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The Commoner.
2
VOIiUMl!3,f NUMBER 1
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The Bryan Birthday Banquet
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Tho Bryan birthday banquet was hold at Lin
coln, March 10, J9J3, under tho auspices of tho
Lincoln Bryan club. Following Is an extract
from tho report of tho Lincoln (Neb.) Journal:
William J. Bryan, secretary of state, was wel
comed to his homo city last night by 2,000 demo
crats and friends who had gathered In honor of
tho firty-thlrd anniversary of his birth. Tho
crowd filled tho floor, tho stage and the galleries
of tho city auditorium whore tho Lincoln Bryan
club held Us annual dinner in Mr. Bryan's
honor.
It was an orderly crowd that greeted the new
secretary of stato. Tho various speakers were
cordially received and some of their remarks
concerning Mr. Bryan wero received with vigor
ous applnuso but Mr. Bryan alono could bring
out anything like an ovation. When ho first
camo on to tho platform he was greeted with
cheers and again whon ho aroso to speak tho
diners tobo to thoir foot and choored. His state
ments wero applauded lustily and when ho con
cluded his speech there was a' rush for tho stage
by those who wanted to shako hands with him.
Speakers from Nebraska and other states
lauded tho work of tho guest of honor, praised
his character ns a man and as u representative
of tho people and extended their best wishes for
his futuro careor. In reply Mr. Bryan pledged
himself to continue tho work for which ho was
praisod and especially to back tho efforts of tho
now president. When ho was praised for his
part in tho Baltimore convention which tho
speakers said had resulted in tho election of
Woodrow Wilson, Mr. Bryan deprecated tho
laudation.
"I dJd not produce tho conditions," ho said,
"Tho conditions produced me."
Tho auditorium was packed with men who
waited for a half hour to gain advantageous
places at tho long tables. Several hundred were
unablo to tako dinner in the hall and after eat
ing at tho hotel they took places in the gallery.
Tho gallery had boon filled previously by men
and women who sat in their places for four
hours.
Tho big room had been decorated with large
flags and colored lights and pictures of. Wilson,
Marshall and Bryan wero strown over tho walls.
Tables wero placed longthwiso down tho hall,
packed as tightly as possible and a thousand
men rubbed olbows at tho meal. On the stage
eight tables accommodated about 200 men.
Across Iho front of tho stago was tho speakers'
table at which sat only those who had an active
part on tho program.
An orchestra at one end of the gallory played
during the meal. As Mr. Bryan entered the
building tho musicians played "Tho Star
Spangled Bannor," bringing tho crowd to its
feet. Later it played Mr. Bryan's favorite air,
"Lit Paloma" and drew cheers from the crowd.
Tho doors of tho auditorium were thrown
open at G:30 and the seats wore filled almost
immediately. At tho hotel the speakers and
thoso who were to have seats on tho stago, were
lined up and at 7 o'clock they entered the stage
door. A few moments after tho rear tables had
been filled Mr. Bryan and tho other speakers ap
peared. As Governor Morohead appeared 1 1 the
Mead of tho line cheers broko from tho audience.
Tho applause was in'creasod to a roar of cheers
as Mr. Bryan appoared from the wings and mado
his way to tho table.
Mr, Bryan remained standing while tho audi
ence cheered, bowing to different parts of the
hall. Tho flnalo to the demonstration came
when thoso on the lower floor and the men and
"women in the gallery rose and with their hand
kerchiefs waved tho Chautauqua salute.
After tho first demonstration tho diners de
voted themselves exclusively to tho meal with
the excoption of when "Dixie" and "La Paloma"
wero played by the orchestra. Knowing Mr
Bryan's liking for thoso airs the crowd showed
its approval of tho musicians. Tho meal had
been served before tho diners took their places
and with tho exceptions of coffee and ice there
was no serving. For this reason the delay in
changing courses was obviated and the ban
queters hastened through the meal within an
hour.
O. W. Meier, president of the Lincoln Bryan
club made the opening remarks and introduced
the chaplain of the evening, Rev. H. It. Chap
man. Mr. Meier drew applause from the audi
ence whon he referred to Mr. Bryan as tho
THE PROGRAM
President Lincoln Bryan Club
; Mr. O. W. Meier.
Invocation Rev. H. R. Chapman.
Toastmastor Hon. Edgar Howard.
"Star of West" Becker Quartette, Lincoln.
"Mr. Bryan as a World Ciitzen"
Charles Reign Scoville, Chicago.
"Nebraska Hospitality"
...Governor John II. Morehead, Nebraska.
"The Party" Hon. Jerry B. Sullivan, Iowa.
"Reclaiming Kansas"
Governor George H. Hodges, Kansas.
"There Stands Illinois"
Governor Edward F. Dunne, Illinois.
Mr. Bryan.
"prime minister of the United States." He
introduced Edgar Howard as toastmaster.
Tho "solemn wit" of Mr. Howard, which had
been promised by Mr. Meier met with the liking
of tho crowd and his overy announcement was
met with cheers. The toastmaster. read the long
list of congratulatory telegrams -which had been
received during the day. He introduced the
various speakers with but little delay.
Speakers for the evening who lauded the
achievements of Mr. Bryan were Governor John
II. Morohead of Nebraska, Governor George H.
Hodges of Kansas, Governor E. F. Dunno of
Illinois, Dr. Charles R. Scoville. of Chicago,
and Jerry B. Sullivan of Iowa. Edgar Howard
of Columbus presided as toastmaster, being in
troduced by O. W. Meier, presldent'of the Lin
coln Bryan club.
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Telegrams were read as follows:
Tho White House, Washington, D. .C,
March 19, 1913.
