Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-18
BRYAN A GUEST
Governor Woodruff and General Assembly Honor the Ne
 braskan
A HEARTY WELCOME

Hartford, April 1S.-William Jen- nings Bryan. who Is no stranger m Connecticut, and for whom a great host of our citizens entertain an af- fectionate regard, came to Hartford to-day as the guest of the general assembly and of Governor Woodruff, in fact the freedom of the State Capitol was extended to him and the welcome was as hearty as has been accorded to any guest of the state. MT Bryan came direct from New York on the early morning train, being met at Bridgeport by Senator McNeil and party of other men Tn public life who reside in that part of the state. At New Haven there were more additions to the party by legislators who were bound for the Capitol, SO that upon his arrival In this city MT Bryan was under a large escort.
 On the train up Senator McNeil presented to MT Bryan the formal invitation of the general assembly to him to make an address before It., and also an invitation extended Dy the democratic state central com mittee through Chairman Comstock to attend a dinner at the Garde hotel this afternoon. From the sta ton here MT Bryan was driven at ' once to the Capitol and taken to the executive apartments, where he met Governor Woodruff and number of prominent men of the state. The visit of the distinguished traveller was an event of considerable mo- ment for many scores of visitors were at the building early. In the house chamber a great many extra seats, all that the space would ac- commodate, had been placed. and these were occupied by citizens and many women. the latter the wives and daughters of members of the general assembly. There was no formal reception at the governors oface or any handshaking. Promptly at noon the senate filed into the house chamber and Lieutenant-Gov- ernor Lake became presiding officer of the Joint convention. MT Bryan was escorted in by Governor Wood ruff.
 NIT Bryan was escorted to tue speakers platform by Senator Nc Nell, Governor Woodruff and the state central committed On the plat form with him were Governor Wood run. the lieutenant gnVerupEs Sp0akel Tillson, Alexander Tr0up and CAap- lain Doolittle. After expressing his appreciation of the honor conferred upon him by the Connecticut general assembly. he said that he wished to place emphasis on his statement that freedom of speech was at the bottom of all good government. He refer. red to his achievement m politics ana said that if he had attained any sue cess in political life. it was not due to any ability. genius or talent he in- herited, but to his love of an ideal. If his example was of any service to the young men of the. country 1t would be because it would show that . poor man with nothing can assume some position in society by adhering to ideals that other people share. He then alluded to the way he spent his time in the capitol, just prior to ad- dressing the body. He had been in the library he said where he had found something of the Trumbulls and he was pleased to discover that Lyman Trumbull of Chicago was lineal descendant of the Trumbulls of Connecticut. Tt was in Lyman Trumbulrs law office that l spent many years and this man more than any other has influenced my life, said Mir Bryan.
 He also saw | copy or the blue laws" of Connecticut and he said he preferred the blue laws" of this state to some .'yellow" ones recently adopted in other states. In politics he said 1t is not always the man who boasts that he never scratched a tic- ket, who makes the best citizens. "The day will come when the best citizens will he the men who say that fhey never voted ticket unless as their consciences dictated" He then devoted his speech to the matter of fayoring the election of United States senators by the votes of the people.
 At the dinner Governor Woodruff responded that he wished MT Bryan would come to Connecticut for a while, 1t might cure him of his presidential aspirations. II would like to have him tackle the Connecti- cut lobby"