The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-23
BRYAN STARTS IT.
OfRciates at Birth of Kansas
Democratic Club.
Crowd So Large Could Not Be
Accommodated.
GUESTS NUMBER $50.
Lobby of Hotel Packed With
Others.
Nebraska Man Discusses the New
Democracy.
BACK TO THE PEOPLE.
Charges Republicans With Steal
ing Democratic Thunder.
r. w. Blair of Topeka Makes a
Witty Speech.
BACK TO THE PEOPLE
Charges Republicans With Steal
ing Democratic Thunder.
r. W. Blair of Topeka Makes a
Witty Speech.
A Permanent Organization Is
FOrmed-Oficers Elected.

It was a tremendous crowd that was
present at the birth of the Kansas Dem
ocratic club at the Throop hotel last
night That is the name of the new
Democratic organization which will be
to Kansas Democracy what the Kan
sas Day club is to the Republican party
of Kansas. The club will hold a ban
quet on Washington's birthday of each
year at which some Democrat of ma
tional reputation will speak.
Plates were laid for $50 guests in the
banquet hall of the Throop last night.
Every plate was taken and many stood
out in the hotel lobby waiting to hear
the speeches. For two hours before the
banquet doors were opened the lobby
was crowded with Democrats from ell
over Kansas, many coming from the
extreme western counties, and before
the banquet opened at $3.50 the jam was
terrific.
The officers of the Kansas Democratic
club elected last night for the first year
are as follows:
President-W P. billiard, Fort Scott.
Vice presidents-W. P. Hooper. First
district; 7. w. Morgan, Second district;
J. r. Charlton, Third district; w. H.
Carpenter, Fourth district; T. L. Bond,
Fifth district: c. M. Sawyer, Sixth dis
trict; Riley Lake, Seventh district; f.
B. Hellinger. Eighth district.
Secretary-A- M Harvey of Topeka.
Treasurer-A- f. Horner of Topeka.
The plan of organization was pre-
senteds by John T. Switzer, of Topeka,
who gave Col. w. F. Sapp, Democratic
state chairman, credit for the idea. 1t
provides for a banquet on Washing
toms birthday each year, with a big
Democrat from abroad as the prin-
cipal speaker, and no Kansas Demo-
crat is to speak twice.
William Jennings Bryan was the
great attraction, and the ovation given
him showed that Colonel Bryan is still
by far the greatest Democrat in the
minds of Kansas Democracy. Colonel
Bryan did not reach Topeka until al
most time for the banquet to begin,
and he had to leave hurriedly at the
close of his address to catch train
for Chicago Mr. Bryan had been
placed last on the programme, but as
the hour for his departure approached
and all the toasts had not been given,
he was advanced ahead OF X W
Blair Sam Bishop, of Lawrence, the
toastmaster, introduced him, and Mr..
Bryan was just beginning his address
when the announcement was made
that his train was six hours late. Mr..
Bryan then gave way to Mr.. Blair.
While he was making his address
Colonel Sapp found he could go on a
train at 1:45, and he spoke something
over half an hour, the banquet closing
There were only four other speak
ers and all were well received. The
mention of Mr.. Bryan's name by F.
M. Brady was the signal for great
outburst of applause. Some of the
made great hits with the audience.
particularly some by ]. A. Johnson of
the State university and r. w. Blair
of Topeka.
Kansas were present. Senator Wag-
gener came in late from a session of
the senate. When the banquet was
nearly over Chancellor Strong of the
hands with Mr.. Bryan and hear the
speeches. A delegation of K U. stu
dents gave the K. U. yell at intervals.
Mr.. Bryan's subject was Back to
the People," He talked extempor-
aneously and his delivery was unaf-
fected but forcible.
Mr.. Bryan's Speech.
Mr.. Bryan said in part:
1T is a great pleasure for me to be
here and to listen to the speeches that
have been made. / have been speak
ing so much myself and as a rule I
have to talk and run to catch a train,
so that I haven't had an opportunity
to listen to speeches from others 1t
is only on occasions like this one that
have an opportunity to listen and
very much encouraged to find young
men in Kansas so ably expounding
Democratic truth. and it has given me
greater faith in the future of the
Democratic party in this state.
Il am glad gave way to the Demo-
cratic candidate for mayor of Topeka,
for after having listened to him
envy those who will have an oppor-
tunity to vote for such a man.
Colonel Bryan then threw bouquets
at the other speakers at the banquet,
and proceeded:
81 want to occupy your time for a
little while in presenting some evil !
dence that the trend of power is now
back to the people During the last
quarter of a century there has been
growing evidence of the supremacy of
corporate wealth-not only in the Re-
publican party, but also to a degree in
the councils of the Democratic party, I
and it required a great struggle in
1896 to wrest the control of our party !
from those who were too closely allied
with Wall street. We had a long fight
which ended at st. Louis in a tenn
porary turning back-what might be
called a partial retreat from the stand
we had taken during the two previous