Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-09
VISITS THE MAJOR.
W. W. Thomas Jr. of Port
land Returns from Canton.
Mr.. Thomas Talks to Reporter Con-
corning Visit to McKinIey's Home.
Portland Man viii Take Part in Campaign.
Speaking to the Swcdes.

| Portland, July S.-The Express, to-
| night, contained the following: one of
| the ablest and best known OF the
prominent who will stump the country
| in the interests of Mckinley and Ho-
| bart during the Presidential campaign,
of this city.
Mr.. Thomas has been closely iden-
| titled with the Republican party since
| he attained his majority and is an
| able exponent OF the principles of that
| party.
He returned. Tuesday, from a short
| trip in the North and West. in the
course of which he visited Major Nc
| Einley al his home in Canton, Ohio,
and made arrangements with him to
take an active part in the approaching
campaign.
When seen by an Express reporter
in regard to his recent journey. Mr..
Thomas said:
II have just returned from a trip to
northern Maine and Canada, which !
| took chiefly on account of my wife's
health. thinking that the air of the
hills in this State and Canada would
be more like that of her Swedish home
I am happy to say that the trip was
of much benefit to her. While travel
ing and fishing on the st. Lawrence
and the Sauguenay, / noticed in the
papers that the silver craze was
spreading in intensity and extending
itself over the West.
Il knew also that the states affected
by this craze were those containing the
greater part of the Scandinayians re-
siding in this country. 1t seemed to
me that the silver question must be
met fully and at once. Although fully
believing in the triumph of the Repub
lican party in November we will by no
means have walkoverand it behooves
every friend of sound money and sound
government to do his part where best
he can in the defense of the principles
of his party. / therefore extended our
trip to Cleveland and thence to Canton
where my wife and myself called upon
Major and Mrs. Mckinley. | called to
offer to do for Major Mckinley what
| would have done for my lifelong
friend and classmate. Thomas r.
Reed, had he been nominated for Presi-
dent. and just what | did do for Cen
eral Harrison in the campaign of 1883,
when we elected him President of the
United States. In that year. early in
September just after the campaign in
Maine in which | had taken part /
Travelled through Minnesota. Michigan,
Wisconsin, Illinois, and other Western
and middle states. going from Swedish
settlement to Swedish settlement and
I.in IN 1o hn
cal issues of the day in their native
tongue. The mere fact that down
east Yankee had come to speak to
them in their own tongue drew large
crowds to hear me everywhere and l
believe that my work among the Swedes
that year was productive of good
Since then / have formed much
larger acquaintance with the Swedes OF
this country. My large illustrated work
on Sweden and the Swedes is found iii
many a Swedish home and since 1891
when / was recalled from my mission TO
Sweden by President Cleveland, | have
lectured upon Sweden and the Swedes
in i6 different states and in over 80 differ
ent cities and towns.
1T seemed to me. therefore, that my
work in the coming campaign was
marked out to be among the Swedish
race. which | respect and admire. and
with which | am so largely identified. |
believe that the Swedish people can be
helu to be largely Tor sound money. The
country from which they spring through
most of its history has been Il sound
money country. In fact. even before the
time of accurate historical records in
Sweden. the Viking ships when they
sailed forth from the fjords in the north
land. to conquer every foe they met, We're
steered by chieftains around whose arm
was wound n coil of gold. This he
chopped off in pieces of an inch more
in length to pay his Viking crew in a |
gold standard.
Il may say. perhaps, that my purpose
TO take part in the fall campaign was
very cordially received by Major McKm- |
ley and that l subsequently made more
particular arrangements in regard to the |
campaign with Mr.. Marcus A. Hanna. |
chairman of the Republican national
committee at Cleveland. |
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley received |
my wife and myself with great cordiality |
and hospitality. They insisted upon our |
stopping to dine with them and upon our
was receiving different delegations. |
Among these delegations were a number |
of glass blowers from a neighboring |
town. who brought several beautifully |
and artistically constructed glass canes |
tied with ribbons of red. white and blue. |
one of which they presented to both Mr. |
and Mrs. Mckinley.
Let me say In closing that 7 believe |
it to be the duty Of every friend of sound |
money. American labor and the American |
laborer. to see to 1t that Mckinley Is not |
only elected President but that he Is |
elected by such triImphal majority that |
the opposition to those fundamental prin- |
ciples of American government may be |
f1..x