davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09

Michigan. William Alden is enthusiastic
over the future of Grand Rapids. He has
been one of the factors of its growth and,
In addition to his prominence in political
life, he is the proprietor OF the leading
newspaper, the Grand Rapids Herald. Mr..
Smith is now wealthy, but his FIRST money
was made as a newsboy, by selling tho
journal which he now owns, and think
there was some sentiment connected with
his purchase. although the Herald Is fast
becoming valuable property. Indeed,
William Alden Smith has had, a remark
able career. He was born just about forty
five years ago at the euphonious town of
powagiac, in southwestern Michigan, not
far, from the lake and little above the
Indiana line Shortly after he came with
his parents as boy OF thirteen. to Grand
Rapids his father died. and from then on
he made his own way. For a time he
acted as a telegraph messenger and later
was appointed page in the Michigan house
OF representatives, where he got his first
taste of politics. After this he studied
law and was admitted to the bar, and he
has since practiced In the intervals Of his
political career. < -
William Alden is a self-educated man,
but he bears the marks Of one who IL col
lege bred. The other day he and.,a con-
gressional graduate of Yale were dining at
the capital with Jeter c. Pritchard. who
was In, the senate from North Carolina IND
is now one, Of the judges Of the. United
States circuit court Pritchard is an IN
telligent man.. but he has not had COL
lege education. After he left the Yale
Representative said to William Alden
Smith: rThat man Pritchard has ability,
and venture he would have made much
more of himself IL he had had the edu-
'cational advantages that you and I have
had" understand that william Alden
smiled in his soul. but that he did not
tell the Yale graduate that his only schools
were those of experience and self-help.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
WeIcome nd. LincoIn.

Just how many people assembled In Lin
ooln last Wednesday to greet William J.
Bryan upon his return from a years trip
around the world and to extend well
come to Mrs. Bryan and their daughter.
Miss Grace Bryan. win never be known.
but the crowd in Lincoln on that occasion
was by many thousands the largest ever
congregated In the state capital. The cor
dial reception given to Mr.. Bryan was a
fitting close to a long line OF ovations
and since his return to American shores.
Many sections OF the state contributed to
make UP the multitude, so 1t was state
extending a welcome to distinguished
son rather than strictly Lincoln affair.
The capital city hao on its gain attire
for the first time in its history. The prin-
cipal streets of the town were long corri-
doris of fire, beautiful and Respondent with
hundreds and thousands of electric bulbs.
while every store and every public build
ing was graeed with flags and bunting OF
red white and blue. and suspended across
the streets at frequent intervals were ban
ners bearing the word Welcome" One
patriotic merchant had erected in front Of
his place of business an arbor of green
leaves and branches, among which was a
large picture of democracys leader, en-
circled with electric lights. 1t was purely
and solely Bryan day and every man,
woman and child within the corporate linn
its of the city was for Bryan for the time
being. Each person contributed something
to the rousing welcome rendered the trav-
eler.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
ovation at ths state House,

The demonstration at LINCOLN reached its
height at the state house In the evening.
People covered at least one-fourth OF the
grounds. reaching from the building to K
street. and extending down Fifteenth
street. Either the crowd was SO extensive
that Mr.. Bryans voice was not equal to
for he could not be heard at the outskirts
OF the crowd. sC4tH
When ths home-comer walked out on the
balcony which extends from the supreme
cohfs rom, those in front began to cheer;
the cries were taken up by those In the
rear. and then for several minutes joyous
multitude let loose all the pent up en-
thuslasm it had restrained especially for
this occasion. Mr. Bryan stood silent; at
first he smiled. and then as 1t seemed to
dawn upon him this was tribute to him;
a tribute from his neighbors; from those
who live with him and know him best; an
expression of Nebraska's opinion OF him:
the face of the great commoner became
serious; and then when he attempted to
speak he was unable to conceal his emo
ton; the tremor OF his voice showed his
deep feeling.
When the announcement was made that
Mr.. Bryan would shake hands with the
people after his speech the audience let
out a yell that shamed the siren whis-
ties. The people didn't wait TO hear from
any one else when the home-comer con-
cluded his remarks. Everyone made a
break for the state house to be the first
20 touch his hands, even as they touch
the hand of the datto In his own country.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
Dyspeptic Philosophy

