The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-24
BATTLE OF
THELOOM.
President and Party Visit
a Cotton Mill.
SECOND DAY AT ADAMS.
A Drive That Filled the Executive
With Enthus asm.
SECOND DAY AT ADAMS.
WELCOME FROM THE VETERANS.

Adams, Mass, Sept. 24-The purpose
of the visit tc this little town OF Presi-
dent William Mckinley and the mem
bers Of his cabinet with their ladies was
fully accomplished yesterday They
came for rest and recreation, and they
secured II. At 10 O'Clock a number OF
gentlemen, headed by Major Charles A.
Stctt OF Lowell, president of the Home
Market club, ard Colonel Albert Clark
Of Boston, sece tary, were received by
President Mckinley for a short chat.
Nothing OF Importance was discussed.
the reception being entirely informal.
These gentlemen then inspected the inn
mense plant OF the Berkshire Cotton
company
A delegation from George Z. Sayles
post. c. A. r. waited upon the president
and extegded an invitation 10 him TO at
tend the cercmony of laying the corner
stone of the new memorial and public
library building Saturday afternoon.
When the commander announced the
purpose of the visit the president replied
very pleasantly Il am in yCur town,
and IL there is anything Of interest going
on l want 10 see it, | will be pleased TO
lay your cornerstone for you, but you
must not expect me TO make any re-
marks. l wish to be left at perfect lib
erty to do what / choose" This PROPOSE
ton was readily agreed to by the dele
cation, and the time was definitely set
for Saturday afternoon at 4 o'clock.
This Will give the presidential party
ample time 10 reach Adams on the return
from Lenox. where they are TO be the
guests of Jchn Sloane.
No sooner had the comrades of the
post retired than the entire company
entered carriages for a short drive
around the town. on their return they
entered No mill Of the Berkshire Cot
ton company and were shown through
the entire building. which is five stories
In height. President and Mrs. McKin-
ley, with Mabel Mckinley, remained
upon the elevator all the time. however,
1t being stopped at each floor Willie the
mode of operation in each department
was examined. Every operative was at
work and every loom and spindle In the
Immense building was run at full speed
There was no demonstration Of any kind
during the entire tour Of the mill, and
helplessness. amid the terrible noise
made by the looms. to make themselves
heard as they addressed each other.
Upon every locm in the mill was an
American flag. which was waved con-
'stantly 10y the motion OF the loom.
When the ladies emerged from the mill
they returned at once 10 w. Il. Plunketts
residence, but President Mckinley, with
Secretaries Ions and Alger and attorney
General McKenna, entered the carriages
with Mr. PlunkCtt. and they were taken
for an hours drive through the Gray
lcck and Hoosac ranges and down the
valley.
Seldom has the president enjoyed an
outing as he did this and he frequently
remarked during the trip that it had done
him world Of good The other gentle
men were equally enthusiastic as to the
beauties and the very perceptible in
Vigoration which they experienced from
the clear cool and bracing atmosphere
The drive was continued around the
town, and on the return TO the Plunkett
residence an unexpected incident oc-
CURED which caused the president great
pleasure The route led the party past
the high school just as the pupils were
being released from their classes. There
were fully 600 boys and girls, who, when
they recognized the distinguished party
in the carriage. which was being drive n
by. set up a tremendous cheering. 1t
was so spontaneous that IL took the
president entirely by surprise. The car
fiage was instantly surrounded by a
multitude OF larger school children, all
eager TO be the first 10 shake hands with
the president. II was a moment or
two before any headway could be made
through the lively mass OF youngsters.
and Major Mckinley had great difficulty
in releasing his hands from their en-
thusiastic grasp.
IL was an inspiration 10 note the
pleasure which the president and his
good wife derived from the rendition
Of old familiar songs at the entertain
ment provided last night. Many OF
the old hymns were sung by Miss Nc
Kinley and the other members united
In singing the chorus The deep bass
voices OF President Mckinley and Sec
rotary Alger could be distingui she q
easily. The ladies frequently called
for their own favorte songs. which were
sung with q Will. one Of the most
pleasing portions of the evenings en-
joyment was when Secretary Alger. who
by the way has shown the humorous
eide OF his nature 10 a considerable
degree since his etay here, entered the
purlor singing. with all the fervor Of a
youtl The Old Oaken Bucket The
refrain was taken up by the others, and
Tor few moments the old song int r. sted
everyone After two hours of this in