Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-05
BRYAN AND HIS OATS
Subject Of His Address at Shepherds
town, W. Va.
DECLARES His CROP Was POOR
Like Other Alleged Prosperity, Ex-
aggerated by Republicans.
S Pc ECH TO AR M E r s

SHEPHERDSTOWN,W w. Va, September
5.-Mr. Bryan began the second day Of his
present tour at this point. His first speech
was made at Morgan's Grove, in the sub
| urbs of the town, where he began to speak
few minutes past 10 o'clock. At this
grove the people of the vicinity are in the
habit Of congregating annually to hold a
colt show. The show is now on and ad-
vantage was taken of the fact to have a
Bryan meeting at the grounds. The at
| tendance was immense, people having come
| in not only from West Virginia but from
Virginia Maryland and Pennsylvania, to
hear the speech, while they attended the
fair. There was, for instance. several hun
dred men in the procession wearing anti
imperial badges who were from Hagers-
town, Md. There were also several other
marching clubs In line.
Mr.. Bryan spent the night on his special
| train. Previous to going to the grounds
he and the entire party of partisans and
newspaper men, numbering thirty or more
persons, took breakfast at the historic
country place known as Bellevue, owned
by Mrs. Shepherd. This place faces Ante-
tam battle field across the Potomac, and
is in many ways an interesting spot. Here
Mr.. Bryan met many of the local leaders
and spent two hours most enjoyably be-
fore beginning the more serious business
of the day. A letter was read at the meet
ing from Mr.. W. L. Wilson. ex-postmaster
general, strongly indorsing Mr.. Bryan. and
saying that only sickness prevented his at
tendance upon the meeting.
Col. n. p. Chew Presides.
Col R. P. Chew presided, and introduced
George R. Vending who, after reading
Mr.. Wilson's letter. in turn introduced Mr..
Bryan. He laid stress upon the fact that
Mr.. Wilson had been a member of Mr..
In of Mr.
son emphasized his opposition to colonial
or imperialistic policy, saying that he had
early taken this position. Mr. Vending.
who had opposed Mr.. Bryan in 1896. made
brief speech, himself vigorously attack
Ing the republican policy and pledging to
Mr.. Bryan his support this campaign. He
said he had known Mr.. Bryan from his
bOyhood and that all the money In Wall
street could not buy him.
Mr.. Bryan was received with deafening
applause. After this had subsided, he
launched Immediately upon his speech. He
began by referring to Mr.. Wilson In most
complimentary terms. He had known Mr..
Wilson In Congress and he had never be-
lieved that so kind and loving a man could
indorse war OF conquest. Mr.. Bryan ex-
pressed his pleasure at being able to ad-
dress an assemblage of farmers. He want
ed to know how any farmer could be re-
publican. 1t was easy TO understand how
the head of a trust or an army contractor
could be member of that party. he said,
but as for the farmers, they were not try
Ing to get their hands into others pockets
and to keep others hands out of their
pockets. However prosperous other class
es might be, the farmer was not a sharer
of that prosperity.
Bryan's Oat Crop.
Here Mr.. Bryan related the current re-
ports concerning his oat crop claiming that
| the exaggeraton in this matter was spec
| linen of the fallacy of the report in the east
| concerning ha of ba
agricultural classes.
They always exaggerate the possibilities
| of good crops" he said. land never take
| into consideration the likelihood of bad
| crop. And after the farmer has taken these
| chances he passes between the bulls and
the bears bite him, and when he is through
with them he has to meet the gold bug. A
good crop is made the occasion for praising
the republican party he continued, while
| bad crop is taken as a punishment for
| voting the democratic ticket. The claim is
almost made that the republican party con-
| trolls the rainfall, but this cannot be true,
| for II 1t were there would be monopoly on
| rain; the price would go up
| Mr.. Bryan then took up the discussion of
| the financial question, showing that more
| money was especially necessary to the
| farmer.
Mr.. Wilson's Letter.
Following is the text Of the letter of
cratic meeting at this place today:
Il am very grateful for the invitation
which you extend to me in the name of
| the committee in charge of the interstate
political gathering at Morgan's Grove to
attend and address the people on the is
sues Of the day either the 5th or 9th
| Of September 1t would give me personally
much pleasure to accept this invitation,
but it is impossible for me to do SO. The
condition OF my health is, / regret to say,
such to make even a journey to JEFF
ferEon inadvisable and public speaking
beyond my physical capacity. Long be-
| fore 1t became an issue dividing political
parties / took strong grounds in addresses
before students Of this university and in q
set speech before the legislature Of Georgia,
against any colonial or imperial policy on
| the part Of our government as a result of
our war with Spain. My views are stronger
than ever against such policies, and did op-
portunity permit should be glad to ex-
press those views on the platform at Nor