An afanity is generally a person with
money.
Too many cozy corners win drive man
10 his club.
Even the once that seeks the man mus,
hrst see the boss.
Sweet are the uses Of adversely. but like
olives It's a cultivated taste.
The greatness that is thrust upon a man
generally goes TO his head
A true friend Is one who won't hold you
responsible tomorrow for what you SAY
today.
The romantic boy who wants TO grow up
and marry his school teacher doesn't exist
I'm real life.
In spite Of the fact that man Il made OF
dust. he isn't satisfied. He always wants
more.
Magnetism Is largely the secret OF a
clergyman's success. and it's much the
same with the bunko stserer.-Nsw York
TimeA
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09

When the train pulled into the Burlington
station a perfect bedlam of noise was
started. The people did not depend upon
their own voices to create the disturbance;
voices were Inadequate to the occasion,
but whistles, siren whistles. anviis and
giant dynamite crackers were turned
loose. A big threshing machine engine was
anchored across from the station and its
whistle never stopped as long as there was
any solid atmosphere for It TO pierce.
OF course. with such a demonstrative
crowd and with Mr.. Bryan so glad to get
back, he wanted TO shake hands with
everybody at the station, things could not
be pulled on in apple pie order. In fact.
Mr.. Bryan was taken from the depot. as
Mr.. Hitchcock remarked of the arrange
ments. by brute strength and awkward
ness"
Lincoln's best looking policemen. with
Sergeant McCorkle In the van, were on
hand to clear the way and make IL easy
sailing for the Bryan party and the dis
tinguished citizens" who were to be in
the parade. The policemen. however. were
fairly eaten up. When they found them
selves they were trailing along behind the
hindmost part of the parade. They stuck
together, though. and made a very cred
, sable finish TO an inspiring spectacle.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09

1t were better to have the big love feast in
Lincoln.
Bryan Buttons and badges.
An amusing incident occurred la Omaha
Just before the train pulled out for Lin
coin. An Omaha concern had made a few
thousand buttons bearing the picture OF
Bryan. These were boxed up nicely and
sent to othe Burlington station through a
representative of the frm The man gave
the box over to the keeping of one of the
attaches of the station while he attended to
other duties. Some one asked for Bryan
button and the depot official promptly COM
piled with the request. Then others asked
and more buttons were given away. The
crowd became so thick around the depot
man that he dumped the buttons out on a
window ledge and told the crowd to help
itself. When the owner came back his
buttons were gone. He had brought them
to the depot to sell and they represented
SIS to his firm.
And in the meantime, down at that dear
old IAncoln. where they do things, parties
were selling Official Bryan badges at 81
each. and nearly every other person had
one on.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09

EtlQM his Nebraska home folks came
wa& steaming over the Missouri river
from Iowa Wednesday afternoon. Figura-
lively. at least, the portals OF Omaha, OF
Nebraska, Of the great wide west-that
splendid section characterized the world
over by this distinguished COMMISSIONING
back as far on their hinges as they could
and gave welcome passageway to Mr..
Bryan. The train pulled into Union sta
ton in the presence of tremendous
throng, and for once the lines of politics
were utterly obliterated, effaced from the
minds of the thousands who had gathered,
eager to receive back to their state this,
their fellow citizen, who had been honored
In almost every nation of the globe.
II was also fitting that Mr. Bryan's re-
cepton at home, here in Omaha, should be
informal and spontaneous. New York. the
east, had done the formal honors; that
was all right for strangers. but here were
home folks and neighbors, and there was
no temper for formalities. 1t was a right
royal welcome. whole-souled. western, and
you could see Mr.. Bryan enjoyed 1t to the
very full. He said so. He told some Of
his intimate friends privately that II was
worth all the formal greetings he had re-
ceived. In the presence of such an ova-
ton even the Biblical tradition that "A
prophet is not without honor save In his
own country" lost it's prestige "a
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
"Home FolIs.,n Night.

