Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-12-08
Crowds Do Not Turn Out to the Extent
it Had Been Anticipated.
MANY VACANT SEATS AT TABLE
Galleries and Boxes Contain Only a
Fringe of the Faithful.
SPEECHES LAST TO LATE HOUR
Bryan Repeats His Allegation Of Theft
of Democratic DOctrines, but
Finds some OF ROOseveIts
TO Commend.

The FIRST annual dollar banquet OF IN
Dahlman democracy was held last evening
! in the Auditorium with great eciat. VIII.
liam Jennings Bryan was the chief guest
Of honor. Beside him there were ho!f
dozen other democrats from various places.
all OF some note In their several vtoinltles
Next I'm point OF Importance came thsse
who rejoice In membership in the pAhi-
man democracy and last came the LoI
polloi, the rank and file Of the democracy.
Altogether there might have been 300
at the tables. Places were provided for
1900. In the boxes and first floor spec
| tators seats there was a very slender
sprinkling OF people, while In the gallery
the front rows at the east end OF the
building were fairly filled.
All day large contingent OF the city
street cleaning department had been busy
garnishing the streets about the Audlto-
rum. Threatening clouds caused appre-
hension also to those who had spent weeks
in arranging for the big meeting. But
nature did its part nobly The clouds dis
appeared the stars came out in the even
ing and all was auspIcious
But though the stars came out the peo-
pie did not. At 1880. the hour appointed
for the dinner to begin, hardly one-fourth
nobody was in the seats Of the spectators.
Had some one blundered? why did not the
people come to the feast which had been
prepared7 Must messengers stin be sent
out into the highways ana the hedges to
compel them to come Int II was manifestiy
too late TO do this However. a band was
stationed in front OF the building and kept
up strenuous tune. This drew some more
to the building But stiil the void was al
most as great as the filled spaces when
the speakers arrived and the signal was
given the walters to start serving,
building EIabOrateIy Decorated.
The great building was a pretty sight.
The decorating and arranging OF the tables
had been well done. Across the east end
Of the building parallel with the stage ran
long table. This was the speakers
place and around II were seated also those
who have attained particular distinction
IN the party. II was adorned with flowers,
Back OF Il against the side Of the stage
were nags and upon the stage the ferns
and other greenery spread out their
branches and formed a pretty dome or
green.
Along the entire length OF the bulldine
ran eight tables. Here the rank and hlo
were seated. There was no adornmeht on
these tables save only the tan brown bottles
set at frequent intervals and interspersed
with such honest fare as buns, banana
and chow chow
The chief ornaments Of the stage wgFo
large portraits Of Mr. Bryan and Mr.. Dahl
man, evidently companion pieces These
were set up on easles. Down on the level
OF the floor were pictures Of jackson.
Jefferson and Lincoln, Yes. Lincoln. The
background Of the stage was three rows OF
empty chairs.
Three big flags depended from each side
OF the stage and from It's center and
smaller fiags were hung about the balcony.
Cheers for Bryan.
II was precisely S:13 when a cheer arose
from those in the gallery. The speakers
had entered. They stopped to leave their
coats and hats at the check room and then
Mayor Jim" passed up the south side
of the room. Mr. Bryan followed him.
This was the signal for a cheer and every
body waved the little flag with which he
had been provided at the door.
The cheering and flag waving lasted,
however, for only a few seconds Mr.
Bryan and the other speakers and notable
guests took their places at the table and
then Immediately the walters rushed down
the lanes between the tables and the noise
OF hungry men eating and drinking began.
Everybody was very busy for the next
hour satisfying the inner man and pre-
pairing for the subsequent feast Of oratory.
In due season the speaking part OF tho
program came. Hon. George Rogers presi-
dent OF the Dahiman Democracy, intro
duced Hon. John II. Atwood. toastmaster.
There was applause as each Of the speak
ers was introduced
Bryan ON "The Point of Vfsw.~
Mr.. Bryan was the principal speaker and
said In part;
Mr.. Bryan took for his subject ''fhe
Point OF View" and followed the line OF
argument pursued In his speech at wash
ington. adding 10 the things which he
stated IN that speech were borrowed from
the democratic platform one new sugEes-
ton contained in the message OF President
Roosevelt sent TO congress last Tuesday
This additional suggestion refers TO the
recommendation OF the president for a H.
eense system for the trusts. Mr.. Bryan
also indorsed the presidents suggestion In
regard to saDpropriating money for CAM
paign funds, saying that, while II was an
original suggestion for which the president
should have credit, It was democratic In
spirit and purpose.
He spoke OF the spirit OF hope that per-
vaded the party and said that the demo-
cratic party would enter into the next
campaign with an army OF volunteers, and
that these volunteers were fighting because
their hearts were IN the work. and that
they would be more than match for any
troops that might be "marshailed for the
defense Of the monopolies and special prlyi-
leges"
Many references had been made during
the evening to Mr.. Bryan's candidacy for
the democratic nomination, and 10 these
suggestions the speaker gave little en-
couragement, except to state that his posi-
ton remained the same az indicated IN the
pronuneiamentO given out by him some
time ago. He reiterated that his position
Was unchanged, and that his acceptance
Of the nomination would be forthcoming
II he were satisfied the rank and hle OF
the party wished him again to lead their
forces
A disappointment in the program was the