The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-06-30
GaveI Presentation.


Gavel Presentat tion.
When the applause following the Gov
ernor's response to Senator Thurston had
subsided Mr. Harry II. Smith. for many
years Clerk in the National House of Rep
resentatives at Washington. and parlia-
mentary secretary or coach for the four
last Republican national conventions. said:
THE various gaveis presented to the ST
Louis convention L could not enumerate.
The one presented to il for the nominee
OF the convention for President, which l
now hold in my hand, possesses far greater
historic interest than any OF the gavels
presented to previous conventions. This
gavel was presented by Mr.. w. III. Bar
tells, of Carthage, ILL.,. and was made from
a rog taken from the cabin occupied by
Abraham Lincoln in 1892 at Salem. Ill. On
one end of the head of the gayei is in
donor and the above-stated facts. while on
the other. on a gold plate. appear the
words: National Republican convention,
mating William Mckinley for President.
This gavel, which stands as an emblem
ana TYPE OF sturdy Americanism and
American homes and industries, was
placed in my hands, as assistant secre-
tary of the convention and of the notifica-
ton committee, for presentation to you on
this most happy occasion 1t gives me the
profoundest pleasure to discharge this duty
and TO say that in handing you this gavel
l but express the opinion, not alone of the
ican party of the United States. but of
many thousands of Independent Demo-
Gratis, who stand for honest money, that
in November next the work of the con-
vention which nominated you will be
crowned by a majority never received but
by one other nominee of the Republican
the martyred Lincoln, whose memory is
represented by this gavel, you like him.
will discharge the duties of the great Office
to which you will surely be elected in No
vember next with unselfish patriotism and
and principles of American liberty only
represented by the Republican party"
AS the applause subsidized after Mr..
Smiths presentation of the handsome gav-
ell, Governor Mckinley stepped forward to
the edge of the veranda and said:
Mr.. Smith, thank you for this beauti-
ftll gift and for the courteous terms in
which you have conveyed the wishes of
the convention. 1 am glad to have SO val
liable souvenir of the great national Re-
publican convention, and especially am
grateful for the remembrance on account
OF the historic associations connecting ii
with the name Of the martyred Lincoln.
whose memory is an inspiration to every
American. l thank you again"
When the notification committee reached
Canton the skies were overcast with heavy
clouds and a rainstorm seemed imminent.
AS the arrangements were to have nearly
the whole of the exercises in the open air.
the committees set promptly to work to
prepare for rain, but, instead of the ex-
pected rain, just as Major Mckinley
stepped TO the porch to deliver his re-
sponse the sun burst through the clouds
and the weather became most auspicious.
Mrs. Mckinley, jr. and Mother Mckinley,
together with few lady friends, Mrs.
Thurston and other ladies coming with the
q Qv
ercises. When these had been concluded
the visitors were presented individually to
Governor and Mrs. Mckinley, who shook
each one by the hand, Hon. Mark A. Han
presiding at the ceremony. Then the
company adjourned to the tent on the rear
of the lawn, where a simple, but dainty,
lunch was served. O. w. Fairbanks. who
was temporary chairman OF the conven-
ton, and chairman of the committee who
is TO notify Mr. HOBART of his nomination
for Vice President, was one of the party.