Evening journal., 1908-02-01
Democratic Leader Speaks
at the Opera House and
is Entertained by Demo-
cratic League at a Din
eer--PreSidenf'S Policies
Burden of His Address

tinguished guest of the Democratic
League of Wilmington yesterday. He
made thrilling speech to a crowd that
filed the Opera House last night in
which he praised the stand taken by
President Roosevelt in his message and
in his policies and also enunciated the
Democratic principles, and later he
made the concluding speech at a ban
quet given by the Democratic Lea
que in German Hall. Mr.. Bryan's
speech at the dinner was rather un-
usual, in that he devoted most of his
time to a refutation of misrepresenta-
tions he asserted had been made
against himself and his wife since he
came to the fore in political life. Es-
pecially vehement and pronounced was
he in defending his wife's qualifica-
tions.
Il tell you, gentlemen, there never
has been a time when 1 have stood
with my wife in a drawing room in
this country or Europe that 1 have not
been proud that she is my wife," he
proclaimed in a manner expressive of
intense feeling at some Of the misrepre-
sentations he said have been directed
at her during political campaigns"
Then Mr. Bryan launched into a
GudlaNAtIAElAG ulHAutNlUll oL Lll6 AtlilD
cratic partys attitude, but curtailed
his remarks because it was then lis
o'clock and he had been speaking thir-
ty-five minutes
Mr.. Bryan devoted a great part OF
his Opera House speech TO a discus
sion Of the Roosevelt message, with
which he agreed m The main. lie re-
ferred most graciously to Judge George
Gray and was studious in avoiding any
utterances pertaining to the Democrat
ic situation in Delaware
While the boomers of Judge Cray
for the Presidency were pretty well
represented at the Opera House and
the banquet, several of them were
conspicuously absent from the dinner
ana certainly none of them had an ac-
tive part in it.
Many visitors came from down the
State to hear Mr.. Bryan. Chief among
them was John p Holland of Milford
who attended both meeting and BAN
quet. Not among them from down the
State was former Senator F.chGrd r
Kenney. There was a good sprinkling
Of Kent and Sussex Democracy pres
ent, however, and when many of them
got up in the banquet hall to start for
the midnight train it disturbed the
gathering somewhat
Seekers Of Mr.. Bryan's autograph
rather grated on the harmony of the
dinner for a few minutes. as the great
commoner" was deluged with menu
cards on which to write his signature
He munched an apple and wrote until
every card presented contained his
autograph.
Mr.. Bryan arrived early in the af-
ted ~
Heflin, OF Alabama, and Congressman
Stanley. of Kentucky, and was escorted
to the Clayton House. where the party
was accorded a reception in which a
large number Of prominent Democrats
took part. From the hotel the party
repaired residence Of John G,
Gray, where luncheon was served AT
the Gray residence Mr.. Bryan also re-
ceived a company of admiring friends
Although the Opera House meeting
was scheduled to begin at 7.S0 o'clock
Mr.. Bryan did not appear at the the
atre until o'clock. A crowded house
greeted him. On the stage were seated
several hundred of the most prominent
of his party friends. They greeted him
with That's the boy" 1t was ex-
planned by Mr.. Gray, who was chair
man Of the meeting, that Mr. Bryan's
delay was due to the fact that he had
desired to read the message of Presi-
dent Roosevelt before coming to the
meeting.
The Meeting Begins
Mr.. Cray introduced Mr.. Bryan in a
few well-chosen words. and the crowd
cheered. At times Mr.. Bryan was
witty, at times serious, but always calm
in his utterances and subdued in his
delivery.
Admiration for Bayard
Mr.. Bryan's general theme was "The
Vindication of Democratic Ideals and
the Reason Therefor" He introduced
his remarks with the statement that he
had come here because he thought well
of the State. For many years. he said
he had admired Delaware, because Of
its great faith in Democratic principles
AS a boy, he said, he had a desire to
be a United States senator, and in the
debating society of the school in his
home town he chose Delaware as the
State he was TO represent, and appear
ed as Bayard, of Delaware, because OF
the greatness Of the man. Mr.. Bryan
made the statement that the distin-
guished Delawarean was his choice for
the presidency in the campaign OF
1884 Neither your position on the
map. your small area, nor small popu-
lation prevented me from recognizing
the merit Of your statesmanship." Mr.
Bryan then alluded to Delaware as
being the home Of $50 distinguished a
man as Judge Gray"
Il appreciate what President Roose-
welt has done for the education of the
people on this great subject" he said
"Our party didn't need educating; his
did. I have just read his latest mes
sage to Congress, and II there is any
man in this house who has not read
It I recommend it to you. Then you
win learn why its reading created
more applause on the Democratic side
tr0r Il did on the Republican side"
Then Mr.. Bryan declared that the
vc- interests that the President had
attacked were the interests that elected
him President.
Democratic Policies INDICATED.
Continuing, Mr.. Bryan said that the
very things Democrats had said about
Wall street years ago had come true
He admired Roosevelt for having the
moral courage to expose what he be-