There were no democrats and no repub-
leans in the crowd which heard Mr.. Bryan
at the state house Wednesday night. Tho
crowd consisted of Bryans friends and
home folks" This was very aptly dem
onstrated when Governor Mickey pro-
longed his address of welcome into a discus
sion Of the great work Of the last congress.
The crowd knew all about that, but 1t
didn't know what Mr.. Bryan was going to
say. The crowd was anxious to know what
Mr.. Bryan had to say, and 1t didn't care
to hear what Mr.. Mickey had to say after
he had welcomed the distinguished Me-
braskan. Therefore the crowd had to let
Governor Mickey know what 1t wanted BY
yelling. and It did. The governor bravely
held on and told the people to listen to-
him. But they couldn't and they didn't.
The cries for Bryan drowned the shouts
of MIR. Mickey. $3.50 ef.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
buyer. from Everywhere.

The furniture sold here is not confined
to Grand Rapids. The factories in other
parts of the country rent space and send
In samples so that the buyer has the fur
nature OF the United States to choose from
The buyers come from everywhere, and
they number, hundreds Many are repre-
sentatives OF wholesale houses. many pur-
chase for department stores and some rep
resent big retail dealers. ~
Not few bring their families with
them, making this the vacation tour of
the year and at such times the Grand Rap
Ids hotels are full even to the cots IN their
Railways. The oity then puts on its gay
est clothing. There are dinners and re-
ceptions night after night. The furniture
makers suscrtbe to an entertainment fund
and they give their customers automobile
rides, parties at the country clubs and
everything to keep them in a good humor
The time for these fairs is midwfnter and
midsummer. the summer sales being de-
voted to furniture for the market for the
following winter and the winter sales to
the summer demand.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
seems in Splendid Health.

Though he had been gone from Lincoln
almost a year. Mr.. Bryan appeared as ne
had always appeared, strong and well. a
magnificent specimen OF physical manhood.
He showed not the least trace of his long
travels, and, for. that matter, neither did
the members of his family. He was gem
erous with his smiles and his handshakes,
and from Omaha to Lincoln spoke many
times of the beauty of the state and OF his
great pleasure at being at home.
THE trip has been of vast benefit to u.s."
he said. and though we kept the children
out Of school for a year. am glad we
did, for 1 believe they have learned more
than If they had been In school,
The democratic mayors with Mr.. Bryan
were glad to accept the reflected honor
conferred upon them.
This is the closest I have been to MIR.
Bryan since Jim Dahlman lasooed him,'
said Fred Hunker. mayor of West Point
1--WE just got his word that he would come
home on our train, and then We left the
fasteners have him. and they certainly
took him." And at that time bunker was
in one end of the car and Bryan In tho
other.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
why Grand Rapia. IL.

have often wondered why Grand Rap
ids should monopolize, as II were the fur
niture business of our country. Here. in
the heart OF the United States. with a
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
senator In Prospective.

During my stay here have seen some
thing of William Alden Smith. who for
,he last dozen years or so has been one of
he most prominent OF our republican
members OF congress and who promises 20
We the next United States senator from
long railroad haul to each coast and far
away from the south is a city that does
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09

VRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept -
lGvI Especial Correspondence Of The
Bee -zGrand Rapids Is the furni-
IANfQ ture center Of world. 1t picks
- its lumber from every forest and
sends 1t out all, over the United States and
to Europe. South America, Africa and Aus
traiia in the shape Of beds, tables. chairs
and office furniture There are, at this
writing. lumber camps in Mexico and Gem
trail America chopping out mahogany for
these factories. agents. are stationed at
Liverpool TO buy up the best timber
brought In from South America and Africa
for Grand Rapids. and there Is scarcely a
hardwood section noted for rs titls humber
which issnot tributary to this point DUR
ing my stay at Panama last year I%found
that Grand Rapids men had taken out con-
cessions for the best mahogany on the 18TH
mus. I saw other Grand Rapids buyers in
Cuba swapping up the best timbers as they
were brought out to the railroads and the
sea, and during a recent foreign tour dis
covered an agency for Grand Rapids ofice
furniture In every European capital >
IS - ~ ,s3t ~
Great Furnisure Fair.
Indeed this is one Of the queer. CONNER
cial centers of the globe and Is different
from any other In that ii seema 10 have
monopolized- it's specially III 1ss more like
one of the great fair cities OF medieval
times, at which. the merchants and buyers
from all over Europe went to make their
annual purchases. The most OF such cen.
ters have long since disappeared although
In one or two Of them fairs are stu held.
Leipsig has a fur market to which fur buy
ers from all parts of the world annually
come. and also a book fair. which is largely
attended In the middle ages nearly adj
the trading OF England was done at fairs,
and the same was true OF France Ger
many and Italy. The largest commercial
fair Of the world, today is at Mini Nov
gorod. in Russia. It lasts for about a
month or six weeks and brings together
buyers from western Asia and Europe
The daily attendance at that fair num-
bers 100000. and II Is estimated that 500,
100000 changes hands at each OF its annual
sessions. Everything Is at wholesale and
the single purchases are large -
The furniture fairs at Grand Rapids arc
held twice year. ana the sales then, run
up into the millions. Exposition buildings
have been constructed for them, and one
OF these is so large that its floors cover
fifteen acres. Practically all the goods
sold are from orders given at the fairs,
and the factories spend large sums In pre-
pairing their exhibits. A single arm may
spend $4,000 upon Ats samples, and all
goods will be sold from the sample thus
shown. - g--gi2 r. a. fFs2y 1f7i .rcs
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09

Mr.. Bryan was happy to get back home,
and 1t was hitting that the first person to
greet him at lincoln was his own son.
William j., Bryan. IT,. !, who leaped upon
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
From Log Cabin to the Senate.

public life who had as hard a boyhood
as that OF the senior senator from Michi-
gan. Alger's father was singularly unlucky.
He tried a half dozen different businesses
and failed in all. He was pioneer farmer
in Ohio at the time Alger was born and
this millionaire senator. who is now thres
score and ten, first looked out upon the
world through the door of log cabin.
When he was about IL years OF age his
father died. and prior to that both father
and mother lay sick in the same bed in the
log hut. with four little children about
and but little to eat. They both died
within short time of each other, and at
the age of II the future senator was the
main prop against the cabin door which
kept the wolf of hunger out He once told
me of his struggles at that time. He
worked for a neighbor, receiving as wages
three teacups of flour a day, and this,
mixed with the milk from the family COW,
formed the food of himself and sisters
There was little corn in the house. and
one day young Russell shelled a bag of
this and carried 1t on his back to a mill
nine miles away and traded It for meal.
He walked eighteen miles for that meal
and says he cannot remember that he felt
especially tired upon his return.
1t was shortly after that that young
Alger got homes for his younger brother
and sisters in neighboring families and
then went out to work a farmers hand.
taking three months of for schooling each
winter. His wages during the first two
years ranged from "a to So per month, and
after he had worked six years he received
SIS a month. which he says. was big
wages for farmers IN those days All this
time the senator went to school q part OF
the year and studied in the meanwhile.
Later on he taught school and then read
law. and later still went to Michigan and
got into the lumber business. in which.
after some financial disasters, he finally
became established and gradually amassed
a fortune. He is largely interested In lum-
Der today, and has, in addition, other in
yestments which make him one OF the
wealthiest men of his state.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09

