Evening star., 1897-06-15
RETURN OF THE PRESIDENT
The Trip Through the South Greatly En-
joyed by ALL
Satisfactory Conclusion of the Un-
pleasant Incident mt Biltmore-Mag-
niacent View From the Mountains.

The southern trip of President Mckinley
and his invited guests was completed al
7:30 o'clock this morning, when the spe-
cial train over the Southern railroad rolled
into the city. The entire party returned in
good health, although for several days
threatened with illness owing to the in
tense heat which prevailed from Friday
to the time of the arrival of the party
yesterday at Asheville. N. c. Both Presi-
dent and Mrs. Mckinley enjoyed the trir
immensely and expressed the deepest ad-
miration for the hospitality they had re.
ceived at every point. Many portions OF
the country through which the party went
had never before been visited by the Presi-
dent and he found It new and interesting.
At every point in the south the President
was hailed with the respect due his Office
had been a democrat of the full-hedged
southern type. The popularity of the Pres
ident throughout the country was never
more fully illustrated than on this trip.
Everywhere, among democrats OF the most
rabid type, it was acknowledged that not
since the days Of Lincoln has there been
more thoroughly peoples man in the ex-
ecutive chair. Mrs. Mckinley shared the
honors extended her husband, and by the
women of the south was SPOKEN of as the
ideal of the sweet. intelligent and home
like woman. Her kindly face and graceful
manners made her sought after more than
she did not give a thought to this and gave
herself over TO friends wherever she stop
ped.
The Biltmore Incident.
The leading incident Of the journey was
that over the trip to the Biltmore estate
near Asheville, mentioned in yesterdays s
Star. The program from the time the
presidential train left here was that the
Biltmore estate, one of the most magnih-
cent in the world, should be visited. by the
party, the arrangements having been made
by the committee of Asheville citizens in
charge of the matter. Neither President
Mckinley nor Secretary Porter supposed
for moment that an invitation had not
come from the managers Of the Biitmore
estate. When the party arrived at Ashe-
willie yesterday and Secretary Porter was
informed of the peculiar order OF Edward
]. Harding, forbidding any but few OF
the immediate friends of the President to
accompany him to the Biltmore estate,
he was naturally incensed. He did not
wait to speak to the President about the
matter, but promptly informed Mr.. Hard
ing by telephone, that, knowing the Presi-
dent as he did. he was satisfied that the
President would not put his foot on the
Biltmore estate unless the entire party
with him, as well as the local committee
of Asheville, accompanied him on the drive.
Mr.. Porter was respectful. but firm, In lis
talk to Mr.. Harding and left him ct the
telephone with the purpose Of not again
bOthering him.
Upon being informed of Mr.. Porter's ac-
ton, the President commended him warmly
and instructed him that If he again spoke
to Mr.. Harding to inform him that he, the
President, would not insult his invited
guests by going to Biltmore without them,
ard furthermore. that he had not sought
an invitation himself to visit the estate.
oto in he of Mr. Ia faln
phoned to the Battery Park Hotel to Mr..
Porter, again making further, inquiries
about the party and attempting to hedge
upon his performance Of few hours be-
fore. Mr.. Porter then repeated the instruc-
tions he had from the President. He told
Mr.. Harding that the newspaper men. on
the trip were not the riff-ran OF the news
paper world, but men of ability and brains
and the personal friends Of the President.
Mr.. Harding, as stated In yesterday s
Star. Immediately said that under those
circumstances he would be very glad to
have the entire party visit the estate and
mansion. This statement from Mr.. Hard
ing did not satisfy many members of the
party and their advice was for cutting
Biltmore entirely. The President, how
ever. looked at the matter more calInly.
He knows Mr.. Vanderbilt and said that he
was satisfied that If the party did not visit
the place the owner would be mortified.
He thereupon requested that the newspa-
per men and the local committee would ac-
CoihPdny hin. 1ne eHtite party was QrlVen
from the Battery Park Hotel to Biitmore
and enjoyed the sights far more than they
had expected. The train was taken at
O'Clock in the afternoon for Washington
and arrived here on schedule time.
The entertainment given the entire party
at Asheville was highly satisfactory. The
party was placed at the Battery Park
Hotel, and each member was looked after
by local committeeman, while Maj. E. p.
Mckissick, the proprietor Of the hotel took
charge of the President himself being a
warm personal friend of the latter.
The Trip From Nashville.
From the departure of the train from
Nashville the party was in charge Of Col.
s. L. Brown, agent of the passenger de-
partment of the Southern railway. At
Chattanooga he was Joined by ]. n. Bar
rett, superintendent of transportation OF
the entire Southern system, and one Of the
best-known railroad men in the country.
They personally looked after the manage
ment of the traip, and there was not a
hitch anywhere.
Coming down the mountain this side OF
Asheyille President and Mrs. Mckinley
of the trip. The railroad, to reach, at one
place, an air line Of three-quarters of q
mile, travelled around the mountain q dis
tance OF fourteen miles. Looking above and
peioW on every side the track can be seen
superintendent Main OF the Pullman COM
pany accompanied the party from Washing
ton to Nashville and return.
Inc President took no stock in politics
while away, talking with only one or two
intimate friends. The only thing said to
nave been mentioned on the trip In these
taIhs was the Spanish mission, In which
something VIII be done within few days
INDORsED nv TUE ppCsuvrE