The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-24

, At the Bijou you were welcomed by an audience that was the equal of any that could be turned out anywhere. If there has been any time of the day when there was lack of ardor, you must re- member that the water wagon is rumb- ling through Dixie
 MT Bryan, we welcome you today be- cause you are going to be the next presl- dent of the United States. Even if you do not get elected to the presidency we welcome you just as heartily as the un- crowned king of democracy
 Hefin Next Introduced. The toastmaster next introduced H. P. Hefin, solicitor of Jefferson county who took the place of Attorney General W. S. Jackson of New York. who was unable to be present Mir. He1in said: MT. Postmaster: Not many months ago one of Americas foremost citizens made a trip around the world. The warm-hearted welcome that he received abroad was never before accorded to any citizen of the United States. They had heard of him and had read about him, but when they saw him and heard him, they believed in him and loved him. They knew that he was man of heroic mould and that his big heart was on the side of those who were contending for justice and fairness in the race of life.
 They were delighted and honored to look upon the man who had twice been nominated for president by the great democratic party of Amerlca-the party that believes in a government of the people, by the people. and for the peo- pie
 When this distinguished and patriotic citizen returned to his native land. he was met at New York by his admirng fellow citizens from every state in the union. No such gathering ever assem- bled before in the United States to well come home a son who had been absent from those whom he loved and served.
 From that time to this good hour. al- though he was not candidate for the presidency, there has never been doubt that he was and is the overwhalm- ing choice of the democratic party. and believe a large number Of the republican party. for president in 1908. From time to time when urged by democrats in every sec ton of the country to become a candi- date for president in 190S he has urged his friends and democrats generally to look over the entire field and select the best and most available man possible, and that the party's choice would be his choice. When some of his enemies sought to boost southern man in the hope that they could keep him from car rying the solid south. he declared that 1t made no difference with him what sec tion of the country the candidate hailed from, just so his environment was of the right kind and his heart was in the right place: that he had just soon support a southern man as an eastern, northern or western man.
 His Constant Warfare on Trusts.
 His constant warfare on trusts and his opposition to the republican system which allows a few men to control the .I,a lax deared him to the people everywhere.
 Business men, once frightened and mis- led by subsidized newspapers into oppos- ing him, since they have come to know him. believe In him.
 The independents of the north and the east are declaring it their intention to support him.
 Those who once questioned his party loyalty were convinced of their folly when in 1904 he Loyalty and ably supported Mir. Parker.
 MT. Toastma aster, permit me to say that while those in authority in the states in their efforts to manage their own af- fairs, as the constitution provides they shall, are annoyed, harrassed and threat ened by federal judges. and sorey smtten by the rod of federal interference 1t was William Jennings Bryan who spoke out against this usurpation of power by fed eral judges and defended the rights of the state.
 There is a distinguished and honored citizen present tonight who has been dili- gent and faithful in his efforts to preserve the state In all her integrity and consti- tutional powers, and to whom the ex- pressed will of the people is both guide and instructon-and l want to say that my choice for president and vice-president in this good year 1908 is William J. Bryan of Nebraska and B. B. Conner of Ala bama."
 Judge Harmon Introduced.
 Following MT. Hefiin, Colonel Tomlin- son introduced Judson Harmon, who was warmly received. Speaking on "A Reml- niscence,' Judge Harmon said:
 A Reminlscense.
 Nearly 40 years ago l made my first visit to the south. And it was to Ala bama where one of my earliest profes- sonal employments called me. The jour ney took me through places, many of them obscure before which the war had made familiar. The ear seemed almost to catch the sounds of march and battle which had so lately died away. The ai.' was charged with memories of the men who had there suffered and died.
 The war was over at last, but peace had not yet come, only an end of armed conflict the unrestful repose of exhaus- tion. Blackened chimneys stood mourn fully above the ruins of homes Empty houses told of families scattered or de- stroyed. Plantations once fruitful under the hand of industry were relapsing into the wilderness from which they had been won. The few inhabitants to be seen, many of them maimed or crippled, wore an air of dejection. Nature alone smiled in all the southland and that only dark ened by contrast everything akin to man.
 ''I came from a region where the foot of war had trod less heavily. Kirby Smith had given us fright and John Morgan some bad horse trades. Soldiers going and coming were a familiar sight ana sometimes neighbor was brought home 10 be nursed or buried. But blood shed and ctstlbction did not come to us.