Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-08
CHEERS GIVEN FOR "BILL"
Good Feeling and Non-Partisanship
Mark the Occasion.
EACH COMPLIMENTS THE OTHER
Exchange Stories and Jokes While
the Watching Throng Looks
on Delighted.

| the waterways convention last night The
| greeting between the two presidential can
didates lasted not over fifteen seconds.
They were both as bashful as schoolboys
whose teachers had just forced them to
make up and shake hands.
| "Howdy-do. Mr.. Taft Glad to see YOU"
Good evening, Mr.. Bryan. Glad to
| meet you. SIR
! They turned quickly away from each
other after the brief words Of greeting and
Mr.. Taft hurried to his seat. which was
one seat removed from that of Mr.. Bryan.
| Mr. Bryan for once in his long career
as seasoned campaigner seemed really
embarrassed and Mr.. Taft appeared more
| SO. The latter turned to go to his seat.
Mr.. Bryan turned and watched him.
clapping his hands with the others.
! Mr.. Taft bowed his acknowledgements
| and sank into his seat. He seemed very
tired and did not appear to be enjoying
| his experience at all. He looked around
| the room in an embarrassed way for
moment. and then buried himself for a
| full minute and half in the elaborate
| souvenir toast list.
Mr.. Bryan dropped into his seat. too.
and threw himself back with a stern
look. He had seemed to be having thy
| time of his life until Mr.. Taft came. but
of a sudden he began to look almost un-
| happy.
Nominees Get Chummy.
1t was only for couple of minutes.
| however
Finally, Mr.. Taft leaned over Toast
| master Hall, who sat between them, and
said something to Mr.. Bryan. Mr. Bryan
laughed and Mr.. Taft laughed, too
They're getting on said one of the
distinguished diners. They'll be telling
each other stories before long"
For the next three-quarters of an hour
| Mr.. Taft and Mr.. Bryan found a great
deal to say to each other. First one and
then the other would lean over the broad
bosom of Toastmaster Hall and make a
remark. Some Of the remarks appeared
to be extremely funny. for both laughed.
When the two distinguished guests had
got on friendly terms the diners began to
! have a good time. too.
| Hes all right" shouted score OF
diners at one end of the hall.
Who's all right?' demanded five hun
dred others.
Bill" came the thunderous response.
Mr.. Taft shook his sides laughing at this
sally and Mr.. Bryan threw himself back
| in his chair. Then the guests rose and,
lifting their champagne glasses. shouted
| Here's to Bill.
| Taft Two Hours Late.
Mr.. Taft did not reach the banquet hall
| until Oils, and the expectation of the
brilliant audience was keyed up to the
| highest pitch. Mr.. Bryan had been ceated
| at the table for nearly two hours eating
| and having a good time talking with his
| neighbors.
When the hands of the clock began to
| roll around toward and Mr.. Taft had
not appeared Mr.. Bryan's eyes began to
roam toward the door expectantly. When
Mr. Taft finally stepped off the elevator
! into the dining room Mr.. Bryan was the
| first on his feet and he led in the hand
clapping that followed.
| Mr.. Taft had made a lightning run
from Galesburg. where he mad been
| speaker at local celebration. in order
Bryan and speak at the dinner. and he
had dressed on the train. AS he entered
the dining room the entire audience rose
and led by Mr.. Bryan. cheered him.
The big candidate had to squeeze his
way between the tables and walk entirely
across the banquet hall to where Mr..
Bryan sat at the middle of the speakers
table.
Mr.. Taft had to walk behind half 4
dozen of the notables at the speakers
table. squeezing himself through. a mar
row space. before he reached Mr.: Bryan.
The latter turned to met him when he
was six feet away.
Bryan Greets Taft.
Mr.. Bryan's hand went out first, and,
taking a step forward. he grasped the
hand of his rival
The diners united in yell which fairly
shook the chandeliers. Every man in the
dining hall-republicans. democrats pro-
hibitionists, independence leaguers and all
were invited-joined in the mighty shout.
William Jennings Bryan, jr.. who had
obtained a leave of absence from the
University of Nebraska to witness the
more or less historic occasion, was the
most interested young man in the room.
He sat Immediately under the parental
eye at ope of the cross tables, where he
could see everything that happened.
When Mr.. Taft came in young Bryan
stood up with an expression of lively
curiosity. and his eyes followed the huge
form OF the republican nominee. Then
Bryan, who wore his most affable smile
and who might have been attending a
church sociable for all the facial indi-
cations he gave
hall on top of the Auditorium Hotel. The
long room. with it's snowy gilt arches
and Its arched ceiling. was lavishly dec
| GRATED. Over the speakers table hung 4
canopy of flags and bunting.
POSTMASTER Hall made hit with the
quotation. How happy 1 could be with
either. were tother dear charmer away"
He then introduced Mr.. Bryan. The au-
ditors rose cheered Justify and waved
handkerchiefs and programs
Bryan Arouses Mirth.
when I first began to run for Presi-
dent" Mr.. Bryan began. with a quizzi-
cal smile. and was interrupted by ap-
preciative laughter, in which Mr.. Taft
Joined. Mr.. Taft applauded also Mr..
Bryan's references to "chairmen who for
the evening can suspend the issuance of
estimates" and "treasurers who for the
moment need not investigate the business
associations of contributors.
Nominees Compliment Each Other.
Mr. Bryan paid a tribute to Mr.. Taft
and sad that if he Bryan) were sue
cessful the honor would be the greater
for having won over such a man. and
that if he were defeated his sorrow
would be less, because such a man as
| Taft had beaten him.
Mr.. Bryan talked about the greatness
of Chicago and the waterways. and Mr..
Taft delivered his speech on the laws
delays which he has delivered at Carnegie
Hall. He echoed the pleasant rema rks
Mr.. Bryan had made concerning himself,
applying them to his opponent.
Presidential Postmasters Appointed.