The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-24
NEBRASKAN SAYS WORLD <
 GROWS CONSTANTLY BF' 4
Governor Conner FigurativeIy Applies Suppression of the Steeomyia" To Present Day Problems-Bryan
 Off For Washington Today.

man last nSnt In honor Ot Blrmlngnam s distinguished visitors, William Jennings Bryan of Nebraska, and Judson Harmon of Ohio, was an elegant affair, sparkling with wit and good humor rich in whole some truth, and exceedingly pleasant on account of the prevalence of enthusiasm and congeniality.
 The speakers of the occasion were MT. Bryan. Judge Harmon, Governor B. B. Conner. Lieutenant Governor Henry B. Gray, and Solicitor Harrington P. Hefin, who spoke extemporaneously on account of the inability of Attorney General Jack son of New York to be present. John w. Tomlinson, the original Bryan man." was toastmaster. and Charles C. Heidt, president of the Board of Trade, was pre- siding officer.
 Non-PoIitical and Non-Partisan.
 The speech of MT. Bryan, ''The Signs of the Times" was non-political and non- partisan. MT. Bryan. in explaining his subject, declared that he accepted this occasion to make a refutaton of the charge that he was an agtator, and, therefore. a pessimist. He attempted to show that the world was growing better every day. He treated the growth of ed ucation and the development of the desire of learning until it had become a pas sion He treated the growth and devel- opment of government, showing the out bursting of democratic ideas in every country of the world, and the aggressive ness of the desire for representation and government He dealt with the sepa- rate countries of the globe, and spoke of the incidents which came under his per sonal observation while on his tour of the Orient Mr. Bryan was serious in his ev- cry expression and his learned address was received with rapt attention.
 Harmon Recites Reminiscence.
 Judge Harmons subject was "Remins- cence.' Forty years ago he visited Ala bama, and he described with telling effect the condition. of this state. during that dark period succeeding the war, when the carpet bagger and the freed negro were in control, and when there existed on ev- cry side poverty and misery. He told of passing through Birmingham when the city first was in it's natal hour During the course of his address he dwelt to a great extent on the rights of the state to govern the state, and referred to the fed eral interference in matters appertaining to the affairs of a state He declared that this federal interference was due to two things-that the state did too little in the control of railroads and corporations, or too much. He expressed the opinion that doing too much was the greater of the evils. He pleaded for the golden mean in
 
 Come on the Steeomyia.
 Governor Conner spoke on the Sup pression of the Stegomyia.' The an- nouncement of his subject caused laugh ter He, introductorily, referred to the dread yellow fever, and the insect that spread it. He then spoke of the ste gomyia in the business world, in the political and social world. The speech of the governor was warmly received and it not infrequently happened that he was cheered to the echo.
 Governor Gray welcomed the guests to Birmingham. When the name Gray was pronounced, the band played Hes a Jolly. Good Fellow" Solicitor Hef1in eulogized Bryan, scored the federal courts for interference into the affairs of the state, and concluded by suggest ing Governor Conner to the vice presi- dency. The governor, in replying thought that there was another solicitor in con tempt of court" notified Judge Harmon that there was no danger of his inter- fering with the Ohioans plans at this time, and caused merry ripple of laugh ter to permeate the building.
 Besides this bit of pleasantly on the part of the solicitor, there were dozens of humorous remarks that kept everybody in fine spirit. Governor Conner charged Judge Harmon with having made fine political speech in spite of the fact that the occasion was non-political, intimat- ing that Judge Harmon was promulgat- ing his boom for the vice presidency. MT. Bryan told numerous anecdotes in his inimtable style. And so for four hours the time slipped merrily and pleas antly away, and shortly after midnights hour the guests reluctantly departed.
 Several Hundred Present.
 There were several hundred people seated about the board-people of Birm- ingham and of every other large city and many of the small ones of the state. The menu was an excellent one, and was served excellently. There was an absence of wine, but this detracted not in the least. There was an excellent musical programme rendered by the or chestra headed by Professor Harms The excellent music was one of the features of the occasion. AS each speaker was in- troduced some familiar song was rem dered suggestive of the speaker. An ex- cellent male quartet added to the pleas antness of the evening
 At the conclusion of MT. Bryan's ad- dress, the last on the programme, there was an adjournment. Before leaving the banqueters pressed about the great den- ocrat and Judge Harmon, bidding them