his self-education, whereupon he re-
marked:
"It is not right to say that have not
been to college. During the last dozen
years or so 1 have been going to school
in the university of the house OF representa-
tives. and there is none better than that.
The demands of congress are a continual
spur toward lettering ones self. One must
be careful Of his language and be con-
tinually studying English. He has to prac-
tice how to think and speak quickly and
precisely; and the man who tries to do his
duty must read and study along educa-
tional lines quite as hard as any student
of our best colleges. Indeed. I doubt
whether there is any place where the ac-
tive thinking student can improve more
rapidly than In our national house Of rep
resentatives In Washington"
William Alden and the Kaiser.
AS we chatted together the subject Of
Mr.. Smiths tour of Europe last year came
up, and asked him as to his audience
with the emperor of Germany. saying that
it was a strange thing for an ex-newsboy
to be talking Familiarity with one of the
chief rulers of the world. l mentioned an
interview which I once had with the late
John Sherman in which he told me that
when he was presented to the French en-
peror, Louis. Napoleon, he wore pair of
velvet knee breeches. and ISasked William
Alden how he was dressed.
/ IT wore the plain black Of an American
citizen" was the reply, ''and my dress was
conspicuous only by its simplicity. My au-
dience took place at the palace and I was
the only one of the party present who
was DOT in uniform. All the others were
diplomats or army officers and they wore
gold braid and epaulettes. had no idea
that l should be presented. and I suppose
was Indebted to Baron Sternberg, whom
knew as German ambassador at Wash
ihgton, for my audience. I only know that
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
Son Greet. HIS Father.

Ole Palms trunk out of his way to &c
his own chattels.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09

the platform Of the car before 1t fairly
stopped and kissed his father, mother and
sister. The young man was 80 jubilant at
the return Of his people that he didn't walt
for the parade or anything else. He hustled
his sister into a buggy and trotted OF
ahead of everybody
An interesting feature OF Mr.. Brynn's
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
Copyright 1906.

~ iSVo, ny rranA W SarpenoSr'
RAND RAPIDS, Mich, Sept. e.
Special Correspondence Of The
Bee. )-zGrand Rapids Is the furni-'
i ture center Of thesworld. 1t picks
Ire lumber from. aS,ervr forest and
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
The Worlds Furniture City and Its Annual Fairs

when I arrived in Berlin received an in
vitation that the kaiser would be glad to
see me-"
ibid you have any conversation with his
majesty?" 1 asked.
ayes. He talked with me for about
twenty minutes. In meeting his own peo-
pie he had used more or less ceremony
and he seemed to me rather stiff than
otherwise. When my turn came to be pre-
scented, however, he greeted me just as
any gentleman would have greeted an
other in our country. He thrust out his
hand. took It and we shook, and his
majesty seemed to put himself on the same
level with me. In the talk which followed
he was animated and interesting. We
each said nice things to the other and his
majesty proposed number of subjects
common to the two nations. One Of these
was the tariff. He referred to our pro-
tective duties and said that he did not like
them on the ground that they prevented
the increase of German trade. replied
that the Americans did not like the Ger
man regulations for the same reason.
Thereupon his majesty laughed. l wish
to say that 1 was impressed with the force
of character which shines out in every act
Of the kaiser and also by his evident
friendship for the United States"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09
storie. of senator AIger.

II William Alden Smith is elected he will
have General Ayers seat in the United
States senate, place which has long been
held by noted men. Zach Chandler kept 1t
in the limelight of publicity for many
years. Thomas NJ. Palmer did likewise and
both Mcmillan and Alger were senators
of national influence
I understand thAtSGeneral Alger is by
no means well and that he is anxious to
rest. He is now over 10 and his work has
been continuous for almost sixty years.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09

IAHA'S title. the Gate City. never
seemed more fitting than when
the train bearing Mr.. Bryan and
his Nebraska home folks came
steaming over the Missouri river
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-09

1t were better to have the big love feast in
Lincoln.