The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-16
SAvANNAHlANS SUCCESSFUL
PRESIDENT M'KrNLMY ACCEPTS
THE COMMITTEES INVITATION.

Copt. Purse and Former Mayors
screven and Myers Extend Him an
Invitation in Behalf of Citizens to
Review the Seventh Corps Here.
Dec. Ii the Day Set for the Presi-
dents COming-InvitatiOns Also
Extended to Cabinet Members.
Washington, Nov. 15.-President McKin-
ley is going TO Savannah to review Maj.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lees Seventh Army Corps
before it departs for Cuba.
A delegation from Savannah, represent
ing the Board of Trade and the merchants
and citizens of that city called at the
White House to-day and formally invited
the President, the members of the cabi
net and the general staff officers of the
army on duty at the war department.
The invitation was so cordial and the
object so inviting that the President ac-
cepted the invitation, and the date for his
visit was fixed for Dec. 10.
When Savannah was selected as the point
of embarkation for the United States
troops for Cuba, the public spirited citizens
of Savannah decided to invite the Presi-
dent to visit that city. The movement was
confded TO a few energetic gentlemen,
and through the agency of Judge Glenn
ents, Georgas representative on the In
terstate Commerce Commission, the inter-
view with the President, which took place
to-day, was arranged.
Immediately following to-day's cabinet
meeting, Capt. D. G. Purse, president of
the Savannah Board of Trade; and Former
Mayors John Screven and Herman Myers,
accompanied by Judge Clements, called at
the White House.
The President received his visitors in the
cabinet room and extended to them most
gracious and entirely informal welcome.
Capt. Purse, as chairman of the delega-
ton, read the formal invitation on behalf
of the citizens of Savannah which was
couched in language which assured the
President, that if it was possible for him
TO accept the invitation of the people of Sa-
vannah at a season convenient TO himself
before the departure of Gen. Lees army
for Cuba, the citizens en- masse, would
unite with the military in making the
visit of the chief magistrate Of the nation,
to that city, in keeping with the dignity
of their distinguished guest, most men,
orable event in the history of the Seventh
Army Corps.
The occasion of the Presidents visit will
also be signalized by the presence of the
executives of the ten states whose gallant
soldiers form the body of the Seventh
Corps.
The President expressed a desire to re-
view Gen. Lees army before it embarks
for Cuba, and he expressed an equal de-
sire to visit the South and meet the people
of that section, who have responded so
calamity. so numerously and socially 10
the call of the national government in the
war with Spain. He said he could rot
see his way clear to leave Washington
before the middle of December, and if Gen.
Lees army has not embarked for Cuba
before that period he would be delighted
to accept SaRannah's invitation, when he
goes to the jubilee at Atlanta about the
same time.
Then followed an informal conversation
on the subject of the trip, and the Presi-
dent finally said that he would visit Sa-
vannah cheerfully even if the Seventh
Corps has to go to Cuba before the middle
of December.
Formal invitations were also extended
the members of the cabinet and their fam
lies, and also the officers of the general
staff on duty at the war department.
The Savannah delegation was delighted
by the warm cordiality displayed by the
President in accepting their invitation, and
they will return home tonight to complete
the plans they have already outlined to
make the presidential visit to Savannah
mark an epoch in the city's history.