The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-28

W1lnaIn y. Bryan as lie LOOKS 1OOay.
living and higher standards for po-
litical parties. Only once did he leave
the beaten path to discuss anything
that might be considered partisan and
that was when he touched upon the in
crease in the navy of the United
States. He said that national integrity
and high standards of citizenship are
better safeguards than a large navy.
He argued therefore that a large navy
is not necessary. Otherwise there was
nothing in his lecture from beginning
to end to which the most ardent poll
tician could take exceptions, unless it
would be the politician who believes
that the purchase of votes is legiti-
mate and within the province of prac-
teal politics.
Mr.. Bryan arrived on the Union Pa
cific at 6:15. He was met by Major
A. NJ. Harvey and John H. Curran and
was driven to the Elks club, where a
dinner had been prepared for the dis
tinguished guest andDa half dozen
friends, including Major Harvey, Mr..
Curran, David Overmyer, William F.
Sapp, Leroy Penwell, John S. Parks
and a representative of the state
Journal
1t is at a little gathering around
table loaded with good things to eat
that Mr.. Bryan shines. He is wholly
unassuming and refreshingly frank.
His geniality and good nature are al
ways apparent but never quite so
much as in a little gathering like that
at the Elks. Mr.. Bryan drinks no
liquor whatever and neither does be
use tobacco in any form. His friends
knew this and were careful to have
White Rock served with the dinner,
calling waiter he asked to have plain
ice water substituted for the carbon
ated mineral liquid.
One of the guests asked Mr.. Bryan
and suggested that he was initiating
President Roosevelt. He laughed
gaiIy and replied: mo, 1 am not
hunter like the president. He goes
after bears and other big game. 1 am
perfectly contented if 1 get an occa-
sional turkey or deer. In fact the first
wild turkey 1 ever got was up in the
Ozarks with my friend Colonel Wet
more. I expect to join him at his
place next week for another hunt"
Me. Bryan enjoys cartoons. This
may sound strange when it is remem-
bered that he has been the subject of
more cartoons which were in no sense
hattering than any man in the nation.
He is not sensitive. If he had been he
would probably have succumbed long
ago. McCutcheon is one of Mr.. Bryan'S
favorites and he talked about that ar
lists representation of Missouri enter
ing the Democratic column as one of
the best things he had ever seen. He
also laughed heartily over a reference
to the pictures which represented him
as chuckling to himself over the de-
feat of/Parker.
ME-. Overmyer was able to give the
Nebraska statesman considerable in
formation about Indiana Mr.. Over
myers brother is a prominent figure
in Indiana politics and it did not re-
quire a great deal of penetrat ton to see
that Mr.. Bryan is alive to every bit of
political gossip. He talked of Roose-
velts enormous majority in Kansas and
of the time when he himself had car
ried the state, but there was no bitter
ness in his discussion of the over
whelming Republican victory. He said
that it placed the Democratic party in
excellent shape for a reorganization for
the battles of the future. That was,
however, his only reference to the flu
ture. What are his plans and ambi-
lions. his hopes or wishes he avoided,
perhaps without design and because
none of the guests at the table brought
up the subject.
1t was past eight o'clock when the
dinner was over and even then the
party did not wait for the ice cream.
Then Mr.. Bryan held an impromDtu
reception in the lobby and the mem
bers of the lodge were introduced and
shook hands. E. D. McKeever, assist
ant United States attorney, reminded
Mr.. Bryan that he was a member of
the legislative committee that met him
in Kansas City and escorted him to
Topeka to address the Kansas legisla-
ture, and Mr.. Bryan told him that he
remembered the circumstance wildly
and that it was one of the bright spots
in the campaign.
Mr.. Bryan has changed little since
he was here four years ago. His eye is
Just as bright and his face just as ex-
pressive. His hair has grown thinner
and there are a few more wrinkles that
indicate that his life has not been
wholly uneventful during the past few
years. He still wears a black Prince
Albert coat and it is cut without re-
gard to the prevailing style. It is the