The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10
Declares Party Gathering
Should Be in Middle
of the Country.
PLEASED WITH HIS TRIP
Would Not Discuss Panama.
Grieved to Hear of Ruth
Cleveland s Death.

NEW YORK. Jan. s-wnliam ].
Bryan. hearty and well. arrived in port
this afternoon on the steamship Celtic
He was met at Quarantine by a party
of representative New Yorkers, headed
by Judge Seabury. DR.. ]. II. Girdner
also greeted his friend. DR. Girdner
was the guest of Health Officer Doty.
One OF the first questions asked Mr..
Bryan was whether he regarded New
York city as the proper place to hold
the next Democratic National Conven-
ton
NO." he replied. Il am not in favor
of that proposition. The convention
should be held in the middle of the
country"
Mr.. Bryan was taken aboard the tug
OF the reception committee before the
newspaper reporters. who had waited
Tor him two days. had fair chance to
talk with him
All Mr.. Bryan had time to say was
that he had enjoyed the trip and was in
good health. The Raymond steamed up
the harbor to Twenty-third Street. and
Mr.. Bryan was escorted to the Victoria
Hotel. where he received his political
friends.
Voyage Was Stormy.
The voyage over. II was learned aboard
the Celtic. was a stormy one. Mr.
Bryan proved poor sailor. and was sick
ali but the last two days of the trip.
When the revenue cutter and recep-
tion committees boat drew alongside
the Celtic at Quarantine, Mr.. Bryan
came 10 the rail and shouted:
Has there been any more nominations
since 1 have been away?"
G. p. Leeper, an American who is in
business in London. was a fellow-pas-
senger of Mr.. Bryan on the Celtic
He said he had attended some Of the
functions in London where Mr.. Bryan
was the guest. Mr. Leeper said Mr..
Bryan had wonderfully impressed Eng
lishmen whom he met His address had
pleased those who heard him talk, and
he was spoken Of as wonderful man.
Everywhere Mr.. Bryan went. Mr.
Leeper said. he had been given a hearty
reception.
The tug Raymond with Mr. BRYAN on
board. dOcked near the White Star Line
piers. and the Nebraskan, accompanied
by the reception committee repaired at
once to the Victoria Hotel, where Mr.
Bryan was assigned a suite Of rooms.
When asked about the impressions his
European trip hac made. Mr. Bryan re-
piled:
My travels abroad have made me even
stronger In my views for tariff reform. I
do not care 10 discuss this point further
at this time"
He was asked if the next candidate
for President on the Democratic ticket
ought 10 be New York man. and he
smilingly answered:
Most assuredly not necessarily so. It
is the man and not the State that should
be considered.
American Shore Best
In speaking OF his trip Mr.. Bryan said
he had visited eleven countries and ten
capitals. He enjoyed everything like a
schoolboy. he said. but the best sight
OF all was when he caught a view OF
the American shore on his return trip
lie said everywhere he went ne found
the people were friendly To America.
Mr.. Bryan was asked II President
Roosevelt's action in Panama would
affect the coming election. and he said
~ cannot go into personalities
IL was said by one OF the passengers
on the Celtic who was present when
Mr.. Bryan spoke at the dinner given
by Ambassador Choate that the diners
were carried away by his polished die
ton. and one Englishman present re-
marked:
IF such a man was defeated by Nc
Kinley. what manner Of man must Nc
Kinley have becn?''
Colonel Bryan said ne would go to
New Haven Conn. on Monday. where
ne is TO be the guest OF honor at a
banquet that night He said he hoped
TO be able 10 return 70 his Nebraska
home toward the end OF next week
MIR. Bryan displayed TO the reporters a
United States flag present from a Ro-
man on the Celtic who had learned
that he had collected a flag from every
country he had visited. and was return
ing home without the Stars and Stripes.
Hears of Theater Fire
News OF the theater horror in Chica-
20. and Of the death OF Mr.. Cleveland's s
little daughter shocked him greatly. and
he refused 10 say anything about them
other than TO express his sincere sor-
row
Asked about the European statesmen
he met while abroad. he declared that
Arthur J. BalfOur. England's premier.
was one OF the most scholarly. He said
that all OF the United States ministers
ne had met had been courtesy personi-
fed
Il met President Loubet OF France, %
said Mr.. Bryan. "and found him very
pleasant. as was President Deucher OF
Switzerland. me Gar also proved
charming and the Crown Prince OF Den
mark was affable and friendly TO a de-
gree / enjoyed my visit TO the Vatican
very much and was presented to the
Pope by Father Kennedy. Of the Ameri-
can College at Rome. His holiness did
not speak English
In England public opinion prevails
more than in any other place / visited
except perhaps. France and Switzer-
,-..-f - 81 ~