Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-16
A NON-VOT|NG DELEGATION
Composed Of Several Hundred
Cleveland, o. Women
CALL ON BILL MCKINLEY
To Congratulate Him on His Nomination for
the Presidency
MRS. ELRoY AVERY DOES THE TALKING
Tells the Napoleon of Canton How Much
the Women Think of Him in Her
city-The Majah Responds
Gracefully.
MRS. ELRoY AVERY DOES THE TALKING


special train and with their own band
several hundred Cleveland women came
to Canton this morning to call upon
Major Mckinley and to congratulate him
and the nation, as one of them put it,
upon his nomination.
fast and furious summer rain fell
through most of the morning, but it did
not prevent the Canton people from
turning out in large numbers and with
cordial good will to welcome their fair
visitors
Since the nomination of Major McKin-
ley the people of Canton have come forth
from their homes to meet entertain and
mingle with many visitors from many
parts OF the country, but today for the
first time they went forth to greet large
delegation composed entirely of women.
In no other political campaign, presi-
dental or. state, have the women mani
tested such personal interest. The COM
ing of hundreds of representative women
of Cleveland to call upon Major McKin-
ley was an unique event, and one abso-
lutely without precedent in our political
history. The visit to Canton was pro-
jeeted and carried to its happy and sue
cessful conclusion by women. No man
and no politician had the slightest share
In the conception or execution of the
land are representative women-women
who lead in the highest social life of
that city. women prominent in all
spheres of intellectual activity, women
conspicuous for their work In the field
of charity, women notable for their de-
votion to church interests, women who
are of consequence in the educational
world were present in commanding
numbers. There were scores of other
women, too, women with no special
claim to distinction, but deeply interest
ed in Major Mckinley and the high prin-
ciples they think he represents. The
Cleveland women made a handsome ap-
pearance, and were very charming in
their fresh, summer raiment and gay
has. blooming with flowers. Among the
Cleveland women of prominence who
came to Canton were: Mrs. N. Coe Stew
art, Mrs. C. E. Tillinghast, Mrs. e. L.
Dean, Mrs. E. R.. Timmers, Mrs. G. q.
Worthing, Mrs. Rose Anderson, Mrs. 5.
p Churchill, Mrs. A. l.. Wyatt.
The Cleveland delegation was met at
the station by a large committee OF Can
ton women, under the leadership of Mrs.
Miller, president of the Sorosis, and Mrs.
Kate Brownlee Sherwood.
The Cleveland women marched from
the railway station to the residence OF
Major Mckinley. He was standing on
congratulation was made by Mrs. Elroy
Avery of Cleveland, state regent OF the
Daughters Of the Revolution. Among
other things Mrs. Avery said:
I'VE come from Cleveland, the great
heart of the western reserve that gave
Giddings, Wade and Garfield to the ma
tion; city of great American industries
that are suffering from un-American
legislation; an unfortified city on the
border. facing the Canadian frontier,
and yet recognizing that our best pro-
lection against foreign aggression is
protective tariff. Coming from city of
a hundred years today, we turn aside
from our centennial to do homage TO the
man who best represents the great
American idea under the fostering care
of which we hope Cleveland will glo-
riously flourish and bravely celebrate her
second hundredth year.
FRS. Avery possesses clear sweet,
fss-reaching voice, and her delivery was
excellent and effective. When Major
Mckinley stepped forward to speak and
mounted chair, as Is his habit, he looked
down upon nearly thousand upturned
faces, smiling him a cordial greeting.
The lawn was densely packed with wo-
men, and the street for a considerable
distance was filed by those who could
not find standing room in the spacious
grounds. 1t was an inspiring and ra-
diant spectacle. The sea of hats, with
their nodding flowers, looked like great
garden bursting into bloom. Major Nc
Kinley was not unmindful of the rare
compliment which this gathering of fine
women at his house conveyed. He said:
Mrs Avery, greatly appreciate this
friendly call from the women OF Cleve-
land, and assure you that / do not un-
dervalue their gracious message of con-
graduation and confidence which you
have so eloquently delivered. 1t is an
assurance of the deep interest which you
feel and which should be felt by every
family in the land, in the public ques-
tians of the day and their rightful set
tlement at the polls. There is no 1imita-
ton to the influence that may be exerted
by women in the United States, and no
adequate tribute can be spoken of her
services to mankind throughout its long
and eventual history. In the distant
period of settlement, in the days of revo-
luton, in the trials of western pioneer
life, during the more recent but dread
days of our civil war, and, indeed, In
every stop of our progress as nation,
the devotion and sacrifices or women
were constantly apparent and often con-
spicuous (Applause)
-sI congratulate you upon what woman
has done for grand and noble objects in
the past / rejoice with you at the wider
and broader field Of the present and the
splendid vista of the future, which is
everywhere opening up for you. l again
thank you for your presence here and for
this manifestation of your regard and
good WILL Some one has said that
women mold the future as mothers, ana
govern the present as wives"
Major Mckinley was frequently ap-
plauded. When he finished speaking
there was a gentle but earnest cheer, and
then Miss Birdelle Switzer of Cleveland
stepped forth and presented Mrs. Nc
Kfnley with a large basket of handsome
roses. The band, composed of women.
struck up, and a song written for the oc-
casfon was sung by Mrs. Mary Ellsworth
Clark, one of Cleveland's sweetest sing
ers The women fell into line while the
band was playing and for nearly three
quarters of an hour Major Mckinley
ahook hands with his visitors. The band