The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1908-04-03
GREAT OVATION
ACCORDED BRYAN
SPEAKS TO- LARGE AUDIENCE At
DOLLAR DINNER IN KAN
sAs CITY.
THE REPUBLICANS ARE PILLOUIED
Nebraskan Shows How Democratic
Doctrines Have Been Seized
BY Opponents.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, March 3d.
Democrats from all parts Of Missouri
10 the number Of 1000 attended a
BANQUET in Convention Hall in this
city tonight under the auspices Of the
Young Mems Democratic Club Of Mis-
souri, at which w. J. Bryan and JUDD
son Harmon, Of Ohio, were the guests
of honor and principal speakers, and
the recipients of repeated ovations
from the $4,000 persons who throngedi
the hall. Each banqueter paid 81 for
the privilege of attending, even the
distinguished guests insisting upon
.se.. democratic prerogative of paying.
for their plates, and the affair proved
10 be one of the most elaborate polttt-
cal feasts ever attempted in the State
The meeting was essentially Bryan
affair, spontaneous enthusiasm mark
ing every mention of his candidacy for
the Presidency The reception ac-
corded Mr.. Harmon was no less cor
dial and suggestions promising him
high honors from his party were en-
Enthusiastically received.
Mr.. Bryan said:
I'm this great city, on the boundary
line between Missouri with her rock
ribbed Democracy and the West
which, until 1896, was continued as
Republican territory, we have met to
begin the campaign of 1908, and to
present those principles and policies
which sought to appeal to progressive
Republicans as well as to traditional
Democrats. 1t is only recognition
Of a fact which is becoming clear to
all to say that there is Democratic
element in the Republican party TO
which a successful appeal can be
made. might give several evidences
of this fact.
In the first place, what is known
as the Roosevelt sentiment is strong
in the valleys of the Mississippi and
the Missouri, and the Roosevelt senti-
ment is not So much attachment to a
person as devotion to an idea with
which the person has identified him.
self. And what is this idea? 1t is
the idea that conditions are not what
they should be. Before a remedy can
be applied the need of remedy must
be admitted,
For years the Democratic party
has been pointing out the abuses
which have been growing under Re
publican rule, but these abuses have
been denied by Republican leaders
and the country has been congratula-
ted on the possession of everything
essential to its welfare. Republican
platforms have been full of fulsome
eulogy of the Republican party and
barren Of promises OF reform. Even
the platform of 1904 upon which Pres
ident Roosevelt was elected was silent
in regard to government evils and
gave no hope Of relief. To the sur
prise of Democrats, and to the sur
prise of Republicans as well, the Pres
ident Immediately began to recon-
mend remedial legislation, taking as
his guide the platform declarations OF
the Democratic party. He did not fol-
low in the footsteps of the Democra-
cy out of any desire to compliment
the Democrats or to encourage them,
but simply because the Democrats
had pre-empted all the ground IN
front, and he could not go Forward
without tresspassing upon their lana.
1T is not strange that his sugges-
tons we're hailed with delight by Dem
ocrats and met with indignation by
Republicans. Whether the Presl-
dent cultivated reform sentiment III
the Republican party or only reveai-
ed previously existing sentiment, we
shall never know, and the question Is
not material anyhow. 1t is sumcient
that 1t issso strong that the President
is praised by the masses just in pro-
portion as he assails the predatory
corporations and pleads for REFORMS
that look for the restoration of equity
and fairness in the Government. II
ia proof that the reform sentiment IN