The Forrest City times., 1897-03-05
ANTE INAUGURATION.
The Elect in Excelle-t
 Health and Spirits.
FlHAL CALLS OF COURTESY ESCHAHGED.
The Rooms of the President-Elect the Scene Of Visits of Conference and Otherwise from Friends and
 Seekers After Place.

WASHINGTON. March S.-The presi- dent-elect is in excellent health. He rested well, and was exceedingly pleased with the quiet dinner and even- ing which he passed at the White House with President and Mrs. Cleveland. Dr. Phillips. the Mckinley family phy- sieian. who accompanied the president elect from Canton. said;
 Maj. Mckinley is in fine health and spirits to-day. and l think that when he is inaugurated he will be as well and strong as ever"
 The president and the president elect exchanged calls of ceremony. and Mrs. Cleveland hoped to be able to call on Mrs. McKinly during the day. fl that lady was sufficiently recovered from her fatigue to receive her. Two of Maj. Mckinley's nieces. who are students at Smith College, Miss May Barber and Miss Grace Mckinley, ar rived late Tuesday night They will make their debuts in Washington so- ciety next winter. and will be much at the White House during the Mckinley administration.
 1t was just II a. m. when the presf dent-elect drove up to the White House in the rain to make the customary call. Quite crowd collected near the portieo in anticipation of his arrival. and hats were removed with d slight cheer when he alighted. followed by Secretary J. Addison Porter and Chairman Bell. of the inauguration committee. MT. MeKiley T T l. L. ly lifting his hat and holding to the assemblage. and then walked quickly into the main corridor. whence he was at once ushered through the great stained glass screen to the Blue room. where President Cleveland and Secretary Thurber stood expectantly. The hand grasp of the retiring chief executive was noticeably cordial in greeting his successor. and while the two secretaries and Mir. Bell drew aside. President Cleveland asked interestedly regard ing Mrs. Mckinlev's health. and as- sured Mir. Mckinley that he would be able to take part in the morrow's physical ordeal in spite of the pain he was suffering. The interview was brief, for the president-eleet had re mained at the White House Tuesday night until ten o'clock discussing the inauguration arrangements and the affairs of state which are left over to worry him, and besides the visit was purely one of courtesy in acknowledg- ment of Tuesday nights hospitality Within two minutes of his entry the president-elect and those accompany ing him drove away. President Cleve- land and Secretary Thurber returned the call at noon.
 There were a number of callers al the rooms of the president-elect. among the early ones being committee ap- pointed by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon college fraternity whose presentation of a college badge is elsewhere record ed. Hon. James Wilson. of Iowa. who is to be secretary of agriculture. called and had short talk with Mr. Mckin- ley. ]. H. Bigham. of Ohio who will be assistant secretary of agriculture, and Senator Thurston, of Nebraska. were also visitors
 At 10:30 a. m. Gov. Lowndes of Mary land. accompanied by his staff. called and were received in the hotel parlor. Late in the forenoon there were a number of conferences at the rooms of the president-elect on the subject of the cabinet. It is Maj. Mckinley's desire to fill the remaining places at once.