The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1906-08-31
BRYAN THE CENTRAL n
FIGURE IN .GcyHAM

20
said it was in Missouri ~ Mr..
Bryan amid laughter.
Il have about come to the con-
clusion that if I find friends like
these everywhere don't care where
home is. Soon I am going to take
another course in co llege, for at a
recent gathering in London where
several languages were spoken, felt
constrained to make excuses because
could speak but one. But would
have to know every language in the
world to tell you how much I thank
you"
Mr.. Bryan then stepped down from
the stairs to shake hands with a
few of his personal friends, who had
crowded about him. This was the
signal for the general rush and the
Nebraskan was almost swept out of
the Twenty-seventh street entrance
Of the hotel before the score of police
men stationed in the lobby could
stem the tide. Finally order was
established and an impromptu re-
ception proceeded. Several thous-
and persons passed in line and Mr..
Bryan shook hands with them all.
Distinguished men of the Democratic
party, visiting governors, United
States senators, and representatives,
national committeeman and legislat-
ors, mingled with the other visitors
and the enthusiastic New Workers
who sought to pay their tribute to
the distinguished man who two years
in advance of the national conven-
tion is hailed as the Democratic
nominee for president.
The reception lasted for more than
an hour.
Mr.. Bryan then retired to his
apartments and had dinner with his
family and few intimate friends.
He took a brief period of rest be-
fore proceeding to Madison Square
Garden for the feature event Of his
stay in New York.
The Evening Program
The doors of Madison Square Gar
den were opened at $3.50 o'clock and
by this time there were hundreds of
ticket holders present clamoring for
admittance. The police lines had
been formed three blocks from all
the garden entrances. In this way
the early comers were well handled.
The immense auditorium with its
tiers of balconies and gallaries rising
to the height of the great glass COW
cred dome began to fill SO quickly
that the ushers and policemen on
hand had difficulty in adhering to
the seating arrangements. It was a
gay-spirited. good natured audience,
which had cheer on the tongue for
every one There were calls and
counter calls from the various state
delegations. The Nebraska Bryan's
Home Folks" arrived in body and
were given seats just back of the
speakers stand.
The hall was devoid of decorations
other than the bunting and flags
placed about temporary. But each
person in the vast audience had been
presented with a flag by the recep-
tion committee and the waving of
these made picture such as the
garden, the scene of many notable
gatherings, has seldom, if ever, wit
messed.
During the interval before the
meeting was called to order the band
played merrily. Such tunes as
Maryland" My Old Kentucky
Home Way Down Upon the su-
wannee River and other melodies
of the south called forth tumultuous
applause, but when the first strains
OF "Dixie" were sounded the thous-
ands of Bryan welcomers were on
their feet in an instant the cheers
completely drowned the band for a
time. 5s
Twelve thousand persons, many OF
them women, were seated by Z
O'Clock and an hour later not q
vacant seat was to be seen. The
heat in the garden, once the crowd
had assembled was 50 great that a
large portion Of the glass roof was
pushed back, leaving only the stars
as canopy. The galleries were
jammed early. Hundreds Of police
men were on duty to act in case Of
an emergency and fifty were detail
ed at various stations Of giant struc-
ture. ST.
AT 8 o'clock when Mr.. Bryan had
not yet arrived Harry w. Walker, on
behalf Of the Commercial Travellers
Antitrust League. called the as
semblage to order and introduced
Governor Foil.
Gov. Folks Speech s
Governor Folk was given an ova.
ton and 1t vas several minutes be,
fore he could speak. When he ANAL.
|ly secured silence, he asked the NJ,
-. -