The San Francisco call., 1907-01-27
LECTURES AT SANTA ROSA
''The Old World and Its Waysv HI.
Subject


Subject
SANTA ROSA, Jan. 26.-William Jen-
nings Bryan lectured before the largest
audience gathered in Santa Rosa in
recent years this afternoon. For near
~ an hour and a half he held more
than 5000 listeners SPELL bound while
he told of The Old World and it's
Ways" as he found them during his
tour with his wife last year. He was
frequently interrupted with applause
as he made pointed illusions to fads
OF the day or to his unsuccessful can
didacy for the Presidency.
The distinguished speaker and his
wife were met on the arrival of the
Southern Pacific train by a committee
OF citizens chosen without regard to
political faith The visitors were es-
corted to an automobile by Mayor John
p. Overton. former Congressman
Thomas J. Geary and Mrs. Geary and
taken for a short ride through the city,
while the reception committee was get
ting back 10 Mayor Overton's home
There the entire party was soon assem-
bled and entertained at a luncheon.
FLOWERS FOR MRS. BRYAN
The great pavilion in which Mr.. Bryan
spoke was handsomely decorated by the
members Of the Irene Club of this city,
under the personal supervision of Mrs.
and Miss Pauline Olsen. The club la
dies presented Mrs. Bryan with a mag
ni1cent bouquet Of red carnations. The
decorations of the pavilion consisted of
palms. magnolia boughs and the Amer
lean flag.
The. crowds gathered early at the
pavilion. Everybody from the country
side came to town and the trains
brought large numbers of outsiders.
ha haT cd al tc ha
limit when the clapping of hands an
nounoed the arrival Of Bryan and the
reception committee at the main en-
trance. The volume of applause in
creased es the party progressed up the
aisle until on their arrival at the plat
form IL had assumed the dimensions
of an ovation.
District Attorney Clarence F. Lea of
this city presented the speaker as
Americas greatest and best man.
Bryan smiled and said that it was not
necessary for q thing 20 be true to be
enjoyed, and he believed that the over
praise of his friends would only act
as an Offset to the abuse he received
from his enemies.
II am glad to speak outside Of polit-
ical lines" he continued, "as 1 have
had ample opportunity during the past
hfteen years to get all Of the politics
I desire. I must say that have made
plenty OF use of the opportunities, but
from the looks OF the returns a great
many OF the American people did not
like what I had to say. I have sufh-
Client proof of this to satisfy the most
unreasonable person"
The speaker then took up the thread
Of an interesting and instructive ad-
dress. describing many incidents of his
travels and the people and customs of
the countries he visited. He said that
the Columbia River, when built UP with
homes and decorated with the attrac-
tions OF the Rhine, would far surpass
that famous waterway as an attraction
to the travelling public. while Lake
Tahoe OF California he declared to be
far more beautiful than anything which
Scotland, Switzerland or Norway could
offer IN lakes or fjords.
Referring to Japan, the speaker said
that country faced a crisis at the
present time. She had borrowed the
western ideas in business and politics.
Now. he asked, would she borrow the
religion on which the Western civiliza-
ton was founded or fall by the way
side In her loyalty to the old, worn
out Oriental religious beliefs? The most
important question facing the nation
was whether she was TO become an ag-
nostic, inidel nation or accept the re-
ligion which had given the Western
civilization it's enduring strength.
An account of his reception at Euro
pean courts followed. Speaking OF
his visit to the Car Of Russia, Mr..
Bryan said Il had been said in this
country that he was an anarchist, but
he felt he could present good creden-
tials against this assertion as he had
been allowed to spend half an hour
alone IN the company Of the Czar, who
knew an anarchist at sight.
Mr.. Bryan closed his address with a
glowing tribute to the place to which
woman had been elevated by Western