Graham guardian., 1906-09-14
ATTENDS BRYAA'S RECEPTION
Chicago, H., Sept. 5, 1906
John j. Birdno, ESQ,
Editor GUARDIAN,
a.


Stafford, Arizona.
Dear Sir: The big thing cam =
off in democratic circles in Chica
go, yesterday and last night at the
"Bryan home coming" l attend
ed the banquet given by the Iro-
quois club, to Mr.. Bryan at 2 p. m,
yesterday, and also the night ban
| quet gwen to him by the Jefferson
club, and met many old acquaint-
ences. | need not go into details
as the dispatches have spread it
all before the country.
Mr.. Bryan looked the picture Of
robust health, although his voice
was by no means at its best. He
suffered from u decided hoarseness.
This tremendous ovation was u
strong contrast from his coming
to Chicago ten years ago,
When William Jennings Bryan
came to Chicago in 1896 he stop.
ped at the old Clifton House, now
the Windsor. Clifton, at the corner
of Wabash avenue and Monroe
street. He was the chairman of
Il contesting delegation from Ne
brasku, and neither be nor his fol-
lowers were at all certain that u
place on the floor Of the dem ocratic
national convention would be
assigned TO these men from the
Golden Rod State who were advo.
eating the free and unlimited coin
age of silver at the ratio of Is to | :.
AT that time Mr.. Bryan was the
chief editorial writer of the Omaha
World erald, owned by Gilbert
NJ. Hitchcock, and also otiiciated
as editor in chief of the weekly ed
ition of the weekly Of the same
sheet. His pay was $50 week,
he bad a mortgage on his unpre
tentious home at Lincoln, and his
cash assets when he arrived at the
hotel aggregated $50.
The room to which the future
leader Of the democratic host was
assigned was a small affair, the
rate most reasonable, and no more
attention was given him than TO
hundreds Of other delegates in
search of lodgings. Mr.. Bryan in
his caution gave his small roll of
bills into the keeping of the clerk
Of the hotel, and with but dollar
or two in his pocket went about
the city with those leaders who
were anxious to establish their
claims as opposed to the demands
of the followers of the golden stan
dard.
When Mr.. Bryan finally made
his sensational "crown Of thorns
and cross of gold" speech, which
gave him fame and atterward the
democratic nomination and leader.
ship, be went back to his hotel and
to his little room. His perform.
ance in the convention hall had
reached the ears of the manage
ment of the hostelry and it was
suggested that he ought to have
more commodious quarters, hut
Mr.. Bryan was deaf to the sugges
tion. When he was nominated
the hotel management insisted that
he move to the parlor tioor-an
insignificant bedroom was no place
for the standard. bearer OF a great
party. Mr.. Bryan moved,
At the time of the final settle
ment of his score at the Clifton,
the clerk produced the envelope
containing the $50. Mr.. Bryan's
bill was was $50. He had $50 in |
his pocket when he stepped aboard |
the train which was to take him
back to Omaha, his expenditure in
Chicago during the convention
had been $50 and be was the can.
didate ofa great party for president
of the United States.
There was small presidential
bee buzziug within the confines of
MIR. Bryan's headgear when he
left Omaha He was in the office
Of the World. Herald, in Omaha, a
short time before he took u Farm
am street car for the depot, and
was talking with Frank Basil Ira
cy, now of the Boston Transcript,
but thcn mhNasing small uews'