The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-03
LARGE CROWD GREETS BRYAN The Commoner Makes a
 Speech. BAD TRUCK FOR PLATFORM Bryan May Never Make Another
 Race. Says He Hepes rAst He wnl Net Bs caned Upe. te As.i. solicit Votes for
 O1zce.

v t @ ts
 T hope never to be called upon to run again for any public once" de- ciared William Jennings Bryan In firm tones. just before he stepped upon the Atlantic Coast Line train, after his brief stop-oyer in Montgomery last evening
 "And, sir" he said, directing much practised and very direct fore-hnEer at the reporter who had elicited- the re- mark, q consider that . most bump tious and impertinent question"
 immediately there were hisses and calls that 4 reporter be removed. But Mir. Bryan, in spite of hia dislike for publicity, intervened.
 .sI do not consider you to blame" he said. whoever requested that you ask such a question. Is an enemy of mine, A friend would not seek it. But, sir, will give no enemy of mine the satis- faction of a promise that I will never again be a candidate.s
 T am often misquotedr continued MT. Bryan. with obvious dignfty, cooking his slouch hat, and digging his hands into his tailor-made pockets. Tt has been said that I believed that the Socialist party was growing to be the opposition party. That is untrue What did say, and what I still stand by Is that the Socialists owe their power largely to the abuses that have arisen under the Repubiican~ rule. These abuses and the concomitant growth of Socialism will tend to in- crease under the Republican adminis- stration, and a correction Of them can only he made under q government f0l- lowing the Democratic principles"
 Every sentence was spoken with the characteristic fierceness of delivery and the same elpQuehce that marked his platform speaking during the cam pafgn. He seems to regard that, that somewhere In the public, even h q southern public. he stIil has enemies He was. Indeed, Er. Bryan of the stump. Ills eyes had the same direct tire. his mouth the identical, unequiv- ocal hrmness and his chin the same aggressiveness. And try aa one would, 1t was impossible to commit him to any subseot under discussion, except that which efnphatieally announced that he was for the people.
 ChaFActeristic of Mir. Bryan's attT- tttde. which could hardly be called new, was his answer to . question on tenn perance.
 ..afr. Bryan," he was asked, do you consider that prohibi&ion ls advisable Cor the South and partloularly for Ala bama?s
 For . moment thsEs was an smbar- rassing silence.
 .sxoung man. he anaIly said. T do mot wish to anawar that question. I am always misunderatood. Conaitions vary tn various 1ocaIjties. that 1t makes any, answer from me seem inaccurate. I speak. in fact, only. upon national questions. is4efH ,s
 Then. sir. perhaps you would be willing to make statement about the propriety of the national government bringing suit against certain mstro- politan papers for libel concerning in- formation published during the cam paign."
 'T1o,'' and he shook his head in a most impressive manner. "T do not think that can \propsvly say anything about that. It is inopportune; and be- sides never make comments upon a subject that I have not Investigated for myself"
 next question he took time to shake hands with several new arrivals and to be compiimented upon for the pleasure that his visit gave them
 Held Traxn for Speech.
 When aMr. Bryan arrived, he mad the Atlantic Coast LIne train that he wae scheduled to take. delayed for twenty minutes, SO that he could make d short speech to the people of Mont gomery. Some 400 enthusiasts, led by Judge J. 4. Eimors. chairman of the City Democratic Conamittee; 0eorge W. Jones' ohaiTman of the County nen1o- cratic Committee; Mayor W. M, Teague, Gen. !. w. A. Sanford, and Sheriff Horace Food. escorted him from the traip to a truck that was waiting out side the station near the street car tracks.
 As one of the admirers remarked. he walked with his charRcterIstieahy firm stride. There was nothing else, however that was considered unusual regarding his approach to the truck, except that he jumped upon 1t unaided and with surprising alaority.
 Certainly there was very little that was unique in his speechI one would have beifaved that he was back on the stump, addressing the populacs. He discussed imperialism capitalization and bank deposits, with the ardor of e candids<e. He said that duty de. tnanded his return north. There, the light against the inToada of corporate weaithh required his presence. He said further, that he intended to de- vote his time to work as editor and lecturer. calling the attention of the people to the abuses of the Govern Inent. It might be added that this Is his reason for hts present visit, South. He is very emphatic in hisSannounce- ment that he Is making himseR the champion of the peoples rights
 The Government should be given into the hands of those who have a general interest in good government, and not to thoae who seek 1t for spe- ctal privileges" was the keynote of his remarks. The people must rule ["
 But Mr. Bryan still smiles In the face Of defeat.
 "I would rathsr.n he exclaimed. Sbe. long to minority party which, forces the majority party to adopt some of