Candidate Byran visits Bainbridge, 1900

Bainbridge's Big Days

Great Crowds Greeted Mr. Bryan Monday

Mr. Depew's Cheerful Talk Tuesday

Afton Enterprise, Nov. 1, 1900

 

The people of the country surrounding Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY] have had the privilege of seeing and hearing a presidential candidate and likewise a great senator and political enthusiasm is not at  high water mark.  Mr. Bryan accompanied by Mr. Danforth, arrived on schedule time Monday morning and from the rear platform spent an hour or more shaking hands with the vast crowd which came into Bainbridge by train, team and every other way.  On the arrival of the excursionists from Sidney, Norwich and Delhi there was the biggest crowd on the streets of Bainbridge ever known.  About nine o'clock Mr. Bryan, surrounded by a body guard made their difficult way to the pagoda through a crowd that acted as though it would eat him up and for twenty minutes held the close attention of the vast throng.  His talk was on the line of his speeches which have been so many times published of late and of course pleased his democratic admirers.  At 9:30 his train departed for points east amid the cheers and desperate attempts at further hand shaking.  There were four bands in attendance, Afton, Bainbridge, Sidney, and Oxford.

 

\Senator Depew's special rolled into Bainbridge at 9:30 Tuesday morning and a large crowd had gathered to hear the distinguished orator.  He talked for twenty minutes from the rear platform and like Tam O'Shanter despising wind, rain and fire laid down in his inimitable way republican doctrine.  The smile of Chauncey amid the tears of heaven formed a veritable rainbow which the republicans accepted as an omen for Tuesday next.  Space forbids or we should be tempted to give the words of both of these great orators.  But there is one thing certain people of Bainbridge should know how to vote this year.

Compiler's Note:  William Jennings Bryan was the Democratic Party nominee for President of the United States in 1896, 1900 and 1908.  He was one of the most popular speakers in American history, noted for a deep, commanding voice.  In the intensely fought 1900 election, when he visited Bainbridge, he was defeated by William McKinley. but retained control of the Democratic Party.  Bryan invented the national stumping tour for presidential candidates. 

Chauncey Depew, republican senator from New York to the United States Senate, was elected in 1899 and re-elected in 1905 and served from March 4, 1899, to March 4, 1911.  The purpose of his visit to Bainbridge in 1900 would have been to campaign for the republican candidates in the upcoming election.