Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-10-20
DEGREE FOR M'KINLEY
CHICAGO UNIVERSITY MAKES
HIM A DOCTOR OF LAWS.
PRESIDENT DONS PURPLE
Exercises Occur in Kent Theater-In
Comforting the Degree President
Harper Says Recipient Had Sur
passed Other Men in Native Genius
and Devoted Toll"

Chicago, Oct. 1S.-The University Of
Chicago Monday conferred upon Pres
ident William Mckinley the degree Of
doctor Of laws. Eight hundred people.
as many as could be damned into the
Kent theater, applauded to the echo
as President Harper placed around the
shoulders of the nations executive a
hood of purple-purple to indicate, as
DR.. Harper said in Latin, that the re-
cipient of the degree had surpassed
other men in native genius and de-
voted TOLL
The exercises at the university,
while hampered very much by wet
weather, still were impressive in an
extraordinary degree. The president
spent the morning quietly, receiving
only those callers for whom appoint
ments had been previously made,
among them being Senator Fairbanks
of Indiana. Shortly before II o'clock
he left the residence Of Capt. La Fay
cite McWilliams, entered a carriage,
and was driven rapidly to the white
house of the university, the home Of
President Harper. Here luncheon was
served the presidential party, faculty
OF the college and limited
number of invited guests, prominent
among whom were Archbishop Ireland
Of ST. Paul, Rev. DR.. John Henry Bar
rows and Thomas B. Bryan. Mrs.
Mckinley was not present at the
luncheon, but joined the party at the
Kent theater in time to witness the
comforting of the degree upon her dis
tinguished husband. Before entering
the theater, Mckinley mounted the
stand in front of DR.. Harper's resi-
dence, where he stood under an UNI
brella and reviewed a long line OF
students Of the Chicago university and
its affiliated institutions of learning.
At o'clock the president entered the
Kent theater amid great enthusiasm.
Dr.. Harper took a seat in the center Of
the stage, tianked by President McKin-
ley and Rev. Charles R. Henderson,
chaplain of the university. The presi-
dent presented a striking appearance,
attired in cap and gown. After prayer
by Dr.. Henderson, an address on behalf
of the trustees was given by Rev. DR..
Alonzo K. Parker. He spoke on The
Firm Foundation of National Peace.
After the singing of America, Prof.
Albion w. Small delivered an address
on behalf of the congregation.
Throughout his address he was greet
ed by unbOunded enthusiasm, his re-
marks in commentator Of the presi-
dents course during the troubles with
Spain being received with resOunding
cheers. Solemnly and impressively
the dean and president of the univer-
sity then pronounced in Latin
the formulate comforting the
degree of L. L. D. upon the
president Of the United States. When
the purple-lined hood was placed
around McKinley's shoulders, the au-
dience broke into cheers which lasted
fully five minutes. Throughout the
exercises the president did not speak
one word, merely bowling in response
to the laudatory words of the col
legians and the demonstrations of the
audience.
At o'clock he left the university
grounds and was driven to the LIST reg
iment armory, where for some time he
received the public informally. Great
crowds of people thronged the
streets, clamoring for admission to the
armory, and only part of them sue
ceeded in meeting the president dur
ing the time scheduled for the recep-
ton.
In the evening a dinner was ten
dered the president at the Auditorium
hotel by President Harper of the Uni
versity of Chicago.
The strong wind and rain storm that
prevailed Monday played havoc with
the peace jubilee arches and decora-
tons. Six of the arches were blown
down and badly damaged. Three per-
sons were struck by pieces of wreck
age and seriously injured. Hundreds
of flags and streamers of bunting, with
which the downtown buildings were
decorated, were torn away by the
wind. 1t is hardly probable that the
arches will be replaced. Street car
traffic was blocked for hours by the
debris.