The Detroit times., 1912-07-23
CONTINUOUS OVATION
FOR BRYAN AFTER HIS
VICTORY At BALTIMORE
Oliver p. Newman Describes a
Day He Spent With Nebras-
kan on Western Plains
SMILES BEAM UPON HIM
Farmers Sweep Reception Com
mittee Aside and Take Pos
session of Commoner
SMILES BEAM UPON HIM
BY OLIVER P. NEWMAN.

snort and jerk dinky, two-car pas
senger train jolted into Sac City al
1:l0 o'clock on this baking hot, dusty
afternoon. The dingy station, the
dusty road leading away from 1t into
town" the broad Iowa prairies steam
ing in the July sun-all was as II
should be in a middle-west town OF g.
900 people, all except the usual
drowsy desertedness.
Instead of being deserted the sta
ton, the road, tracks and nearby fields
were filled with brawny, red-faced
farmed folk. eyes shining and lips
smiling. Before the train came 10 a
stop the crowd surged towards It, The
conductor dropped OF the front step
of the smoker, waved his arm over the
crowd and yelled:
Hes herein the rear car,
The town band struck Dixie" the
crowd held It's breath for an instant
eyes glued TO the front platform OF the
iear car. Suddenly the face OF VIII
liam Jennings Bryan appeared and a
yell split the hot air like clap OF
thunder
A photograph set up on the baggage
truck would have got something like
this during the next five minutes:
There's the old fellow
How are you, Bill?"
"How's Murphy?
What's the matter with Bryan"
"Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah!"
I'VE want you in l9l6!"
Bryan literally had TO force his way
to a waiting automobile. The Official
reception committee-headed by
former Judge, bank president who
had been a Republican since he was
old enough to vote--was swept aside
by the farmers, who took possession
of the Commoner, shook hands with
him, slapped him on the back, held
onto his arm, carried his grip and
heaped compliments upon him.
The crowd beamed at Bryan, and In
every utterance was note OF deep
affection. Bryan shook hands with
both hands as rapidly as he could,
smiled with genuine appreciation, and
looked into the honest, beaming faces
with eyes suspiciously moist. He
replied to all questions that he could,
frequently saying:
Thank you, old fellow. It's good
10 hear that. Thank you, but I'm
afraid you exaggerate what ! did"
Behind Bryan's automobile came a
string of other cars-those Iowa farm
ers all seem TO have autos-followed
by horses and carriages and the rest
OF the crowd on, foot. They followed
Bryan to the little country town hotel,
cheering and calling out TO him all the
way At the hotel he again had to
.fT oh nd a n " ~
crowd on the sidewalk and lobby Peo-
PIE came 10 his room 10 shake hands
with him while he was shaving, they
stormed him again In the lobby, they
interrupted him at his dinner, cluster
ed around him again in the lobby. and
followed him to the fair grounds.
where he was to make a Chautauqua
speech. He had TO struggle through
another crowd TO get into the grounds
and inside the big Chautauqua tent
shaking hands with hundreds on the
way.
The subject of his speech was The
Passing OF Plutocracy," but when the
cheering over his Introduction by the
chairman had died down, he was
greeted with cries OF Tell us about
Baltimore!" Tell US how you wallop.
ed Murphy and Ryan" Tell us about
Wilson Bryan complied and for 10
minutes. described his Gght for pro.
gressivism in the Democratic ,conven-
ton.
When Bryan finished his address the
Chautauqua had TO adjourn for want
OF audience, for everybody filed out
and followed him; followed him back
to his hotel, back 10 the railroad ia
tion.
! have described a day with Bryan
on the Chautauqua circuit. | selected
Sac City, not because 1t was different
from other towns, but because 1t was
typical. ! travelled days with Bryan.
Everywhere he went II was the same.
through a chain of small towns in
Kansas, Minnesota and Iowa, il was
one continual cheer.
And bear in mind that there were
very few politicians-town and village
roliticians-in the foreground OF these
receptions. They were just men and
women who love the man and admire
him as brave and gentle soldier. And
also there were many children. for
wherever Bryan goes the children
seem to want TO be up close to him
and the more courageous Of them try
TO shake his hand!