The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-12
SPEECH BY THE EXECUTIVE
THAT AROUSED HIS HEARERS TO
OUTBURSTS OF ENTHUSIASM.
Tribute to the 'First Lady of the
Land'-Scenes and Incidents of
a Day of Rejoicing.

Bowling Green, a crowd had assembled and
artillery salute was fired. Although
this was somewhat to the discomfort of
those who wished to sleep, no great harm
was done, and the presidential party, in
good health and spirits, was ready to re-
ceive the greetings, official and popular at
the Nashville railway station, where thou
sands were assembled, many hundreds of
them being in uniform. The party was
driven speedily to the Maxwell House and
there provided with accommodations and
breakfast The officials of the Chesapeake
q Ohio and of the Pullman Company were
recipients of many hearty congratulations
before the beautiful train which bore all
so safely and SO swiftly over the S75 miles
traverseG from Washington hither was left
for good and all. Hence to Chattanooga,
Asheville and Washington the Southern
Railway will be used.
AS soon as breakfast was over the presi-
Dental party took carriages at the Church
street entrance of the Maxwell House and
the line was soon formed, members of the
press and many gorgeously attired mem
berS of Governor Bushnell's staff occupy
ing three tally-ho coaches. In the first
carriage were President Mckinley, Mrs.
Van Lee Kirkman, president of the wom-
y.
dent Of the Centennial Company. In other
carriages were the secretaries and visiting
distinguished guests and the ladies of the
party each accompanied by a prominent
local gentleman or lady, among them being
Gen. w. H. Jackson, Mrs. J. w. Thomas
Col. e. w. Cole, Mrs. R. F. Weakley, Mrs.
Norman Farrell, E. ]. Keith, Mrs. S. A
Champion, Col. Thomas d. Fite, E. E.
Barthell Mrs. Mary Hull Mcguire, Mary b.
Pitcher, Mayor Mccarthy, Mrs John Ruin
and Mayor McKisson, of Cleveland. The
main procession formed on Broad street a
very handsome thoroughfare the upper
end of which is lined with handsome resi-
denceS and beautiful trees, the grounds of
the Vanderbilt University being especially
notable.
AS a guard of honor to the President, a
mounted detachment of ex-Confederates
commanded by Capt George F. Hager
ranged themselves Immediately in front of
his carriage. They wore the old-time gray
but the buckles of their belts bore the
insignia, ~. S." In the rear of the line
of the carriages marched the battalion of
the Sixth Infantry, under command of Col
Miner, sent from Fort Thomas. XIV. and
headed by it's fine band. State troops and
particularly fine looking body of the Gin
cinnau police, under the command of their
chief made up the uniformed part of the
parade. The streets We're lined with ad-
miring thousands, and as this is pre-
| eminently an educational center a large
portion of the crowd was made up of stu
dents of both sexes and of both races.
A PRETTY SCENE.
AS the head of the procession turned into
the main entrance of the exposition
grounds battery of artillery doomed forth
the national salute of twenty-five guns. 1t
was within the grounds and led by the
centennial chimes which rang forth from
the top of the administration building that
the enthusiasm reached it's climax. The
enthusiasm was shared by the visitors to
the full, and to them was the added in
centive of the beauty of the buildings and
the grounds which burst on them for the
first time. Certainly Tennessee in general
ana Nashville in particular are justified in
the prlGe telt and expressed over the work
they have accomplished. The buildings
the Parthenon particularly-are beautiful
in design and finish, extensive far beyond
what was believed possible when the ex-
position was in embryo and filled with ex-
h1bltS that would be creditabIe in anv fair
or any nation on earth.
The auditorium in which the exercises of
the day were held will seat comfortably
1850 people, and fully 20 per cent more than
that number were added to-day in the
lovers II
seated part Of the galleries. 1t was a rep
resentative intelligent and noteworthy aiI-
dlence-one which inspired the speakers to
their best efforts-and was particularly an
preciatiVe of any paragraph or phrase
which dWelt on the glories of our Nation
That it was hot no one can truthfully de-
themselves of some of the brilIiance of the
cloudleSS sky for the cooling shade even
OF threatening clouds. But heat could not
check the Joyousness and enthusiasm A
wandering band played Dixie" just before
the last gun of the salute announced the
Presidents arrival on the grounds, and
that air, loved for it's associations by
Southerners and for it's suggestive melody
by Northerners brought out wave of,
hearty cheers. They were but murnaurs
however, compared to the mighty roar
bursting forth as William Mckinley Pres
ident Of the United States. with Mrs Kirk
man, beautifully gowned in summary mate
rails, walked down the aisle and on the
platform Generous was the applause
given also to the members of the Cabinet
and distinguished visitors, including Gov
ernor Bushnell and staff, of Ohio, while to
Governor Taylor, Our Bot" as they love
awarded, Commissioner of Pensions H.
Clay Evans, native Tennesseean, was
also a recipient of hearty cheers.
CHEERS FOR MRS. M'KINLEY.
Mrs. Mckinley had wisely concluded not
to accompany the party in the procession
and great was the disappointment ex-
pressed at her nonappearance. When she
delightful incidents Of the trip Governor
Bushnell was in the midst of his speech.
when a cheer swelling from the back of
the auditorium and thence communica ting
to the main floor and the galleries, showed
that some event of extraordinary interest
tranSpiring. A moment later Mrs.
Mckinley appeared in the central aisle
leaning the arm of Mr.. James r. Dunn,
and accompanied by her aunt Mrs. Sax
ton, and Mrs. John Hill Eakin, the latter
of Nashville. Governor Bushnell grace
fully yielded the floor and the immense au-
oience was on its feet in a moment cheer
ing most Justify. The cheers were re-
doubled when this gentle lady of the White
stretched hands of her husband, who hur-
ried to meet and greet her and conduct
her to a seat by his side, Secretary to the
President John Addison Porter and wife
being Immediately behind her. huge
bunch of roses was handed Mrs. Mckinley
from the auditorium floor and as she
bowed and smiled her thanks the crowd
again broke into cheers
Incidentally TO the speaking which fol-
lowed was the applause which greeted any
| reference to Tennessees loyalty TO the
Union. And when President Mckinley de-
cared TenneSSee'S sons were now loyal to
the core and that this Union, third of
& century ago so nearly disrupted, was now
bound to stand for all time. the boom of
applause and the roar of enthusiasm was
something long TO be remembered and
| gratifying to every Northerner present.
After the conclusion OF the ceremonies in
the auditorium, which were very much
added to by the music of the Times Band
J the President and some OF his party visited