The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-08-31


was kind to prepare this reception. 1t
was kind of Governor Folk to come here
all the way from Missouri. 1t was kind of
Tom Johnson. that example of the moral
courage we so much need in this country,
to lend his presence here. 1t was kind
In you to fully recompense me in being
absent so long from my native land.
thank you. / return to the land of my
birth more proud of my citizenship than
ever before"
Doors Open at $50.
The doors of Madison Square Garden
were opened at $50 o'clock. and by that
time hundreds of ticket-holders were
clamoring for admittance. Police lines had
been formed for three blocks from all
the garden entrances. The immense aud
itorium began to fill so quickly that the
ushers and policemen had difficulty in adj
herring to the seating arrangements. 1t
was a good-natured audience which had
a cheer on the tongue for everyone. There
were calls and counter calls from the
various state delegations.
1.-The Nebraska Bryan Home Folk" ar
rived in a body and were given seats just
back of the speakers stand. The hall was
devoid of decorations other than the bunt-
ing and flags about the temporary stage,
but each person had been presented with
flag by the reception committee. and
the waving of these made a picture such
as the garden. the scene of many notable
gatherings, has seldom IL ever witnessed.
Before the meeting was called to order
a band played merrily such tunes as
MARYLAND" my Old Kentucky Home,'
way Down Upon the Suwanee River"
and other southern melodies. called forth
tumultous appliance, but when the first
strains of Dixie" were sounded the thou
sands of Bryan welcomers were on their
feet in an instant, and the cheers COM
pletely drowned the band for a time.
Each Notable Visitor Recognized.
AS each notable democratic visitor en-
tered the hall and was recognized his
name was called and the cheering was
renewed.
Twelve thousand persons, many of
them women, were seated by o'clock
and an hour later there was not vacant
seat. The galleries early were iammed
Hundreds of policemen and fifty fire.
men were on duty in case or emergency.
At 8 o'clock, when Mr. Bryan had not
yet arrived, Harry w. Walker on behalf
of the Commercial Travellers Antitrust
league. called the accemblage to order.
Mr.. Walker said:
Harry Walker Speaks.
Ladies', Gentlemen and Fellow Citizens
From All Over This Broad Land:
ers' Antitrust league I have the great
honor of asking this homecoming well
come to come to order. The league well
comes back Mr.. Bryan fresh from his tri-
umphs in the old world the most dis
tinguished and best beloved private citi-
zen on earth.
"It is my real pleasure to introduce to
you the chairman of the reception COM
mittee, Missouris governor, Hon. Joseph
w. Folk"
Governor Folk was given an ovation.
He said:
Governor Folk Speaks.
What we say here may count for little,
our words may be of only passing mo-
ment, and soon forgotten. But not those
ideals that bring US here. We come not
of ourselves alone to welcome home the
distinguished American in whose honor
we gather, but to voice the love and faith
of millions in the great leader who has
, again set foot upon his native land-mil-
lions who love him because his hands
are clean his heart is pure, and his soul
has not been touched nor tainted with the
scars of unearend gold. Nor in him alone
do we place our trust nor In aught that
is human, but rather in those eternal
truths which he has loved and served SO
well.
I'VE are on the threshold of the greatest
political awakening this nation has ever
known. 1t marks the beginning of a new
age. The next few years will be dis
tingushed as the time in which industrial
problems are solved. the reign of the
special privilege brought to an end. and
the doctrine of equal rights fixed in ma
tional policies and in the conscience of
mankind. Things are not tolerated for a
moment now that not long ago were sub
mitted to in silence. Only a few years
past bribery was considered merely con-
ventional Legislative halls were made
dens of thieves. and the touch of thu un-
clean dollar of privileges was over all.
Dishonesty in public life was either un-
noticed or regarded with despair Then a
dormant public conscience was aroused to
the necessity of stamping out the offence
that strikes the heart of free government,
and of making the government representa-
tive in fact as well as in name.
9TH lergies of this public conscience
have IN extended from the coT~ain of
| the public wrong-doer to that of the pri-
vate wrong-doer and are probing into the
workings of rascals of every kind. The
insurance Investigations have sent forth
their messages. rebate revelations have
been seen and heard. and innumerable
grand iuries have been drawn aside. and
revealed to the starteled gaze of the
people.
.sThis awakening that has resulted from