New-York tribune., 1908-08-16
At PROSPERITY DINNER.
Nets and Niron Suppress Attempt
to Introduce Politics.

lust in letter sent Dy NiiiiNAii
Jennings Bryan to the dinner of the CONNER
cial Travellers Interstate Congress at the Man
haitian Beach Hotel last night was puzzle to
the guests present The letter came early in
the evening and Controller Metz. who presided,
was greatly perturbed by its contents 1t was
so obvious an attempt to turn the dinner into
political gathering that Mr.. Metz refused TO let
it be read.
Then it was shown to Lewis Nixon, and after
a short talk with him the letter was torn from
the sheaf of kilograms and letters that were TO
be read. and forgotten by all save Harry Walkes.
Mr.. 3ryan's press agent in the East When the
letter placed in the discard he went search
ing for some correspondent to send 1t out as
read al the dinner. Being unsuccessful he went
to the telephone, leaving the guests in ignorance
of Mr.. Bryan's burning words.
When the letter was at last unearthed by the
newspaper men 1t was found to be bitter at
tack upon the Republican leaders, whose claim
that Republican principles responsible for
prosperity he declared absurd. Then he went
with a TRADE which he managed to at
tribute all the financial troubles of the country
TO Republican rule and wound up with eulogy
of the Denver platform
MARKED CONTRAST.
In marked contrast to this partisan appeal
the messages of William H Taft. Repub-
ncan candidate for President, and Governor
Hughes. Mr.. Taft briefly expressed his sym
pathy with the purpose Of the prosperity con-
vention and hoped it would be success. MI
Hughes also expressed his interest in the move
rnent and his regret that he unable to at
tend the meeting.
Before introducing Manley j. Hemmens or
Wisconsin. who followed. Mr.. Metz got out OF
reading Bryans letter by just mentioning that
he had received kilograms from Messrs- Bryan,
Taft
the utmost sympathy and wish great sue
cess" he said, and that all.
This however is what Mr.. Bryan wanted 10
say to the travelling
I am very sorry that cannot attend the rrav-
elling Mems outing, but join with you in the de-
The Republican leaders have tried to monopollze
the prosperity idea but eyents 6a have & % end
their policies upon logical and NATIONAL gTounds'
tra{ion ana shirk responsibility for everything
that is bad For instance in 1896 they insisted that
because when Mr. Cleveland occupied the
Mhfe NJ eIonn xa aueuTaed and before there
had been any change In any law.
antee prosperity and that panic always follow
Democratic success, and yet the panic of 1873 came
power twelve years, and it came eleven years be
dent The panic last fall also came more than
ten years after the Republicans secured absolute
control of all three branches OF the federal govern
1nent. OF the three panics that have come since
the RePg6can paTfy nhG and WheH
the Senate and House We're in political sympathy
diatelv after a Republican administration. and
came from causes that had their origin in Repub-
wants BrosDerit but but the RePq6os66
bv a comparatiyely lew who secure favors at the
hands of that party while the Democrats want
ing upon a solid foundation believe that the
platform adopted at Denver outlines plan Ds
prosperity which viii enter the homes of all who
wtah weah prosp4Pity OF Which viii be shared by each
person in proportion as he renders service to
society
Mr. Taft content with this:
sincerely hope that your efforts through the
Prosperity Convention of the Commercial Travel.
confidence and optimism through the country with
respect TO business will be success. Confidence
is everything.
The first speaker Of the evening, William r.
Johnston Mayor of Knoxville, and retiring presi-
dent of the Travellers Protective Association
said that it did not matter whether Mr.. Bryan
Mr. Taft or even Mr.. Hearst elected, the
country would remain prosperous,
KISSES FOR BRYAN CHEERER.
Somebody just then called for cheers for
Bryan but was Missed down. That ended the
attempt political demonstration
Maney J. Hemmenns, of Wisconsin. said that
the Commercial Travellers Association one
of the best benevolent organizations in the
try David S. Rose. Mayor OF Milwaukee spoke
as an authority the prohibition question,
Milwaukee is a wide open town. said the
Mayor, "and still there is less drunkenness there
than in most towns where there are strict pro-
hibition laws"
The Milwaukeean also took rap 8 socialism.
He said that in this country there too much
radical socialism and that 1t this spirit that
prompted the $29OO0OO0 Standard Oil fine
which by its very enornty could never have
been paid" This kind of socialism has been
tolerated too long, according to Mayor Rose.
and the sooner it is destroyed the sooner out
RACES which explained away under the
guise of socialism Will disappear.
The delegates spent the afternoon with their
wives and friends in gay festivities of various
sorts, including series Of games. The thirty
yard dash for married women wound up in a
lively verbal bout and drawing Of lots to
who won
Other features were the fat mems race, the
sandwich eating contest and exhibition OF
baseball throwing by women.