The Mena weekly star., 1908-04-02
BIB BRYAN BANQUET
BRILLIANT AND MEMORABLE SCENE IN CONVENTION HALL
 AT KANSAS CITY.
TWO THOUSAND DEMOCRATS AT TABLES
Nebraska Leader Declared 1t the Larq. est Banquet He Had Ever Attended Spoke for 2La Hours on National Topics-Young Mems Democratic Club Elects Officers.

Kansas City, Apr. 1.-Wililam J. Bryan told the Young Mems Demo. cratic club of Missouri at it's dinner Monday night in Convention hall that it had added new distinction to Kan sas City by holding the largest ban. quet he had ever attended, and, so far as he knew, the largest ever held on American soil. The banquet was given by the Young Mems Democratic club of Missouri, state organization, but the banqueters came from Kansas and Oklhoma as we'll. Two thousand diners sat at the tables and the gal leries and roof garden wore packed with spectators. The galleries were decked with flags and bunting, pinks and roses were banked upon the tables and the colored electric lights all com bined to make brilliant and mem orable scene.
 MT. Bryan, who spoke for two hours and half, began his address as fol lows:
 Tn this great city, on the boundary line between Missouri, with her rock ribbed Democracy, and the west which until 1896 was counted as Re. publican territory, we have met to be- giA the campaign of 1908 and to pre- sent those principles and policies which ought to appeal to progressive Republicans as we'll as to traditional Democrats. It is only recognition of a fact which is becoming clear to all to say that there is Democratic ele- ment in the Republican party to which a successful appeal can be made.
 q 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 sentiment is not so much attachment to a person as devotion to an idea with which the person has identified himself.
 And what is this Idea? It 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 Repub lican rule, but those abuses have been denied by Republican leaders and the country has been congratulated upon the possessions of everything essential to its welfare"
 The Young Mems Democratic club oi Missouri met at the EIks' club before the banquet and elected the following officers
 President, Senator Frank M. Me. David of Springheld; vice president s. E. Battsford of Hedge City, Mo-; secretary, Wallace Crossley of Johnson county: treasurer, J. T. Baker of Ma con county.
 The vice presidents of the organiza. tion in each of the congressional dis tricts were also elected. They are: George N. Davis, Macon county; M. J Lilley, Randolph county; k. J. Bruce Clay county; W. F. Spratt, St. Joseph; w. N. Graft, Kansas City: George H Daniel, St. Clair; J. B. Hereford, La fayette; w. V. Draffin, Cooper county; John s. Woods, Rails county; John A Blevins, Dr. H. Wheeler Bond and Senator Thomas E. Kinney, St. Louis George N. Williams, St. Francis; c. E Reed, Christian county; J. M. Earp Barton county; D. L. Camp, Marion county.