The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-04

form. piae-
How can I thank you for this vel
come home?" he said.
Ny would be ungratefuI If If
dld not consecrate itself TO vour SER
wee. 1t was kind TO prepare this re-
epuon 1t was kind of Governor Folk
10 come here all the way from Mis-
souri, 1t was kind of Tom Johnson
mat example of the moral courage We
so much need in this country to lend
his presence here.
IT was kind in you 10 fully recon-
pensc me in being absent 50 long from
my native land. | thank YOU. I re-
turn to the land of nv birth more
proud OF my citizenship than ever be-
fore
Inc doors Of Madison Square Garden
We're opened at $50 o'clock and bv this
time there were hundreds Of ticket
holders present clamoring for admit
lance. Police lines had been formed
three blocks from all the Garden en-
In this way the early corners
were Well handled.
The immense auditorium. with its
tiers and galleries rising to the height
oI the great glass covered roof. bgan
20 Ill up so quickly that the ushers and
on hand had difficulty in
seeing to seating arrangements. II
was gay spirited, big natured audi
ence which had a cheer on the tongue
Tor every one. AS the crowd contin-
ued to gather the cheers increased in
volume. The Nebraska Bryan's home
IOlES' arrival in n hn31- cd --~-
gwen seats just back Of the speakers
stand.
The hall was devoid of decorations
other than the bunting and flags placed
about the temporary stage. But each
person in the vast audience had been
presented with a flag by the reception
committee and the waving OF these
made a picture such as the garden has
seldom ii ever witnessed.
During the interval before the meet
ing was called to order a band played
merrily. Such tunes as "Maryland;"
My Old Kentucky Home" Way
Down Upon the Suwanee River and
other melodies of the south called forth
tumultuOus applause, but when the
first strains Of Dixie were sounded,
the thousands Of Bryan weloomers
were on their feet in DIN instant and
the cheers drowned the ban! for a
time.
AS each notable democratic visitor
entered the hall and was recognized
his name was called and the cheering
was renewed.
Twelve thousand persons, many of
them women, were seated by 7 p. m,
and an hour later 0 a vacant seat
was tC be seen.
At s o'clock, when Mr.. Bryan had
not yet arrived, Harry W. Walker, On
behalf of the Commercial Travellers
Antitrust League, called the assem-
blage to order.
Governor Folk was given al ovation
and it was several minutes before he
could speak. When finally he secured
silence, he asked the audience to be as
quiet as possible, otherwise non Of
the speakers, not even Mr.. Bryan him
slf could be heard. The mention of
Mr.. Bryan's name called forth renew
ed cheering. Then when quiet had
been restored, Governor Folk proceeded.
Governor Folk concluded by intro
Mayor Tom l. Johnson OF
as chairman Of the meet
ing. The applause was d~eafening as
Mr.. Johnson came forward on the
speakers platform. At this same mo-
ment, William Randolph Hearst enter
the box which had been set aside
him. For two minutes b crowd
cheered him without interruption.
When this joint demonstration had
partly subsidized, Mr.. Bryan, accom-
panied by his wife, entered the garden
and appeared on the platform.
The crowd which had been so free
in its cheering before, was now fairly
beside itself. The men shouted and
on seats. They cheered and
threw their hats into the air, while
women waved handkerchief and
cheered as loudly as they could. For
five minutes the crowd howled, cheer
ed and screamed, but eventually Chair
man Johnson secured comparative
quiet and introduced Augustus Thomas
whose every reference to Mr.. Bryan
called for additional cheers.
Chairman Johnson then to in
troduce Mr.. Bryan.
Mr.. Bryan was presented at $40
o'clock. AS he arose the audience was
on its feet as one man. The cheering
WHICH DeSdH dI IHdl 1LStiuI ulu ~
end until S:4S and then only after Mr..
BRYAN had waved his hands franti-
cally il an effort to SILL the wave OF
noise rolled in from the audience and
beat upon the speakers platform. At
first the man for whom the demonstra-
ton was planned stood bowling and
smiling. Then his attitude was one OF
appeal. This at last prevailed. and as
cheering died away in reverbaung
echoes along the girded roof, Mr..
began.
[Mr. Bryan's speech will be found
third page.1