The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-01
BRYAN FACED BY
EMPTY SEATS AT
LIQUOR MEETING
Plan for Overflow Abandoned
With Only $500 at Car
negic Hall.
BOOKER WASHINGTON
FIRST TO SIGN PLEDGE


Secretary OF State Bryan was induced
to give up his work for few hours
yesterday and make a trip TO New YORK
to address an audience In Carnegie Hall
last night on the subject OF total alb
stinence.
Inasmuch as an audience OF $4,000
men turned out to hear Mr.. Bryan make
the same address IN Philadelphia dur
ing the Billy Sunday campaign there
the Manhattan temperance workers who
brought the orator here feared great
overflow. especially as tho meeting last
night. unlike that in Philadelphia, was
FOR the women as well as the men. An
overflow meeting. therefore, had been
arranged for in calvary Baptist Church.
across the street from Carnegie Hall.
Mr. Bryan found less enthusiasm
this far east OF Philadelphia. OF the
1915 seats In Carnegie Hall about
2,5O0--perhaps a shade more--were &C.
cupied. The musicians and presiding
officers assembled at the church TO
hear Mr.. Bryan deliver his address all
over again to the overflow meeting
were therefore disbanded. The over
iiow meeting never got together and
everybody came from the church 20
Carnegie Hall TO help MI the seats
there.
In the Manner Of Btiiy.
Mr. Bryan. wearing his shiny black
alpaca coat. black string tie and other
black garments. held glass Of ice
water on high at the end of his ad-
dress. much as the Rev. Billy sunday
does at tabernacle meetings. And again
following Mr.. Sundays nightly prac-
tice. he pleaded In "A loud voice TO the
men and women present TO stand up
and pledge themselves to lead better
lives by signing the pledge.
All the scenes OF Billy sunday
finale were enacted too. when. after
Booker IT. Washington had signed the
first pledge card and had made "A rattling
address following Mr.. Bryan's talk. al
most I.ooo men and women clamoered
TO the stage In rush to shake Mr.
autograph on the dotted limo opposite
the word Witness on the pledge cards.
For an hour. during which time Mrs.
Bryan waited patiently In a closed auto
mobile out at IN. Fifty-siXth street stage
door OF the hall. ;he Secretary Of state
shook hands and signed his name to the
cards thrust toward him
Four fountain pens got such a thirst
during this part OF the unofficial pro-
grammc that the pens passed out from
Internal dryness Pencils were uulim-
bsred by the dozen and Mr.. Bryan signed
on and on. When at least 200 cards
had been signed by MI Bryan for the
autograph hends he rushed away for his
train 50 that he can get up bright and
early this morning. 10 e. Ia his office
and work hard ~ his regular duties.
Mr. Bryan in opening his address last
night on total abstinence told "A story
about an occurrence thar ne came across
on u recent "trip To Nebraska. He then
took up some incidents that happened
while he was on one OF his visits to
Chicago. There, he said, he met some
young men who asked him To- come to
Ann Arhor to address the students.
philadelphia Lawyer saved.
so shortly after his return to Wash
iugton he accented the invitation and
went out ~ Ann Arbor. He next dwelt
upon n recent trip to Philadelphia and
what happened when he spoke there
Following along these lines he told Of
conversations he has had in recent
times on temperance matters with train
men on various roads on which he was
travelling and with sailors on board
ships ON other trips. lie took up an
incident on another trip To Philadelphia.
where. ne said, after speaking on tenn
peranCo he was instrumental In saving
"a Philadelphia lawyer. inasmuch as his
address had persuaded the lawyer to
take the pledge.
There were good musical selections by
the De Witt Clinton High School orches-
ira OF boys while the audience awaited
the arrival of the secretary of State
EN-COngressmau william :. Bennct.
chairman Of the New York local COM
mittee. National Abstainers Union. who
presided. opened the meeting by reading
a letter from Cardinal Gibbons.
Cardinal Gibbons expressed his pleas
ure In sending word OF greeting in
reply to an invitation TO do SO. and said
that he must congratulate those who
will have the privilege 10 hear Mr. Bryan
on this occasion" The Cardinal told Of
his own deep interest in temperance and
added that this was "a subject In which
The 'Mr Rryan) has IA good opportunity
10 use tnht cndfininH OrdtOrlcal power
with which he has been gifted"
vacant seats In GALLERY.
~ the time Mr. Bennett began to speak
all Of the orchestra chairs were taken
and so were the dress circle seats three
tiers up. only a third OF the two there
Of boxes were occupied at this time, but
these were all filled before Mr.. Bryan
BEGAN T. speak There were many va
cant gallery seats throughout the eve
ming. however
The number Of japanese young men
scattered about the auditorium was re-.
marked by many. Ma Sunday WAS in
vited by letter and by telegraph to he
on hand. but at a late hour no answer
had been received from her, Mrs. Bryan
occupied box with a party that In
cluded Mrs. Henry l.. Stilrson. Mrs. NJ
Il. IIoomis, Mr.. and Mrs Nathan Strus
and II, Grant Straus.
The high school boys. barking yells
came down from seats on high, where
upon the girls from Wadleigh replied
with shrll y.lls. which brought forth
much applause.
And some place around the hall"
whispered an official Of the meeting. ARE
about twenty-five members OF Tammany
Hall, who came M In n body to hear
Mr. Bryan. don't know where they are
bnt they promised to come.
"And ] want 70 add one thing more
it's the big feature ~ this meeting. and
you newspaper boys ought to get the
right OF Il. lis this: Mr. BRYAN isn't
getting single cent for coming over
here, That's Interesting and YOU boys
ought to print L."