Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-06-12

Given to President Mckinley and
Pssty BY Tennesseans.
GREAT DAY FOR THE EXPOSITION.


Eeho-Unexpscssd Appearanes Of Mn.
.tssn Naks Another Festsre Of the Occa-
asn-Record Nay for Attendance.
Nashville. June II. Yesterday was
the red letter day Of the Tennessee ex-
position and the enthusiasm was in
tense and the attendance the largest on
record. 1t will probably be the record
Of the exposition. for q president Of the
United States as an attraction is not
! to be had at any time, to say nothing OF
a presidents wife; for Mrs. Mckinley
has q good claim to having carried OF
the honors here yesterday. After
the guests OF the city and exposition
managers had rested at the hotel to
which they were escorted by a company
Of ex-Confederates, q procession was
organized to escort them to the EXPOSE
ton grounds. the Confederate veterans
acting as a guard of honor. The streets
along the route were densely crowded
with cheering people.
Arrival ut the Exposifion.
Accompanying the president and par
ty were Governors Taylor and Bushnell
and their STATS; Mayor Mccarthy, Of
Nashville, and Mayor Caldwell, of Gin
cinnati; President Thomas and the ex-
ecutive committee Of the exposition. On
entering the exposition grounds the par
ty proceeded to the auditorium under
the escort of the Centennial guards, the
centennial chimes being rung for the
first time as they marched up the broad
avenue. Upon reaching the auditorium
the president and members of his party
were escorted to seats on the platform
as a national salute was fired on the
grounds in his honor. Above the boom
Of the national salute and the hum of
thousands of voices in the great audi
forum rose the strains of Dixie from
a wandering band on the outside, and
this set the people cheering.
When the President Appeared.
Exactly at noon President Mckinley
walked down the main aisle, on his arm
the stately Mrs. Van Leer Kirkman,
president of the woman's board. The
president was greeted with hearty
cheers. and so were Secretaries Sher-
man. Alger. Gary. Wilson and the other
distinguished guests and their accom-
panying ladies. Mrs. Alger, Mrs. Gary,
Miss Sherman and the MissesGary were
in the first line of stage guests. There
was a wait Of some moments while the
STATS Of the governors were taking their
places in the rear of the platform. The
scene presented to the eyes Of the chief
executive was a brilliant one The vast
audience rose parterre-lilxe before him,
and in it were some of the most beauti-
sful women and many of the bravest
men in the world.
Opening Of the Ceremonies.
A variation upon Our Old Kentucky
Home" was a fitting prelude to the
speeches, which We're opened by Hon.
John w. Thomas, president OF the ex-
position, who was master Of ceremonies
on the auditorium stage. President
Thomas was very brief, but extended
| the heartiest Of welcomes to the presi-
dent, whose presence as the chief
magistrate of the greatest nation on
| earth was a high honor: to the members
| of the cabinet; to Governor Bushnell
| and visiting Ohioans and to the repre-
| sentatives of the press. He spoke of
Ohio as Tennessee's youngest sister, and
| then drawing a comparison between the
population and aggregate products OF
the two commemorative. urged Tennes-
see to emulate ohio's great example.
CHEERING FOR MRS. M'KINLEY.
Incident in Her Life That win Long b.
Remembered--Other Features.
Speeches were made also by Governor
Taylor, of Tennessee; Mayor Mccarthy
of Nashville, and Governor Bushnell, OF
Ohio. When Governor Bushnell was In
the middle Of his speech vociferous
cheers from the rear Of the auditorium
heralded the APPROACH Of a DISTINGUISHED
parsonage, and the roar became deafen-
ing as Mr.. Mckinley was recognized
She came slowly down the center aisle
accompanied by her aunt, Mrs. Saxon
and Mrs. L. E. Akin, Of Nashville, and
smiled pleasantly as the president hur.
ried to the platform steps and gave heI
his arm, conducting her to a seat by hi.
side. There could be no doubt as to the
place this gentle woman holds in the
hearts of all Americans.
The vast audience cheered until II
seemed tired out, but commenced agai-
with renewed vigor when q large bunch
Of fragrant roses was handed to Mrs
Mckinley, who bowed her acknowledge.
ments. When the applause that follow.
ed Governor Bushnells peroration had
subsidized President Thomas introduced
the great figure Of the occasion, and Mr.
McKinley's face lit up as the audience
/ IOSc Ell HidssSe anu SuOuleO OUT Cneer art
er cheer. For several minutes the
cheering went on and the presiden,
could only stand and smile and wait
At last quiet came, and in a clear voice
and with more gesture than is his wont
the chief executive delivered his speech
1t gave a review of the history Of Ten
nessee and closed as follows: Men and
women I see about me from all parts
OF the country. and thousands more will
assemble here before the exposition 1:
closed. Let ourselves and let them al.
ways remember that whatever differ.
ences about politics may have existed
or still exist. We are all Americans be.
fore we are partisans. and value the
welfare Of all the people above party O,
section. Citizens Of different states, w
yet love all the states" At the conclu.
sion Of Mckinley speech a hickory cane
unadorned but sturdy. and made from
wood grown on the Hermitage, was pre-.
sented to the president by ]. NJ Dickin.
son. on behalf Of the Ladies' Hermitage
association.
After the conclusion Of the ceremonies
in the auditorium thepresident and some
Of his party visited the Parthenon, which
Is the art repository. and the Children.
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