The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-03
M'KINLEY AT FREMONT
THE PRESIDENT ATTENDS A REUNION
OF HIS OLD REGIMENT,
Shakes the Hands of His Former Com
rades and Makes Brief Speech
10000 People Present.

FREMONT, o., Sept 2.-This was day
of pleasure for President Mckinley. AT 8
O'Clock breakfast party to invited repre-
sentative guests of the city was given at
the Hayes homestead in the Presidents
honor. The rest of the day was spent in
renewing old friendships with his comrades
of the Twenty-third Ohio and taking part
in the reunion exercises. The President was
in particularly happy mood to-day and
took great delight in chatting with the
members of his old regiment and in re-
calling "reminiscences. He is very fond of
the boys in blue" and takes no pains to
conceal it. They all seem to know it and
reciprocate the feeling most heartily. He
greets them on the same footing appar-
emily and is just as glad to mingle with
them as during the days when he was only
a plain citizen. His speech this afternoon
seemed to please them greatly. The Presi-
dent is in the pink of health. He says he
has greatly enjoyed the visit to Fremont
and is delighted with the city and its peo-
pie. This evening a number of guests from
out of town called on him at the Hayes
mansion, including a number of Fremont
people to pay their respects and bid him
goodbye Tomorrow morning at o'clock
he will start on his special train for Colum-
bus going via Bellevue and the Sandusky
short-line to attend the state. fair there.
He will be accompanied by Mrs. Mckinley
Senator Hanna, Secretary and Mrs. Alger,
Colonel and Mrs. M. t. Herrick, of Cleve-
land Ex-Governor Charles Foster, of Fos-
toria and those from Columbus who have
been visiting the Hayes family during the
Hayes wedding and the reunion events.
Eighty-two members of the Twenty third
Ohio Regiment were here to-day in attend
ance at the twentieth annual reunion of
the Regimental Association. In the morning
the military and naval parade was partici-
pated in by companies and regiments OF
militia from all parts of the State. Burchard
Hayes gave a reception in Mckinley's S
honor in which members of committees
city and county officials and citizens par
tcpated. A touching scene took place at
Oakwood Cemetery the burial place of ex-
President Hayes. President Mckinley, es-
corted by members of the Twenty-third
visited the grave about noon, where, with
heads uncovered brief service was held.
The President was visibly affected as he
made few touching remarks regarding the
dead commander.
In the afternoon a camp fire was held
in Spiegel grove. President Mckinley acted
as president of the day and in response to
the welcoming address by Mayor A. H.
Jackson delivered a happy speech to his
old comrades. The remainder of the pro-
gramme consisted of music, songs and brief
addresses by Senator M A. Hanna, Secre-
tary of War Alger General Brooke, u. s.
A.; United States Circuit Judge Hammond,
of Memphis, Tenn; Rev. Charles E. Man
chester, of Canton; Col. James l.. Bolts
ford of Youngstown L. E. Holden. Cleve-
land; VIM. c. Lyons, Newark; Hon. N.
Squire and r. +. Hanna, Cleveland; Gen.
Robert p Kennedy, of Belefontaine, and
Ex-Governor Foster. About thirty thousand
people were assembled at Spiegel grove to
listen to the exercises. A military review
and battery drill with fireworks in the
evening concluded the programme
The late President Hayes was a member
of the Twenty-third Regiment. Twenty
years ago Hayes was President and Nc
Kinley was a congressman. Then the regi-
ment held it's reunion here and the corner
stone Of the City Hall was laid on the site
of Fort Stevenson. Hayes presided and
Mckinley was orator of the day The at
tendance to-day was greater than on that
memorable occasion.