Barton County democrat., 1914-01-09
BRYAN BANQUET A SUCCESS
Largest and Most Successful Political
Gathering Eve Held In Kansas.

Is By far the largest crowd tnat has
ever attended a political meeting OF
CHS kind, gathered in the big audito-
-fium at Topeka Monday evening,
not only to feast on the many good
things prepared by the banquet COM
mittee which were OF benfiet to the
inner man, but to take advantage OF
that better treat in listening to the
sbh speeches by the Hon. VIM. Jen-
nings Bryan, Hon. VIM. H. Thomp-
son, Gov. Geo. H. Hodges, and Mrs.
Cora G. Lewis, one of the members
f the Board of Control of the state
educational institutions, and not a
single person present, many of whom
had come hundreds of miles for the
occasion, but whom felt amply repaid
Tor their time and expense in the
able and inspiring addresses made by
the different speakers.
The meeting was most thorough
success in every way, by far the most
successful ever held in the state.
Not so very many years ago, the Re
p0bhcans were want to remark that
when a man attended a Democratic
rally in Topeka, he went into the
town under the cover of darkness,
quietly attended the committee meet
Ing or whatever other political busi-
ness he was on, and departed in the
same manner in which he came. But
that was i'm the days when the Demo
Gratis were few and far between, and
now, seemingly, the shoe is on the
other foot, for if there were any Re
pubhcans in Topeka on Monday they
we're evidently ashamed to achow-
ledge the fact, for a more euNhuSiaS-
dc or a more harmonious bunch Of
Democrats were never assembled
than i'm that city that day. And, con-
Srary to the stories sent out by the
Oapper and other B.-MooSe and Re-
p0bhcanB, there was but mighty lit
De factional spirit shown and no one
seemed inclined to the belief that
come OF the other politicians were
Tamping on their toes or were at
tempting to intude on their political
rights, but entire harmony prevailed
10 every way and was manifested by
every person In attendance.
More than 1900 persons were seat
Cd at the banquet tables and about
1000 more crowded the galleries to
hear the various talks, and several
hundred more men and women crowd
ed the aisles and corridors ON the
tirSt floor where the banquet was
held. The feast was as fine as could
be wished for by the most fastidious
and was served i'm a most able man.
ner considering the enormous crowd.
Grape juice, the beverage made IA
nous by the Great Commoner, was
not only conspicuous part of the
decorations of the hall, but a small
bottle Of the same was on the bill of
tare for each person. Possibly the
Bryan drink is not quite as great a
creator of enthusiasm as champagne
or other popular beverages, but the
after effects are considerably better,
end if amy more enthusiasm had been
shown by the crowd, especially when
0e Secretary of State entered the
hall, the chances are that the build
ing would have been shaken from its
foundation, for his appearance was
greeted by round after round of ap-
.pdanse and the crowd cheered until
they were hoarse.
And it has likewise been said BY
the Republican press that Mr.. Bryan
mas been losing some of the smile
which for the past twenty years has
oeen one of his minor calls to fame
and that his speeches were lacking
N the fine and eloQuence which for
me past twenty years have charac.
UerdEed him as on of the greatest ora
tors OF the world, but If such was the
case 1t was simply another of the
0tngS which no one could notice. for
une smile was as expansive and han
py as ever and the speech was one
ot the most happy combinations Of
eoQuence and sound facts ever de.
'Nered by this peerless orator.
The talk given by Hon. VIM. T.
Thompson, the junior senator from
mis- state, was a most able address.
Is was also that Of Gov. Hodges and
Mrs. Cora G. Lewis. Senator Thomp.
so0 touched briefly on the various i'm
portant acts Of the national adminis-
tratioo and he received a rousing
ovation from his various remarks.
EInv HodpoS ond Mrc Tar,;s .oll,oa