The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-10-21

slble, than that OF tho preceding three
days, Rain fell ft,ully and a cold breeze
blew constantly At 1880 p. m. the Pres
ident was driven to the First Regiment
Armory. where. together with Mayor
Harrison. he was received by large
gathering. OF railroad employees.
The armory, where the railway em-
ployes and the President met, was gayly
festooned and the galleries were 1idden
behind the folds OF odd Glory" The
President appeared upon the east end
of the main balcony and spoke briefly
to the assembled railway men, who rep
resented every branch Of the service.
The mass meeting was in the nature
of formal opening of three days con-
ference Of railway employees called to
draft measures for national and state
legislatlon applying to organized rail-
road labor. In the gathering were rep-
resented the Brotherhood OF Locomotive
Engineers; the Brotherhood OF Locomo-
tive Firemen; the Brotherhood OF Rail-
way Trainmen; the Order OF Railroad
Conductors and the Railway Telegraph
ers' Union. The ladies auxiliary In each
of the orders assisted in the reception
to the President. A throng gathered
outside the armory two hours before
to cheer AIT. Mckinley upon his arrival.
Mr.. McSlnley's party was conducted
to the first balcony, from which he look
ed out upon the thousands of railway
men. The galleries overhead were filled
with men, women and children who
eheered whenever an opportunity pre-
sented itself. Many OF those gathered
on the drill floor were in the delegations
Of railway men that visited the Presi-
dent at Canton during the campaign
period. The enthusiastic reception ac-
corded President Mckinley upon his ar
rival at the armory was sufficient as
surance that the railroad men appre-
clated his presence The aFniury was
crowded when the exercises were opened
with prayer by DR.. Emil G.. Hirsch.
Chairman j. H. Walsh, OF the Brother
hood OF Locomotive Enginesrs. presided,
and delivered the opening address. He
;hen introduced Mayor Harrison. who
delivered the address OF welcome 70
President Mckinley.
rrrslJCnpi Address.
The President's response was listened
to attentIveIy and frequently interrupts
ed with applause.
President Mckinley spoke as follows:
"I count myself fortunate to have the
privilege Of meeting with this great rail-
road organization in this great metrop-
oils. have had in the last ten days
very many most interesting and pleas
ing experiences as tOurneyed through
kfVk van ghuf
one Of them has given me greater pleas
ure than TO meet the men and women
connected with the great railroads Of the
country. (Applause.)
ut Is fortunate that this great body
OF representative men and women have
assembled In this city at a time when
the people were celebrating the suspen-
sion Of hOstllitIes with early hope OF
an honorable, just and triumphant
peace. know OF no occupation In the
sphere OF human endeavor which car
ries with It greater obligations or higher
responsibilities than the profession Of
railroad men. You carry the commerce
Of the country. you carry the rich treas
ures OF the country from the Atlantic
to the Pacific and you carry daily and
hourly the frelghtage OF humanity; they
trust to you, 70 your integrity, to your
intelligence and your fidelity for the
safeguarding OF their lives; and con-
gTatulate the country from the bottom
Of my heart that In this great system
90 interviewer with the every day life
of the citizens Of the republic, we have
such splendid character and such high
intelligence.
II bring to you to-day not only my
good will. but / bring to you the good
viii and respect of seventy millions OF
American citizens (Great applause.)
Returning Prosperity.
'I thank you, my fellow-cItizens, for
your cordial greeting and congratulate
you on the evidences OF returning pros
perlty everywhere. (Great applause.)
What you Wnnt-what we all want-is
business prosperity. When you have
that you have something to do, when
you have II not, then you are idle. There
arc few emptles now on the side track.
(GreAt laughter and applause,) And
there are few railroad men not em-
ployed. (Applause.) The more you see
the freight car the oftener you see the
pay car. (Applause.)
II am glad to observe that the First
Illinois Regiment Is In your presence toe
day. (applause), that gallant regi-
UlHIlLs IllUuE w uA kAAl NAAAhkENAb AAAAA
the homes OF Chicago who took their
lives into their own hands and went TO
Santiago to fight the battle Of liberty
against oppression. am glad to have
this opportunity to meet and greet them
and to congratulate and thank them In
the name OF the American people. And
now, having said this much hope you
know that WIN carry from this place
from this audience, from these warm
hearted men and w0men--the PLEASANT
est memory OF my long trip through the
west"
Klniey's remarks the audience broke
into Wild cheers which lasted fully 1--WE
minutes.
Farmer WnSt Vlrainlan spsaks.
Among tho speakers that followed the
President was Judge John Barton Payne,
formerly Of Preston county West Yir-
glnla.
An Informal reception for the railway
men was held by the President after
the addresses. Mr. Mckinley was sta
toned IN an enclosure on the hrst ball
cony above the entrance whore the rail-
rond mon lIed by Blngly. As they came
up to tho President one by one they
estonJed their handS. The President
grss9sd each hand held out to him.
TIE ll0agreenble weather had no visi-
bic cfYect upon either the size OF the
crowd which cheered the President at
the nrmory or upon the enthusiasm. Tho
people stood for hours In the pneumonia
breeding air and made llght Of inc ram,
The railway men were all admitted INTO
the armory by ,iciSr:. A number OF uis-