Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-10-24
4 DIALOGUE ON THE
TRAIN WITH BRYAN.


hear him speak. They discoursed to
one another OF what they had seen and
heard, and / listened. Some of them,
as | gathered from their remarks, had
gone to the meeting as Republicans,
Others as Democrats: others had had
no convictions either way. | made
notes of their conversation on the spot
and here reproduce some of it-all that
was significant OF the effect OF Bryan's
speech upon their minds. They must
be typical of thousands of others
throughout the State. They were not,
OF course, aware OF being overheard,
and spoke with entire freedom and sin
certify. They seemed to me to give
line towards the Interpretation OF the
large registration and the silent vote.
They were all poor men-ordinary
country citizens. who had put on their
best clothes to go and hear Bryan, but
had not been enabled to make their
hands other than rough and hairy, or
to divest their faces and bearing of the
rude traces left by their calling and
mode of life. They were all men of
good public school education and spoke
correctly enough.
well, what did you think of him."
asked the man sitting in front of me,
whom l identified as Democrat. The
car was overcrowded and little group
soon formed around the first two speak
ers. Nearly all were men of fve-and-
| forty or more.
We'll, l like him." said the other,
Republican. After pause ne added,
with an embarrassed laugh, yes, he
won my heart"
And what he said you could under
stand pretty well, 'too?" the first pur-
sued
Yes; anybody could understand him.
But | liked his face; he's honest; he
means every word of it. Before | saw
+, him I'd heard things about him this
way and that, bad and good; but you
can't tell much from what you hear,
because folks are prejudiced. But when
l saw and heard him myself INknew he
was right"
He looked more like a worklngman
than a fellow after an office, put in
third, who had been independent;
hes no dude"
And he's able" added the Republi-
can. There's not another man I've
seen that could stand alongside of him
in an argument.
"Ah, His arguments stick like
dough- said the Democrat.
What i noticed was the amount of
truth he could pack into short time,
remarked the independent. He wasn't
talking long, but he said pretty well all
there was, and he said it right"
Il was close up to the stand" said
| fourth man, "and when the speaking
was over he started in TO shake hands
| with us; and l think that was the best
thing of all. | got shake OF him my
SELF And there was little boy there,
and Bryan said to the mother, Lift
hlm up, he says, so as l can shake
| hands with him. and he did,.
1--WE voted Republican thirty years,
said fifth speaker, 'fbut I'll vote for
Bryan this time; he's right
That's what | think-he's right,
said the independent. Il don't think
I'd vote either way this year, till |
heard him; and a fellow came to me
last week, and he was talking McKin-
ley; he was pretty slick, too; but when
! | asked him, what about the trusts, and
what was Mckinley going to do with
the army he said that was all right;
the army was to keep other nations Off
our new possessions, and as for the
trusts, he said they was just a DOGGY,
and would make things cheaper and
steadier anyway. Well, couldn't talk
against him, but l could now, after
hearing Bryan; he don't puzzle you;
he makes it all clear"
Bryan says: Don't vote for me ex-
cept you think I'm right; but I'll tell
you why | think I'm right, and then
you can Judge he says" remarked the
| Democrat.
Hello, Marvin" said the Republican,
hailing another who was approaching
up the aisle What have you to say?
Are you a Republican still?"
| The newcomer wore his SLOUGH hat
over his eyes, and when he spoke, tilt
ed his head back and glanced out under
the brim. Il amt talking" he said.
LET Bryan do the talking. He can
talk a streak! l pretty near got my
ribs broke in that crowd"
Going to vote for Mckinley" asked
the Republican.
"I'll vote when the day comes, and
vote the way l want" replied the other
with a grin.
Murray for Bryan" shouted
young man behind me, who was drunk.
"Hullo, Tom, are you for Bryan
asked the Democrat, laughing
Am for Bryan? Who do you think
I'm for? If there's vote in this State,
he'll get it,
What he said about the Philippines
was the TRUTH remarked the fourth
man, who had shaken hands with the
candidate What right have we to be
doing TO them what England was do
| ing to us before the revolution? Right
! is right now just the same as then.
Il don't want boy enlisting in the
army to keep EN- down, either" said
the Democrat.
We'll, guess there's boys enough
! in the country for the army, without
us needing to bother about ours" said
| the man with the slouched hat.
And you don't mind their staying
home and Shaving for the trusts, eth
err" inquired the independent.
Works work. whether it's for the
trusts or yourself" replied the other.
You can call it slavery If that suits
you"
Hereupon the discussion of the trust
/