Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-09
JAChSONIAN CLUB BANQUET
Annual Function Of the Nebraska Faithft
Enacted Per Program
JOY AND TALK AROUND FESTIVE BOARD
Democrats ana PopuIists Assemble 10
Eat. Drink ind Listen to Orator.
zeal Ggmnastics ny Wen
Know Takers.

The ninth annual banquet Of the Jack
soniau club last evening brought together
the most noted gathering Of democrats an
populists ever in the state at a
similar function. The flower Of Nebraska
democracy and populism began to arrive
as early as Sunday evening and yesterday
the hotels were filled with them. w. j.
Bryan came over from Lincoln in the morn
ing. f.. w. Carmack Of Memphis was the
first OF the speakers from abroad to ar
rive. He was Joined yesterday morning by
Willis j. Abbott of New York. These two,
along with Bryan, were entertained at din
ner yesterday at the Commercial club by
Ed p. Smith, president of the Jacks 1nian
club, and G.. NJ. Hitchcock. During the
Afternoon A. ]. Weaver of Falls City ar
rived. From 3 to 3 o'clock a reception
was held at the new headquarters of the
club in Germania hall, which was attended
by several hundred people. Punch was
served and music was contributed by Il
young woman pianist.
The banquet occurred as usual at the
Paxton hotel and early in the evening the
rotunda was crowded with enthusiastic flu
sionists. 1t had been understood that the
event was to be a formal launching of the
Bryan boom for the presidential nomina-
ton this coming fall, and the aspiring fu-
sion politician from remote corners of Ne
hraSka wanted to be in at the start of the
race for place. 1t was not noticed, however,
that any more prominence was given TO
Bryan than at the former b~anquets of the
club.
Decorations of the Banquet Hall.
1t was . o'clock when the doors of the
banquet hall were thrown open and the
guests entered in long ranks, formed in the
upper corridors and led down stairs by the
dignitaries of the entertaining club. The
crowd in attendance was so large that it
became necessary to put in additional tables
after the guests had entered the room, and
even then a few of the Omaha promoters of
the feast were compelled to content them
selves with seats in the rotunda, where
they could enjoy the spread simply as a
spectacle. In. that respect, however, it was
extremely enjoyable. The walls were elab-
orately hung with flags, which banked the
windows in artistic designs, and many pic
lures of statesmen dear to democratic ira
ditions adorned the walls. Even Admiral
Dewey's picture was among them. George
Washington's picture was there, Jackson's,
Jefferson's and a huge oil painting of Bryan
served as a background for the POSTMASTER.
Every foot of table room that could be
crowded into the rooms was Respondent
with snowy linen, potted plants and the
ever-gratifying utensils for inner refresh
ment. Across the north end of the main
dining hall was the table of honor and
from it extended at right angles five tables
that trayersed the length OF the hall. At
these tables 300 banqueters found seats,
while in the adjoining apartment some
fifty more were seated at smaller tables.
An orchestra stationed in the rotunda en-
livened the festivities until the brown bot
ties rendered its further services unneces-
sary.
At the Fable Of Honor.
At the table Of honor were seated Presi-
dent Ed p. smith and G.. NJ. Hitchcock, the
latter having been selected as POSTMASTER.
Upon their right were David Overmeyer of
Kansas, Mr.. Bryan, Governor Poynter, Will
lis ]. Abbott, Edgar Howard, w. o. Gilbert,
Frank Ransom, State Auditor Cornell and
National Committeeman w. II. Thompson.
Upon their left were E. w. Carmack Ct
Tennessee, Attorney General C. J. Smyth,
Ed Howell, NJ. ID. WEIGH, A. j. Weaver,
Judge Dufie, Secretary of State Porter, Cen
eral Victor Vifquain, Judge Tibbetts and
Lard Commissioner Wolfe. The occupants
Of this table arrived last and as they ell
tered r. S. Oberfelder of Sidney proposed
three cheers for Bryan, which were given
with apparent zest. The four-dollar menu
comprised plenty Of good things to eat, three
kinds of wine and cigars.
1t was at ten minutes before midnight
that President Smith stifed the growing
bedlam of joyousness to extend a welcome
to the guests and announce G.. NJ. Hitch
cock as toastmaster. The latter was made
the recipient of a series of continued cheers
that were sadly suggestive OF a recent pub
lie utterance concerning the sting of in
gratitude. In assuming the chair he eX-
pressed his appreciation of the honor of pre-
siding over the greatest banquet CT the many
the club had given. He said that the his
tory of the JaCksonian club is the history
of democratic triumph in Nebraska, for when
1t was organized Nebraska was the repub-
lican stronghold Of the west,
William o. Gilbert of Omaha responded
to the sentiment, THE JaCksonian Club"
He referred to the significance to the club
of its anniversary, the Sth OF January, and
referred in reverential terms to the dis
tinguishing qualities of him for whom it
was named. He spoke of the advantages
derived from its annual gatherings, when
guests high in the councils of the party and
respected by the nation mingle with its
membership. Within a decade it has grown
from a small organization to one with a
membership of 1000, including every prom
inent democrat in the state. 1t dominates
every platform and influences every nomi-
nation in the state. He referred to the
action OF the club in expunging from its
! ElltlllDtlphlp w WV o' Iil'"NHib'
were not in accord with the principles Of
the party. His remarks were received with
evident appreciation.
Weavcr's Talk,
A. ]. Weaver of Falls City spoke on
"Democracy's New Year" Mr.. Weaver
talked at length on the outlook for the com
ing year, as viewed from his standpoint and.
Of course, predicted that victory would
perch upon the popocratic banner in the
coming national contest. He reviewed the
history of the democratic party in an eX-
haustlve manner, entering into details of
the basic principles as he views them.
David Oyermeyer OF Kansas sustained the
reputation made at previous blnquets as a
stirring political speaker in responding II
the sentiment, History Repeats Itself,
showing that there is a constant struggle
going on between classes in governmental
affairs and attempting to show that a re-
currence of the strife is now in progress in
this country.
Il. W. Carmack of Memphis spoke to the
subject, Imperialism" recounting all of