four Jap
anese and three Chinese present, but
the Chinese were merely spectators and
sat UP in the second gallery. They said
they had come to see Bryan.
The main hall presented a different
ASPECT from that Of the Metropolitan
Opera House at the ten-dolar dinner OF
the Democratic Club There was no
flower establishment. but just great
long avenues of tables covered with
plain white plates. The only ornamen-
tations were lunches 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.
On the stage was an immense floral
horseshoe of carnations. roses and
heiotrope 1t had, worked in flowers,
the words 'Women's Bryan League
Below rhe red carnations on white roses
was the name Bryan. Surrounding
all were the numerals 10 to L.
Back on one of the cane-bottom chairs
was a magnificent bouquet of roses,
American beauties. But not even on the
guests table was there a single flower.
Looking from the top tier the hall
presented scene such as is seen at
Western barbecues or Rhode Island
clam bakes. A brass band of thirty-five
pieces on the balcony discoursed music
throughput the evening. The diners be
gan to arrive at the Grand Central Pal
ace at o'clock.
There were $50 policemen in and
about the place.
The women to the number of AZ.
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 occurred when the Russian
American Democratic Association, 23o
strong, from the Eighth Assembly Dis
trict. marched in. They were received
with cheers.
There was no concerted attempt te
seat the 1900 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 GOO walters start
ed into the main hall with soup few
minutes before o'clock.
The menu included soup, fish, roast
beef. turkey, ice cream. coffee anC
cigars.
Three thousand bottles of wine wcr,
gratuitousIy served by a wine company
William Jennings Bryan did not ar
rive until shortly after o'clock. Crowds
on the outside signalled his appearance
by tremendous cheering. He came III !
cab and was escorted through tire
mendous crowd to the waiting room out
side. Here he shook hands with tn
committee. Then he was escorted to th'
guests table, long table in front ol
the platform.
Following came the speakers of th'
evening.
The band played Hail to the Chief
as Bryan was hurried down one OF th'
main aisles. There was tremendous
cheering and waving of napkins.
Diners stood OH chairs and Tables
waving frantically. The demonstration
lasted for five minutes.
Among those who sat at the guests
table were:
James X. Brown, president; on hi'
right, w. j. Bryan; on his left Charles
a. Towne. of Minnesota: o. III. +. Bel
mont, VIM. S. McNary, Secretary o
the Democratic State Committee ol
Minnesota: Mayor j. l.. Rhimooks, ol
Goyington, Ky; Bolton Hall, Georg,
Frederick Williams. eX-COngressmai
VIM. f. Ryan. of Rochester: A. s
Townson. OF Virginia; Colonel Thoma,
: Smith, of Virginia. and John Clarl
Ridpath.
The crowd was thoroughly represcn
tative one, and before the dinner wa,
concluded hundreds of the diners lef
their seats and crowded about tn,
~stYsts' table and began to shake hands
WITH Colonel Bryan. This was stop
ped with much difficulty.
At O'Clock the committee and speak
ers ascended to the platform. Bryal
received a yociferous ovation, the diner
in many instances again standing ol
chairs and tables and the women way
ing napkins wildly.
James H. Brown called the meetin
TO order and introduced George Free
Williams. of Massachusetts, who wa
given "A fine reception. The crowd il
the galleries meantime had increased
and there were at least 1000 people i
the hall. The mention of Henr