The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-04
LAST AS PRIVATE CITIZEN.
Yesterday a Busy Day for ur.
Mckinley.
CALLED ON PRESIDENT WHO Re-
TURNED COMPLIMENT.

The Cabinet Com pleted at the Last Mo
ment-Imp ortant Conference at Which
Portfolio was Offered to MIR. Bliss
Perfect Uuderst standiug With Mr. Platt.
Washington, March 3.-The President
elect was in an excellent state of health
this morning. He rested we'll and was
exceedingly pleased with the quiet dinner
and evening which he passed at the
White House with the President and Mrs.
Cleveland.
There were number of callers at the
rooms of the President-elsot this morn
ing. Hon. James Wilson of Iowa, who
is to be secretary of agriculture. had q
short talk with Mr.. Mckinley. j. H..
Brigham of Ohio, will be assistant secre-
tary of agriculture.
1t was just eleven when the President
elect drove up to the White House In the
rain to make the customary formal call.
Quite crowd had collected near the
portico in anticipation of his arrival and
there was slight cheer when he
alighted, followed by Secretary Porter
and Chairman Bell of the Inauguration
committee.
Mr.. Mckinley walked quickly into the
main corridor, whence he was at once
ushered into theablue room where Presi-
dent Cleveland and Secretary Thurber
stood expeotantly.
The hand grasp VI the retiring chief
executive was noticeably cordial In greet
fv,r, ~ vuh "a
retaries and Mr.. Bell drew asitle, and
President Cleveland asked interestedly
regarding Mrs. McKinley's health, and
assured Mr.. Mckinley that no would be
able to take part in tomorrow's physical
ordeal In spite of the pain he was suffer-
ing.
The Interview was brief, for the Presi-
tient-elect had remained at thu Whlte
House last night until ten O'clock dis
oussing the inauguration arrangements
and the affairs of state which are left
over to worry him, and besides the visit
was one purely of courtesy In acknoWl-
sdgement OF last nights hospitality.
President Cleveland and Secretary
Thurber returned the call at noon.
IL lacked about three minutes OF the
noon hour when President Cleveland left
the White House to pay the visit of cere-
mony to his successor. The President
walked with perceptible lameness, con-
sequent on his attack of rheumatism.
When Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Thurber
entered the carriage it started off to the
Ebbitt house Comparatively few people
saw the President alight at the hotel,
Major Mckinley received Preside Mt
Cleveland in the reception room OF his
apartments. With him was his secretary
John Addison Porter, who extended
greetings to Secretary Thurber. When
the President on leaving Major McKin-
ley stepped fr3m the elevator, he found q
couple of hundred people assembled
around the entrance to the hotel. AS ne
walked through the lane of humanity, a
round of handclapping greeted him and
Mr.. Cleveland responded by taking of
whirled off to the White House where
they ran the gauntlet of a large crowd.
ssMcKinley, today, received large
number of callers His most important
callers from political point of view this
morning were Messrs. Platt, Bliss and
Hanna. After full and frank discussion
Mr.. Bliss was offered portfolio In the
cabinet of Major Mckinley. Mr.. Platt
and Mr.. Bliss understood each other
thoroughly, and IL Is said that they Will
be Jointly consulted about all important
New York appointments.
In the afternoon Charles Kurtz of the
Repu blioan club of Columbus, a hand
| gomely uniformed political organization,
accompanied by the Columbus Glee club.
serenated Major and Mrs. Mckinley.
| The President-elect and his wife came
out on the balcony to acknowledge the
salute. Mrs. Mckinley was slightly In
disposed early in the afternoon, but later
took drive for an hour and half with
three friends. This evening she is quite
In her usual health.