The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-03-01
MOB IN CANADA
H00TS ". J. BRYAN
Returned Soldiers Interrupt Dry
Meet at Toronto When
Nebraskan Enters.
HURL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Police Offer to Eject Agitators, but
Former Secretary of State Re-
fuses, Saying Enough Are
Hurt In Battle.

Toronto, March 1.-William Jen-
nings Bryan, formerly secretary Of
state for the United States, received a
rough reception last night from one of
the biggest audiences that ever turned
out to hear temperance orator.
For more than half an hour he at
tempted to address a meeting of the
Dominion alliance amid a hurricane of
catcalls, Kisses, shouting and ringing
of bells. Finally from one group of
disturbers SNOWFALL was hurled,
which hurtled past his face and alight-
ed with effect upon the broad shirt
front Of portly supporter.
The disturbance had it's center in a
party Of about sixty men in the front
Of the balcony. All wore the badges
Of returned soldiers and it was OBJ
vious from the first that they were de-
termined to humiliate the visitor.
Mr.. Bryan showed no signs of irrita-
ton at any time and 1t was at his re-
quest alone that the disturbers were
not elected and taken into custody by
the police.
Disturbance Begins Early.
The first disturbance came before
MIR. Bryans entry when the chairman
told the audience they were to be hon
ored by listening to the fraternal dele
gate of the Anti-Saloon League of
America, lone of the foremost citizens
of our ally"
Chairman w. F. Fleming refrained
from mentioning Mr.. Bryan's name as
long as he could, but when it came out
at last, it was greeted by a chorus of
catcalls and cries of, "We don't want
him"
Then Mr.. Bryan came in and pam
demonium broke loose. Most of the
audience stood up, waved handker-
chiefs and cheered him, but the an
swering boots from the gallery out
lasted the cheers.
Leaves Bryan Alone.
Chairman w. f. Fleming at last
gave up the attempt to introduce the
speaker and left Mr.. Bryan standing
alone to face the outburst which
seemed to grow worse than ever. 1t
was fully another five minutes before
the visitor made any attempt to
speak.
Then, in the lull of vocal disturb
ance, he started a sentence. The first
of it was lost at 20 feet distant.
"God Save the King"
Mr.. Bryan tried to make himself
heard, but it was no use. The inter-
ruption kept right on and the inter-
rupters sang Rule Britannia" fore
ing the audience to join in that and
"God Save the King
Men stood up and shook their fists.
Soldiers showed their service button
on their coats and shouted defiance
at those who pleaded for hearing for
the visitor.
Bryan Sits Down.
Mr. Bryan took his seat
John FL. Roberts of Montreal made
an attempt to speak, but was told to
'get the khaki on"
Then a man of the army medical
corps, dressed In uniform, was hoisted
on the platform.
He appealed to the gallery.
The appeal was In vain. God Save
the King" was sung again, and the
soldiers in the gallery shouted:
"Take Bryan out, and we will walk
out Well let any man speak, but not
a pro-Gernan."
Makes a Statement.
'T am here by invitation" he said to
the reporters. II come as a repre-
sentative of 25,OO0OO0 American peo-
pie, who are banded together In vari-
GUS organizations for the prohibition
of the liquor traffic.
Ordinarily those who interrupt a
meeting are put out on the theory
that no few people have a right to
deprive an overwhelming majority of
their right to hear, but in this case /
would rather that the meeting should
break up than that force should be
used-rather than have it said that
anyone was dealt with physically for
any discourtesy that may have been
shown to me.
my patriotism is satisfactory to
the people Of the United States; Ii
Is satisfactory to the president of the
United States; it is satisfactory to the
congress of the United States, and
there is no single one living under our
flag who dares TO say there is one
drop of blood in my veins that is not
loyal to my country. / don't need the
Endorsement Of anybody anywhere else
There is not city In the Union
where there is any danger of my be-
ing interrupted.
''I want to leave your citizens to
be dealt with by your government as
1t pleases, but l am not willing to be
the cause Of any mans iniury. There