The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-01-23
TWO HUNDRED At
BRYAN BANQUET
SPEAKER SEEMED AT HIS BEST
Treated Subjects of Trusts. Tarin
Government Ownership of Rail-
roads-l'raised President.

y
the delay being caused by a wreck oi
freight train between Thrall ana
Ellensburg, the lecture given by tht
celebrated Nebraskan Saturday nigh
did not end until after IL O'Clock
The crowd holding tickets to the
dollar banquet filled the lobby
of the hotel, stairs. the upper par
lors and every available place. for
there were 200 of them. When the
time drew near for the speaker to
come from the church the guests
We're ushered into the dining room
and seated. Upon Mr.. Bryan's ap-
pearance all arose and cheerei
heartily as he passed down the long
lines TO his seat.
For few moments nothing was
heard but the sound of rafting dish
es and the low hum of conversation
that had but one topic-the guest
OF honor, When the cigars wers
passed Toastmaster Snively an
nounced that owing to the lateness
of the hour and the fact that Mr.
Bryan was compelled to leave on
the early train for the east, no
speeches would be made except by
Mr.. Bryan, and that all would then
be given a chance to meet him.
Mr.. Snively said that this country
today possessed the two greatest
men of the world; one was in Wash
ington and the other he had the
honor to present. William J. Bryan.
Mr.. Bryan spoke for about one
hour. Thanking the assembly for
the reception accorded him, he said
he would talk in what might be
construed a partisan way, and if
he used language which enabled his
hearers to guess to which party he
belonged, he hoped there would be
no offense. He said that at no time
in the present generation had the
republican and democratic parties
been so near together on great ma
tional issues as at the present time
He would discuss the political work
that lies before us as nation.
Speaking as private citizen he
wanted it understood that he ap-
preciated citizenship more highly
than he could any public office. He
believed his work was more along
the line of governmental reform
than elsewhere. for his heart was in
this work. He was more interested
in accomplishments than in the
party that accomplished an end
His democratic friends. he said, had
criticized him for speaking we'll OF
President Roosevelt, but nevertheless
he would continue to praise him when
he did right and criticize him when
he did wrong
Mr. Bryan. as was expected, took
the ground that the democratic
party was always in the right. and
mad always taken the initiative in
movements that resulted in good to
the country. When he left the
United States for his tour around
the world, it was with the belief
that the democratic party was 100
years old ne had come back con
WINGED that il was $4,000 miles wide
The republican party, the speaker
commended, was the party of arts
tocracy, followers Of the beliefs OF
Alexander Hamilton, listrusrful OF
the ability Of the people to govern
themselves; the democratic part,
believed in the doctrines of Thoma,
Jefferson and trusted the people
The latter organization, he claimed
was nearer to the people in thii
country than the republican party
This thought was the predominant
feature of his remarks He praised
nGOlOIt JNAFtStFtll as the one pres
ldent IN the history of the republi
can party who would go down il
history as the man who had sough
to awaken public conscience. II
fact, he was unstinted in his praise
of the president. but through it al
was the thought that Roosevelt ha'
adopted democratic ideas and pro
mulgated democratic doctrine. TIL
Chicago platform of 90, he de
clared, had been yindicated as n,
other had ever been in the histor,
of the country in the same length
of time. On the trust questions tn,
president was today getting popu
larity by adopting democratic poll
cies on the evils of trusts.
Government ownership OF rail
roads. Mr.. Bryan declared. was tn
club the president had held owe
the railroads TO enforce an observ
ance Of the interstate commerce laws