New-York tribune., 1918-03-01
Soldiers Hiss
Bryan Down
In Canada
'How About Lusitania, " Re-
turned Men Shout at
Dry Meeting

TORONTO. Feb. %. - William Jcn-
nlngs Bryan was refused hearing when
he appeared at Massey Hall here to-
night to address a prohibition meet
ing under the auspices of the Dominion
Alliance. Returned soldiers caused tlie
disturbance by shouting various cpl
thets ''What about the Lusitania.'
they demanded in chorus.
The first disturbance came before
Mr.. Bryan's entry, when the chairman
told the audience they were to be hon
ored by listening to the fratcrnal dele
gate of the Anti-Saloon League of
America, zone Of the foremost citizens
of our ally" The chairman refrained
from mentioning Mr.. Bryan's name as
lons; as he could, but when it came out
at last it was greeted by a chorus OF
catcalls and cries, "We don't want
him. The chairman appealed to the
audience. 1t was not good thing for
the city they were doing, he said. land
a bad thing for the cause we repre-
sent"
Entrance Starts Shouting
Then Bryan came in and pande
monium broke loose. Most of the au-
dience stood up, waved handkerchiefs
and cheered him, but the answering
shouts from the gallery outlasted the
cheers.
For five minutes Mr. Bryan tried to
make himself heard but it was no use.
The interruption kept right on and the
interrupters sang Rule Britannia"
10 tn in, h,4
and "God Save the King" They in
Qrired about the Lusitania, and sang
Over There" and "We Won't Go Home
Until Morning." Men stood up and
shook their fists at the American cX-
Secretary Of State. Soldiers showed
the service button on their coats and
shouted defiance at those who pleaded
tor hearing.
Enthusiastic rohibitionists who
wanted to hear Mr.. Bryan hurled
across the hall counter calls of>"Put
then them o., out" and "Where's your fair
play? ?" The chairman was heard to saw
something about ejecting the inter
rupters. He was greeted with cries Of
who's going to do it?"
Mr.. Bryan took his seat
John II. Roberts, of Montreal. made
an attempt to speak, but was told to
Get the khaki on!'
Called Pro-German
Then a man OF the army medica!
corps dressed in uniform was hoistel
on the platform. Boys, they are fight
ing for freedom at the front. They are
also lighting for freedom Of thought
Why should we interrupt the meeting?"
he appealed to the gallery The appeal
was in vain. God Save the King" was
sung again, and the soldiers in the gal
lery shouted, "Take Bryan out and
We'll walk out. Well let any man
speak, but not a pro- German"
After the band had played another
ar Mr. Bryan made a brief but futile
attempt to make himself heard. Then
he to ok chair to the edge Of the plat.
form and talked to the reporters, the
noise never ceasing for an instant
Il am here by invitation," said Mr..
Bryan. 81 come as the representative
OF 2o,O00,O00 of the American people
who have banded themselves together
in various organizations for the pr~lno-
tion of prohibition. have spoken in
one hall tonight before an audience
that gave me not onl respectful but
enthusiastic attention.
Defends His Patriotism.
81 find that less than per cent,
probably more nearly less than per
cent, OF this audience refuses to allow
the rest of the audience to hear me
speak. Ordinarily those who inter
rupt a meeting are put out because
they refuse an overwhelming majority
the right to hear In this case am
not willing that force should be used to
eject the men from the hall. | would
rather that the meeting should break
up.
"My patriotism is satisfactory to
the President Of the United States; it
is satisfactory to the Cabinet Of the
United States; it is satisfactory to the
Congress Of the United States. There
IS not one single person in the United
States who can say that one drop Of
blood in my veins is not loyal to my
country"
Mr. Bryan told the reporters that
his daughter was married to British
engineer officer, that one of his grand
sons was Il British subject and that
another was in the Navy Departic ent
st Washington
II say this" he added, "that you
may know that / do not have to apollo
gjzc to amy one"
The meeting broke up when the audi
cncc joined once more in singing "God
Save The King"
c. d.