The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-24
Has Been In Birmingham Many Times But Has More
 Friends Than Ever
WITH HUDSON. HARMON
 HE SPENDS BUSY DAY
Prominent Men From All Parts of the State Had Gathered Here To Do Honor to the Distin-
 guished Visitors.

! On none of his previous visits to Bir- mingham has the welcome extended yesterday to William Jennings Bryan. the recognized head of the democratic 1 party, been duplicated.
 | MT. Bryan, accompanied by Judson Harmon of Ohio, former attorney gen eral in the cabinet of President Grover cleveland. stepped from the Louisville and Nashville yesterday morning at 1 S;35 o'clock, the train halting under the sh ed one second after it's scheduled time for arrival
 The distinguished visitors remained in Birmingham throughout the day, and were right royalty entertained. A re- ception committee, headed by Horace Hood, Sr., editor of the Montgomery Journal, met the distinguished guests at Reid's, 27 miles from Birmin gham. When the train, returning, arrived in Birmin gham, there were so many peo- pie gathered at the station that it was Impossible for Mayor George B. Ward and c. c. Heidt, president of the Board
 
 welcome.
 immediately from the station Mr. Bryan and Judge Harmon were es- corted to the Morris hotel where breakfast was eaten. Immediately aft : erwards, there was a public reception in the lobby of the hotel From the hotel to the Bijou theatre there was a parada lad hv Troan n A1oka.... NJ. tional Guard, followed by fifty car- riages and automobiles. while behind was an innumerable mass of people cheering the great leader with every breath and at every step Every Seat Filled.
 AL the theatre, MI Bryan was faced by an audience which occupied every seat on the three floors. Hundreds were turned away, the police refusing ad- mission after all seats had been oc- cupied. Here MT. Bryan made polit- ical address, which was heard with rapt attention, and interrupted often by uncomfortable applause The great commoner never appeared to better ad~ vantage. He was in fine voice. and his articulation was exceptionally distinct His argument thrilled the hearers, and on certain occasions there occurred demonstrations lasting from two to ten minutes.
 After the conclusion of the address MT. Bryan and MT. Harmon visited the home of Governor B. B. Conner on South Twentieth street, when luncheon  was served. In the afternoon there was an automobile drive over the city, the distinguished Nebraskan express ing surprise at the marvellous growth of Birmingham.
 "On my first visit to Birmingham" he declared. II was the guest of Gov known then, and I was not known at all Since that time, Birmingham has continued it's steady growth. until to- day 1t is truly the metropolis of the great south"
 The last hours of the afternoon were spent by MT. Bryan and Judge Harmon at the residence of Col. John W. Tom linson.
 Reception at Night
 peg dl O ClOch, lueTe was a public reception at the Hotel Hillman, at which hundreds of Birmingham men and women pressed forward to meet the distinguished guests, and to aid in the wholesome welcome that was being ex- tended.
 Beginning at o'clock, the banquet of the Board of Trade was begun at the Hill man. Here MT. Bryan made non-parti- san speech, which, while treating of poll tics in an indirect manner was chiefly concerned with other affairs. Never was the great commoner heard by more de- lighted audience. Never was he more eo- quent. Never was his rich humor richer. There was a demonstration, the applause being vigorous and extended through sucn a length of time
 Judge Harmon delighted the banqueters with story of early Birmingham The 6istine Iished jurist passed through the now great city when the original building was in its preliminary stages. He asked what the city would be named. "Birming- ham," was the reply.
 ''I remember, stated the gentleman, that on hearing the name Birmingham. l smiled, wondering if there was the re- motest hope in the breasts of the builders that the new Birmingham would ever equal the old.
 ''I have never posed as prophet" con tinued the speaker, in explanation of hls smile. T am candid to admit that l would have smiled even broader had some one told me that thirty odd years afterwards l would make speech here in the center of such marvellous business activity, that the little borough would in such a short length of time grow into such a splendid city. city tho industries and products of which have attracted the attention of the civilized world"
 Judge Harmon was frequently inter- rupted by applause that shook the build- ing. He was in a happy vein, and his words bristled with humor. satire and pleasantry. At other moments he was se- rious, thoughtful. his words being laden with the expression of sane and original ideas, which were exceptionally effective.