Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-09-14
Views, and Reviews
Contrast of the Wilson and
Boruh Meetings

1t has been big week in Omaha with two
frst-rank public men addressing us on the
League of Nations in quick succession Presi-
dental visits are still too occasional to become
commonplace, and though Mr.. Wilson and his
charming wife had been in Omaha three years
ago, their appearance exerts the same magnetic
fascination. The president was in fine spirit
| bit more serious than the last time he was
here. when he laughed and joked at the tea
lures of the Ak-Sar-Ben historical pageant
! which he reviewed-but perhaps it was because
! he had more serious business in hand. Mrs.
Wilson looked more trim OF inquire and better
poised, but, as before was found by those near
her to be sparngly laxative. The president
had the speaking role and bent earnestly to
the task of pleading the cause of the covenant
without change or reservations but must have
felt that it was real Job he had undertaken.
While most attehtively listened to, there was
an absence of that responsiveness that tells an
experienced speaker that his hearers are thor
oughly in accord with him, in fact only two or
three times did he hit the mark hard enough to
bring back a good loud echo 1t was static
atmosphere around him.
The Borah meeting Friday. on the other
hand, was dynamic every moment. From start
to finish the speaker was reused and spurred on
by rounds of applause following each telling
hit. Interruptions and questions from the
audience. evoking sharp answer or quick rep
artee, showed the Idaho senator at his best
In a word, the speaker had the crowd with him
and the crowd did not hesitate to let him know
that fact
asked Senator Borah later how his
meeting here compared with those he has been
addressing in other cities.
1T is the best meeting l have had on this
trip" was the reply. 1--WE talked perhaps to
more people at some other places, but to none
more enthusiastic in their reception to me. |
confess it more than met expectations"
Nothing is so deceptive as estimating
crowds. l overheard argument as to which
of the two assemblages was the larger. My
opinion is that they were just about equal in
numbers. For each occasion every seat in the
Auditorium was occupied and all available
for more to get in, the opening was overlooked
by those unable to effect an entrance. The
president had the advantage OF the added at
traction of the first lady of the land, which
may explain the fact that fully half of his
hearers women-or was it because he
spoke in the morning and the senator spoke
at night? The Borah meeting was made up of
at least two-thirds men and many wage work
ers and soldiers, well as business and pro-
fessional men. The most significant part of
the two meetings is the conclusive proof at
forded by them of the keen interest of all
classes of people in this over-shadowing ques-
ton and their intense eagerness to learn more
about it. This is indeed encouraging sign
81 the times.
In Washington recently | met on the same
day two other distinguished orators who have
in times past stirred Omaha audiences on op-
posite sides Of another great issue. Passing
through the senate marble room who should
be holding forth there but that eminent Ne
braskan William Jennings Bryan. Mr.. Bryan
had stopped off to tell congressional COM
mttee how to solve the railroad problem by
letting the federal government take over the
trunk lines and leave the state governments to
own and operate the branch roads, just as he
had proposed in his famous Madison Square
Garden speech on his homecoming from his trip
around the world, and was not the least
abashed that his proposal struck no more pop
uar chord now than then. I greeted him and
remarked how we'll he looked. Yes I'm feel
ing fine" he exclaimed 81 hope look as WE'LL
Mrs Bryan he informed me, was much better
than she had been and doing nicely" In the |
evening l ran across Bourke Cochran, who had
come over from New York to head a delega-
ton that was to present the Irish cause to the |
foreign relations committee. He has aged of |
course, but seems hearty, and asked about
Omaha.