The herald., 1896-09-13
Enjoy the Free Excursion to
Canton
M'KINLEY GROWS VERY GLAD
Over Promises OF Hearty Support by
Ex.Democrats
Whether the PennsyivanIa Steel Workers
Enjoyed the Trip or Because They
Had to, They Came
Associated Press Special Wire

cratic Mckinley club of Chicago reached
Canton this morning, and were met at
the station by the Canton Commercial
Travellers escort and Canton troop. The
party numbers between 900 and 1000.
A thousand people Joined them at the
Mckinley home at II aclock, and the
meeting waxed enthusiastic as Major
Mckinley appeared on the doorstep
Chief Marshal Frank Higbee intro
duced President Hoffstadt, who said, in
part:
Major Mckinley: In behalf Of the
Commercial Democratic Mckinley club
Of Chicago, comprising only men who
always voted the Democratic ticket
and representing every branch of mer-
camille interests in our city, I extend
to you our most cordial greeting and
pledge you our earnest and hearty sup
port"
Cheer after cheer and the throwing
up of hats and the blare of trumpets
greeted Major Mckinley when he
mounted a chair He said:
Mr.. Hoffstadt and Gentlemen of the
Democratic Commercial Mckinley club
of Chicago: Your call is most gratifying
to me and most encouraging to the
cause in which we are jointly engaged
To have this large body of commercial
men, representing every branch of mer-
camille interest in the great city of Chi
cago belonging to another political
party than the one with which am as
sociated, pay visit to me is peculiarly
significant and demonstrates in a most
striking manner that the great conser-
vative forces of all parties can be relied
upon to unite in every crisis of the coun-
try. (Cheers.) That you should have
Travelled nearly 400 miles to bring me
assurance of support shows your deep
solicitude for the honor of your coun-
try and signalizeS the interest which is
everywhere felt, that the good faith of
the nation shall not be broken and that
its credit and currency shall not be de-
graded. (Great applause.) 1t shows,
too, that party ties. strong as they are.
are not strong enough to prevail against
the country's highest and best interests
tremendous cheering) What Gov.
Morris said, long years ago, is peculiarly
applicable now: Let us forget party
and think of our country" (Cries of
I'VE will"
Our country embraces both parties.
We must therefore endeavor to serve
and benefit both. But this cannot be
effected while political delusions. array
good men against each other CAP
plause) think, fellow citizens, that
possibly the dangerous menace of free
silver and an irredeemable currency
Wnlcn now confrnnts wac needed to
convince the whole world that old sec
tional lines were obliterated and that
the domination of party is not tenacious
enough to control against the country's
welfare. tremendous applause.)
The enthusiasm of the visitors held
up throughout the remainder of Major
McKinley's address. He argued that ali
citizens owed it as a patriotic duty to
oheir country to uphold the present
financial system, and in a long discus
sion endeavored to demonstrate that
the free coinage of silver could bring
nothing but disaster and distress to the
country.
KEYSTONE CONTINGENT
Following closely upon the call of the
| Chicago commercial men came the first
Pennsylvania delegation the steel work.
| ers of the Carnegie mills at Homestead.
| They came in a special train of thirty
| three coaches. They marched four
abreast and as they were falling in line
at the depot the first were almost at the
| Mckinley residence over half a mile
| away The jam around the Mckinley
! residence was beyond description.
! Mr.. ]. A. Molamphy, superintendent
of the transportation department of the
| Carnegie company, was the spokesman
| for the Homesteaders. He said the del
egation represented the Homestead
Steel works, which employs 5000 men anG
turns out $4,000 to 10000 tons of finished
| material per month. Under the McKin-
ley law, he asserted, this showing coulG
have been doubled. He hoped for the
election of Mckinley and the return
of prosperity.
In reply Major Mckinley said the Re
publican party had always believed il
"homesteads," whether upon the pub
lis domain in the far west or in the busy
manufacturing centers. He congratu
lated the Homesteaders upon the grea
advance they had made in the great in
dustry they represented. and said:
We are now engaged in a campaign
which directly affects every working
man in the United States and every in
terest beneath our flag. We are inter
ested in a contest which involves no
only the question of the tariff, but in
wolves the question of sound money
whether we shall have the same gos
money we now have, and have had 70
more than sixteen years past, or try tn
hazardous experiment of engaging
the Independent free coinage of silver
an experiment that has worked disas
ter everywhere, and is bound to work
here if ever tried. Some phases of thi
question I want especially to proesen
for your consideration. The very fire
quent statement is made that the gol
standard has injured the business of tn
country, diminished the prices of agri
cultural products. appreciated the pric
Of gold and wrought ruin and disaste
to the country.
This is, of course, mere assumption
and is based upon the fluctuations of tn
market prices of commodities, which
many instances have diminished in tn
last twenty-five years, and because
this decrease in prices, it Is asserte
that gold has appreciated The fall /
prices every man in this audienc
knows is easily and readily accounte
for upon moments reflection. TIL
decrease in the price of commoditie
has been marked and conspicuous for
. I tpA 80 L..~