New-York tribune., 1908-04-03
CAN'T TALK, WON'T EAT
PEERLESS ONE DECLINES.
DR.. Bryan U7ithdra1rs acceptance
TO Democratic Club Feast.

Des Moines. Iowa, April 2.-William j. Bryan
announced to-day that he had withdrawn his ac-
ceptance of the invitation Of the New York Ma
tional Democratic Club to attend a dinner TO ne
given on April Is. In view of the discussion Whlch
had arisen as to whether the invitation was 70
make speech or merely to be present MT
BRYAN said that he felt it would be embarrassing
both TO the club and 70 himself 10 be present IN
either ca pacity and therefore he wired Presi-
dent Fox of the club that he withdrew his ac-
ceptance Of the invitation
Mr. BRYAN was kept busy from the time OF
his arrival in Des Moines in the early morning
until late at night making speeches. sreeting
Democrats from every part Of the state and
holding conferences His speeches during the
day were non-pOlitical He made addresses at
St Joseph's Academy. Des Moines College ana
Drake University during the morning. AFTER
luncheon he spoke to the Bryan Volunteers
and to the students of East High School, and
to great crowd in the University Church OF
Christ.
He was greeted by great crowds wherever ne
appeared. and the demonstrations OF the college
men were especially enthusiastic
This evenings dinner attended by several
hundred Democrats a hundred or more OF them
from out Of the state.
Governor Haskell of Oklahoma divided honors
with Mr.. BRYAN in the afternoon and at the din
hornans including State Treasurer J. A Menu
fee and National Committeeman Tate Brady.
Tho dinner committee tried the novel expert
r7en+ Of inviting Mr.. Bryan to its dinner with
ont giving him a chance TO speak he assumed
hat the club wanted him to speak, THE Limit
-. Government" was the particular topic he mad
decided would be his text when he talked 10 tne
gold bugs on their native heath
7. nav have been an hallucination, but per
CONS passing the Democratic cup last Hls"'
obou+ midnight thought they detected Hof'17
laughter from the corner of the snlohi"s io'i'i
occ,,riad by Andrew Freedman and cora Meyer
.bo oo7snirators who shufTled the deck so 'lld'
NJ Prysn drew only the deuCes ana tie '7''
- o,,,d not surprise the gold bugs Of the Demo
- ,.1 [,,-,, - Mr. Rrvan's topic. when next he
sneaks f., New York, will be The Limit OF CuS7
5. +ba democratic National Club
7. is q mart Of profane political history tlaI
=. -.oa,< aso the committee on invitations
e. TIA Jefferson dinner. after severe strussie'
decided that il would invite Mr.. Bryan 10 a''e"u
~. re4ferson dinner as plain guest since 'heh
the cartoonists between Portland Me- anu VIZ
land Ore have been making funny pictures VI
NJ Brzan sitting with the New York gold ougs'
with his mouth padlocked
The very idea seems TO have staggered ths
Peerless One. Since 1896 he has not attended
rlar,ocratic dinner without being the oratori-
ca1 nrotuberance and Colonel Harry w walker
saws IL is against Mr.. Bryan prlhClple7 ~ "t0ah
q precedent Of that sort.
7ra .rea kars at the dinner include DR. Wood
-o.- wilson president of Princeton University:
Senator Robert l. Taylor, Of Tennessee, some
,in,es called "Ffddling Bob; Senator Robert L.
Oypen ~ Oklahoma; Senator F. NJ Simmons, of
North Carolina, and Edward NJ. Shepard.