The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-12
WELCOME M'K|NLEY
The Tennesseans Open Their
Arms to the President.
HIS WIFE OF THE PARTY
ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT
AND GOVERNOR BUSHNELL.
AN OVATION TO MRS. M'KINLEY
Confederate Veterans in Gray Uniforms
Acted as the Presidents Guard
of Honor Brilliant Day
WithIo, 900 People,

WtttitOsOOOT COpiC'
Nashville. Tenn, June 1.-THE Cen
| tennial city extended warm reception to
President Mckinley and the members of
| his party this morning. The distinguish
| ed guests arrived at 7:30 o'clock, but
| long before that hour crowds thrOnged the
streets and railroad station. Major J.
w. Thomas, President of the Tennessee
| Centennial Exposition and members of
| the executive committee were at the de-
pot when the special train arrived. After
a cordial greeting the guests of the city
| were driven to the Maxwell house and
there provided with accommodations and
| breakfast. As soon as breakfast was
over the Presidential party was ushered
| into carriages from the Church street en-
| trance of the hotel and the line was
| soon formed, the press and many gOr-
| geously attired members of Governor
| Bushnelrs staff occupying three huge
| tallyho coaches. In the first carriage
were President Mckinley, Mrs. Van
Lee Kirkman, President of the Woman's
| Board and Maj. j. w. Thomas, Presi-
dent of the Centennial Company. In
other carriages were the secretaries and
1 NFSlllHS ulstlllS ulSltu SuCSlS anu JAt
| ladies of the party. As a guard of hon
or to the President a mounted detach-
| ment of ex-Confederates, commanded by
Captain George f. Hager, ranged them
| selves Immediately in front of his car
riage. They were the old time grey, but
| the buckles Of their belts bore the in
sigma IT. 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,
and headed by their fine band. The
State troops and a particularly good
F.; looking body of Cincinnati police, under
! command of their chief, made up the un-
| formed part of the parade.
As the head of the procession turned
into the main entrance of the exposition
| grounds, battery of artillery doomed
forth the national salute of 21 guns.
The auditorium in which the exercises
of the day were held will seat comfOrta
bly, $500 people and fully 20 per cent
more than that number were added to-
day in the crowds that stood in the
| foyers and galleries. 1t was a represen-
| tative, intelligent and noteworthy audi
| ence-one which inspired the speakers to
their best effortS-and was particularly
appreciative of any passages or phrases
| which dealt upon the glories of our uni
ted nation. The heat was intense, but it
| could not check the enthusiasm. A wan
dering bank played Dixie" just before
the last gun of the salute announced the
Presidents arrival on the grounds and
| that air loved for its association by
southerners and for its suggestive melO-
dy by northerners, brought out wave
IL.
murs, however, compared to the mighty
roar bursting forth as President Mckin-
ley, with Mrs. Kirkman, beautifully
gowned, in summer materials walked
down the aisles and on to the platform.
| Governor Bushnell and staff were also
| generously applauded while to Governor
Taylor, "Our Bob," as they love to call
him, a generous 0utburst was awarded.
Commissioner of Pensions, II. Clay
Evans, a native Tennesseean, was also
a recipient of hearty cheers. Mrs. Nc
Kinley had concluded not to accompany
/ the party in the procession and disap-
| pointment was expressed at the non
| appearance. When she did come, it gave
| rise to one of the most delightful Incl
| dents of the trip. Governor Bushnell
| was in the midst of his speech, with Il
| cheer, swelling from the back of the
l auditorium and thence communicating
to the main floor and the galleries showed
| that some event of extraordinary inter
est was transpiring. A moment later
Mrs Mckinley appeared in the central
aisle, leaning on the arm of Mr.. Jas. X.
Dunn, and accompanied by her aunt
Mrs. Saxton and Mrs. John Hill Eakin
| the latter of Nashville. Governor Bush
nell gracefully yielded the floor and the
immense audience sprang to it's feet
cheering Justify The cheers were re-
doubled, when this gentle lady of the
| White House reached the platform.
The President hurried to meet and
| greet her and conducted her to a seat at
his side A huge bunch of roses was
handed Mrs. Mckinley from the au-
| ditOrium floor and as she bowed and
| smiled her thanks, the crowd again broke
| into cheers.
| A variation upon "Our Old Kentucky
| Home" was a fitting prelude to the
| speeches, which were opened by Hon.
John w. Thomas, president of the expo
| sition, who was master of ceremonies on
| the auditorium stage.
President Thomas was very brief bur
| extended the heartiest of welcomes to
| the President, to the members of the
cabinet, to Governor Bushnell and Wis
iting Ohioans, and to the representatives
of the press.
Mr.. Thomas then introduced Governor
Taylor of Tennessee, as Our Bob" His
appearance was the signal for loud
cheers and his witty illusions provoked
much laughter. Governor Taylor was
followed by w. L. Mccarthy, Mayor of
Nashville, who added to the welcome
given, and he in turn by Senator Clark,
president of the Centennial Commission.