Hon. Edgar Howard, Toastmaster,
Lincoln, Neb.
Please accept my sincere good wisheB dn tho
occasion of the' celebration of Mr. 'Bryan's birth
day by thq .Lincoln Bryan club. I can not. tell
you what acomfort .It is to me to know thafcJ
am to have tho aid and counsel of your dis
tinguished fellow townsman. It is a source of
genuine pleasure as well as great advantage to
me to bo associated with him.
WOODROW WILSON.
Washington, D. C, March 17, 1913..
Hon. Edgar Howard, Toastmaster,
Lincoln Bryan Club, Lincoln, Neb.
I genuinely regret that extraordinary pressure
of public business renders it impossible for me
to be present on the occasion of tho celebration
of Mr. Bryan's birthday, March 19th, but I take
this opportunity to extend to tho members of
your club my sincere congratulations upon the
conspicuous and well deserved honors so re
cently conferred upon your distinguished guest.
Please accept my earnest regards and best
wishes for a happy birthday for Mr. Bryan with
many returns, W. G. McADOO,
Secretary of Treasury.
Washington, D. C, March 18, 1913.
Hon. Edgar Howard, Toastmaster,
Lincoln, Neb.
Thank you sincerely for your cordial invita
tion to the celebration in honor of Mr. Bryan's
birthday. Ho has accomplished wonderful things
and it would give me a great deal of pleasure
to join you in expressing appreciation of them
but unfortunately circumstances will nofp'ermit
JAMES C. McREYNOLDS,
Attorney General.
,., Washington, D. C, March 17, 1913.
Hon. Edgar Howard, Toastmaster,
Lincoln, Neb.
Convey to your distinguished guest of honor
the warmest greetings of a colleaguo and tell
him that I adopt, ratify and confirm all tho nice
things you who are fortunate enough to bo
present say to him.
LINDLEY M. GARRISON,
Secretary of War.
Washington, D. C, March 17, 1913.
Hon. Edgar Howard, Toastmaster,
Lincoln, Neb.
Tho appreciation of Mr. Bryan by the people
of his home city attests the truth that we have
come to .a day when it can no longer be said
that a prophet is not without honor sa-vo in his
own country. Intimate personal and political
association with your distinguished townsman
since 1894 has ripened into a friendship be
tween us as lasting as life itself. As the pioneer
progressive and patriotic seer of his generation
his place in history needs no official position.
Every hamlet and home in America will be with
you In giving honor to Mr. Bryan because in
honoring him his neighbors honor the principles
which he incarnates.
JOSEPHUS DANIELS,
Secretary of Navy.
Washington, D. C, March 19, 1913.
Hon. Edgar Howard, Toastmaster,
Lincoln, Neb.
Regret that I can not be with you to do honor
to Nebraska's great statesman who for sixteen
years as the leader of his party discharged every
responsibility imposed upon him as such with
superb courage and unswerving1 fidelity in the
new sphere of activity to which he has been
called. I have abiding confidence that he will
meet his great responsibility with distinguished
credit to himself and to the great service of his
country. A. S. BURLESON,
Postmaster General.
Washington," D. C, March 18, 1913.
Hon. Edgar Howard, Toastmaster,
Lincoln, Neb.
Thank you for kind invitation as. per tele
gram. I regret important, engagements make
it impossible for me to leave Washington now.
WILLIAM M. C. REDFIELD,
Secretary of Commerce.
Washington, D. C, MaTch 18, 1913.
Hon. Edgar Howard, Toastmaster,
Lincoln, Neb.
Greatly regret inability "to be 'with you at
banquet to be tendered Secretary' Bryan tomor
row, hut Join with you in wishing him many
more years .of usefulness.. W. B. WILSON,
Secretary qfvLabor.
Indianapolis,, Ind., March 18, 1913.
Hon. Edgar Howard, Toastmaster,
Lincoln, Neb.
Regret I can not attend the celebration of Mr.
Bryan's birthday tomorrow. I' congratulate the
democracy of Nebraska upon the dedication of
his life to the service of the nation. 'America's
Gladstone hailed from Nehraska.
- . SAMUEL M. RALSTON,
Governor of Indiana.
Columbus, Ohio, March 17, 1913.
Hon. Edgar Howard, Toastmaster of Bryan
Banquet,
Lincoln, Neb.
My Dear Sir:
I want to express the keen regret I feol in
not being able to attend the annual function in
honor of Mr. Bryan. It would be a privilege to
join with his friends from all over the country
and his home folks at Lincoln in doing honor
to the man who has made possible the return
of democratic prestige and glory. The progres
sive program which we are carrying out in this
state is in exact harmony with the principles
he has been proclaiming for years. Ohio is
with you in spirit and in no degree yields to
Nebraska in the measure of affection held for
Mr. Bryan. JAMES M, COX,
Governor of Ohio.
TJ ' t Albany, N. Y., March 19, 1912,
lion. Edgar Howard, Toastmaster Bryan Ban
quet, Lincoln, Neb.
Regret exceedingly my inability to be present
at Mr. Bryan's birthday banquet. I send greet
ings and congratulations to the distinguished
secretary of state on . the anniversary of his
birthday and wish him many happy returns. He
will make one of the greatest Secretaries of
state in the history of our country and his ad
ministration will be for peace. Regards and
oest wishes to all assembled. I am with you
In sPirit- WILLIAM SULZER,
Governor of New York.
FROM SENATOR THOMAS
Hon. Edgar Howard, Toastmaster,'
Lincoln; Neb. '
Dear Sir: '
Nothing short of an arbitrary court engage
ment would keep me from the Bryan" banquet
v