St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-05-01
The Democratic Commoner Gets the Biggest
Houses Here at any Place on His New England
Tour.-A Strenuous Day with Nearly Five
Hours of Talking.-AlmOSt a Runaway
as He was Leaving Town.

time in his life he had got to the top so
quick in any organization. After an ex-
cellent supper, topped off with maple
syrup, Col. Bryan was taken into the
parlor and introduced to the Wells River
people who had gathered to see him.
Returning to the Pullman car he met
another large delegation from up the
line, including Alexander Dunnett of st.
Johnsbury, DR.. w. c. Blake, John B.
Chase and c. j. Trefen of tLyndonville,
A. A. Olmstead of South Newbury, H. c.
Cummings of Richford and II Others
from that border town. When St. Johns
bury was reached there were over 1000
people at the depot and the crowd were
kept away from the train by ropes. The
party were taken up to Music Hall in
automobiles, the crowd giving Col.
BRYAN three cheers as he rode away from
the depot in Dr. {. A. Prevost's new
touring car.
By previous arrangement Col. Bryan
spoke first at Music Hall and then at
the Stanley Opera House. While he was
speaking at Music Hall Mr.. Williams of
Boston, spoke at the other hall and then
Mr.. Williams came over to Music Hall
and spoke there. Elisha May introduced
the speakers at Music Hall and Harland
B. Howe presided at the Opera House.
Col. BRYAN spoke for nearly one hour
and one-half at Music Hall upon 'The
Average Man" In opening his address
he said,
Vermont was one of the last states OF
the Union visited in 1897 and as have
been here only once since, do not feel
very well acquainted with you, and
from the way you vote don't think you
have become very we'll acquainted with
me. A man who can be a democrat IN
Vermont finds so much satisfaction IN
his conscience that he doesn't need talk
ing to, yet the democrats of Vermont
really deserve democratic speech. You
are the men described in the Bible as
"those who came up through great
tribulation."
am glad to speak when no campaign
is on because in looking over the election
returns | find the people did not like the
speeches made. And there are two
reasons why ] do not make political
speeches now. In the first place events
have been speaking for US, and in the
second place the President is making my
speeches for me and with much less
danger to himself than would incur.
When | have spoken on Sunday and
given a sermon some have been unklnd
enough to refer to it as a political
speech, and when have talked politics
on week days some have accused me OF
preaching a sermon. The only way
can account for these opinions is that
every democratic speech is a good ser
mon. -,
These pleasantries were well received
and then the speaker launched into his
theme, "The Average Man, speaking
somewhat as follows:
When travelling in Mexico few years
ago found a cultured, educated and re,
fined class; they lived in comfort. and
their manner of life was like that OF our
best people. But outside this class there
is only the "peon," the man who does all
the work, and has no education,
found the Mexican railroads manned by
Americans and when asked the reason
| was told that there was no middle
class in Mexico. So great gap exists
between the "peon" class and the upper
class. The same conditions, only. worse,
exist in Asia The men at the bottom
toll and those at the top rule, with an an
impossible gulf between the two In
Europe the extremes Of society are not Of
so far apart, yet there is not nation il, in
Europe that resembles our nation IN the
GREAT middle class. In this country inc
Common people are the great people, and d
the uncommon people are not only sih a.,
in numbers but not as important as they
tx think they are. It is easier here than N
anywhere else in the world for the son o.
, a Door man to get on. Here the average g
man has the greatest chance. He is not 1St
only the dominant factor in polltli; "a the t,e
j world. five are to have good govern end
t ment, the average man must getl' anu