Smyrna times., 1900-01-31
COLONEL BRYAN IN SMYRNA,
he CAME ON FRIDAY AND THE DAY WAS
COLD AND BLUSTERY.
Addressed Meetiag of I,eOO in the ODera
ftoHse.-Weather Much Iaterfered With
Demonstration to National Leader


Demonstration to National Leader.
William Jennings Bryan has come
and gone. 1t was hoped by the Com
mlttee OF Arrangements here that the
day would be balmy enough to hold
an outdoor meeting in the vicinity of
the -Four Corners" but Old Boreas
declared it otherwise, and the coming
OF Bryan was marked by one of the
eOldest and most blustery days of the
winter. This may have chilled the
ardor OF the Committee of Arrange
ments, at any rate there were only two
mounted horsemen instead of five
hundred, with little manifestation
of enthusiasm. This great, national
character payed Smyrna a great
compliment by visiting here, when
there is so much demand on his
time in all parts of the United States.
and despite the fact that the day was
cold and blustery, it would have been
fitting for Smvrna to have welcomed
him with a much larger demonstration
than it did.
Col. Bryan arrived at Clayton on the
noon express. The First Regiment
Band of Dover, and a committee com
posed of Kent county Democrats met
him there and escorted him to Smyrna.
They came in on the Smyrna Branch,
and at our station Col. Bryan was cs-
corted to one of Grieves' fine teams
and in company with A. N. Brown,
president of the Democratic County
Committee, and r. Y. Wallen, drove
direct to the Delaware House, headed
by the band, and a few teams. Ex-
Congressman l.. L. Handy, in whose in
terest Col. Bryan visited Smyrna and
Duck Creek Hundred, did not ride
with him, but walked down and dined
with his father-in-law, William H.
Bell.
Luncheon was served at the Della
ware House to the Bryan party, and
"Mine Host" John G. Blizzard did JUS
tice to the occasion and served an ex-
cellent repast in private compartments.
Those who sat down with the National
Silver Leader were: Governor Tun-
nell, Chairman A. n. Brown, Secre-
tary A. M. Daley, Wilmington City
Council President Alexander, Rev.
Rowan, George A. Millington, DR.. E.
W. Cooper, Ex-Congressman w. II.
Berry, of Chester, Ex- Controller Frank
Turner, of Maryland; and r. Y. Wal
len. Before and after luncheon Col.
Bryan held an informal reception.
Attendance Below Expectation.
The attendance from ont of town
was far below expectations. Instead
of 10000 which the Committee of Ar
rangements had hoped to entertain, the
sum total did not exceed 1000, and
railroad men say that there were not 500
who came on the cars from points
below Midtown, and the contingent
lines coming from the eastern shore of
Maryland. The meeting came off at
the Opera House at o'clock, and long
before Col. Bryan arrived, the crowd
was surging to and fro at the Opera
House door, in the hope of getting a
good seat. Very happily Manager Rey-
nOlds of the Opera House had prepared
for the crowd and removed the seats,
giving standing room only in the main
auditorium This enabled the crowd
ing in of a much larger number than
otherwise would have been possible.
1t was only a question of a few mo-
ments before the space was filed, and
the overflow made into the gallery.
The audience was estimated at between
1000 and 800 people. Only the COM
mittee of Democrats, press reporters
and band were given place on the
stage.
The meeting was conspicuous for the
absence of the Gold Democrats. Sen
ator Kenney was not there; the would
be-Governor, Wilson T. Cavender was
not there; and scores of other men who
rom time to time have taken decided
interest In Kent Democracy were not
there. 1t was Handy meeting, and
ne brought Bryan here to give him a
BOOST amongst the Delaware farmers,
and incidently to get the backing of
Duck Creek Hundred, his old home.
mandy has the senatorial bee in his
bonnet, and it was quite evident that
ne was working in this interest.
The Opera House Crowded.
Col. Bryan arrived at the Opera
mouse promptly at tive o'clock, accom-
PSined y, by L. Irving Handy, Governor
TOe W. Tunnell, Ex-Congressman
william H. Berry, of Chester; Ex-
controller Frank Turner, of Easton,
aid, County Chairman A. N. Brown,