The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-30
"A KANSAN AT CANTON.
y EaT111 79E11a . UT = Ut
How Major Mckinley Receives
Visitors and Delegations.
His Fence and Lawn Have Been
Ruined.
Town Alive With Excitement
The Mckinley Handshake-
(From the Kansas city star.)

(From the Kansas city star.3
The slalrHcsjic pilgrim Who visits the PC
publican shrine at Canton. o.. finds that
he is expected and considerable is done to
make him comfortab bic. At the depot are
free stands where delegates may check
their belongings before forming in line to
visit Major Mckinley. If he arrives at
the Baltimore & Ohio depot he passes the
home of Mother Mckinley as he goes up
j the street which leads to the main ave-
nue.. Her home is a modest one and is
about the only house without a picture of
the Republican presidential candidate in
the windows Above the doorway how
ever there is a beautiful American fas.
cfltBrr .FsiHrfv an cav loclzira- at the sTrtals7
lastlc crowds which march by, shouting
for Mckinley.
Taking the public square. cornered by
the postofice, as a fair type. one wonders
al the boom Canton is enjoying. The hO-
tells cannot feed the people and the wo-
men members of the different churches,
t5od DlesS lneIn, are serving meals in all
the available places, including sheds
erected for the purpose There are dOz-
5!l e OF men VINO sell badges OF hundred
different designs There are flags and
banners and bands and shouting from sun
rise Til midnight. The delegations range
IN number from one to thousands and
some Of the visitors come hundreds OF
mlIes g see and hear the Republican
candidate Canton people have barely
been able to grasp the revival Of busiuess
pIought about by the Republican party.
If every town in the country could have
the same prosperity Canton is enjoyins
the problem OF a profitable and enjoyable
existence would be settled for all time
from one to twenty times each DAY car
rlages move toward the depOts and mar
shals in military dress on horseback ride
ahead in military style. It is their duty
to form the deIee~a tf0rs in ma ~lf75r,.r -
der The speakers in each delegation ride
In the carriages. The school children and
street boys fan in behind the de.lesya tons
Photographers rush madly about TO get
views and the click Of the kodaks is
heard on all sides
10 ma nq A.
square At the entrance to the third
block q beautiful arch has been erected.
trio lights The marching men pass under
the arch and the crowd which surges
fences to get a good place within sight
and hearing. Major McKfnley's home is
on the corner, one block east of the arch.
10 the leIt OF his gate IS a platform trim
med with bunting and flags If the dele
cation IS very large he speaks from this
FoslrIn- II the crowd is small he talks
from her parlor window and her express
SION i most happy when the major is
The fences along the Mckinley home
were once made of strong picllets. but pat
riots have kicked most of them off for
souvenirs and few are left. The trees and
shrubbery have been appropriated for rel
les and there isn't blade of grass on the
once beautiful lawn The yards Of Major
Nckinley's neighbors have suffered their
fences have been broken down and the
grass has been trampled with the rush of
excited men. NEWSPAPER men haunt the
AscAlnley house and are given every lib.
erty.
A veteran soldier and farmer from Penn
Friday morning and watched the news
paper men 20 in and out. He said he was
ness than TO shake hands with Mr.. Nc
kInley. We went ia together Abner Nc
Kfnley, the candidates brother came
down the steps and the old soldier said:
can we shake hands with the next presi-
Mir: Mckinley win be glad to see you
both" he replied.
secretary opened the door To the
rlsht was a pleasant parlor and in it
were desks and tables and facing vim
dow sat Major Mckinley. He arose and
shook hands with US.
The farmer said: 1T didn't think you
would want to see hawbucl5 fellow like
me ana 1 was aIrald TO come in and both
en- you but was in your regiment
Why. give me your hand again said
the major, and they talked about war
times and the major shovel his eomrade
his pictures and gave him a badge to
wear
There is no treachery or disinterest in
the Mckinley handshake. He grasps a
hand firmly and warmly and shakes it
4 young man and an old lady We're
shown IN. The young man said; Il am
Mr. Jones of Baltimore and this is
know. said Mr. Mckinley this is
mother. Have seats" lie placed his
1afiv aid her fl5ras i9l1-i go - ne ia
her respects to the Republican candidate
because the boys intended to vote for him.
eA@ SIG Wis sure l4EA AISBdll4 would II ne
were alive.
Major Mckinley evidently felt compli-
mented, and hoped her long journey had
not wearied her. She replied that she was
pleased With everything she saw, though
rs years old
You are not so old as my mother" re-
piled the major. "She is IS and is quite
interested in this campaign
Looking out of the window and noting
the bare yard and the wrecked surround
ings. the old lady said. 4 see that you
have had other visitors
The major laughed and glancing out
answered: Yes. you see L keep my lawn
closely shaven.'
1T reminds me of a battlefield" he con
tinued. Living at Baltimore you no
doubt have seen battlefelds2 ." She had
and hoped that the Mckinley army would
be victorious. When the mother and her
son arose to so Mr.. Mckinley said to the
mother.
Let me give you a token to remind you
of your visit" Going to a corner of the
room, he selected from a tray a badge
and a picture of the Mckinley home.
These badges cannot be bought and no
peddler offers them for sale He pinned
the badge on the old lady's shawl and her
big boy. his face radiant with enthusiasm.
said. lf any man touches that badge
III smash him
EWING HERBERT.