The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-15
Writes a Letter of Recon-
mendatiOn for the
Ohio Lads
TREATED LIKE DIPLOMATS
Young Patriots to Boom Their Pro-
ject in the Leading Cities
of the East

WASHINGTON, Aug. mo two recent
visitors to Washington have met with such
t1attering official reception as W. Rankin
Good and Harry j. Price The offices of cab
met ministers have been open for them TO
stroll in, and, figuratively, SIT on the arm of
the secretary's chair. Even the presidents
room, difficult Of access to everybody, was
as easy to these boys as boarding a street
car.
Varying from his custom hitherto rigidly
adhered TO- President Mckinley, after a
half hours talk, gave them the letter which
is reproduced here:
Executive Mansion,
Washington, Aug. A, 1898.
Mr.. w. Rankin Good, Cincinnati O.:
My Dear Sir: The circular which you have
presented to me outlining your plan for
raising fund with which to build and pre-
sent to the government a battle ship has
greatly interested me.
Love Of country and devotion to the flag
were never more conspicuous in America
than they are today, and I am sure our
boys and girls will deem 1t privilege to be
numbered among the contributors to this
patriotic undertaking. Very sincerely
yours, WILLIAM MKINLEY.
1t is the first Endorsement of any project,
the only letter of recommendation" which
the president has personally given since he
came into office.
AS has been printed In the New York
Journal, the boys have imposed upon them
selves the task of collecting money to build
a battieship to replace the Maine. They
have invented a plan, or more properly
elaborated the plan, which occurred to
young Good four days after the disaster,
for the collection of money from the school
children of the country. The proceeds will
be turned into the navy department to build
ship to be known as 1.-The American
Youth
All the cabinet officers except Secretary
Long gave them letters Of Endorsement. In
fact, their ''ditty boxes" are filled princi-
pally with credentials from mayors, SEN
ators. and other potentates. Secretary
Long said to them that the United States
had sufficient money and authority to build
war ships without resorting to the endless
chain method. 1t would cause more de-
partment trouble than the plan was worth
In the secretary's opinion. This did not
worry the American youths. They walked
down the marble corridor to Secretary
Days office, mingled in the diplomatic dis
cussion with Baron Fava and bore away
another letter.
Tomorrow the boys take up the route to
Baltimore. There they will make short
talks in the Board of Trade and will accept
such contributions to the battle ship fund
as may be forced upon them. From Balti-
more they will go to Philadelphia and
thence to New York. An invitation to
speak on the Stock Exchange, says young
Mr. Good, would be favorably entertained
by either Mr., Price or himself
These two young patriots are but school,
boys. but give promise of great ability as
promoters.
Good is short, roundfaced and with curly
hair. He wears uniform which is a mar
vel. 1t is predicated, apparently, on the
naval regulations, with a dash Of the vi
vandiere and druntmajor. When his atten-
ton was called to the absence of coherency
in his uniform, he replied modestly: "Well.
y you see. I'm from Cincinnati, and we have
no navy to speak Of there. So, don't know
much about the regulations. What want
ed was uniform that would be striking"
Young Mr.. Price wears no distinguishing
raiment. These boys come with the best
possible social and other Endorsements. and
there is board of trustees for the funds
they collect. Among letters, In addition to
those already given In the Journal, they
have one from their townsman, Senator
Foraker, who says:
/ have noticed with appreciation the plan
you have for building war ship to take the
place Of the Maine, and very highly appre-
ciate the spirit and purpose involved. II is
certainly a beautiful way to honor our lost
heroes. Anything can do to assist in the
work will be gladly done. Very truly yours
J. B. FORAKER.
This Is from Ohios governor:
Your proposition relating to battle ship
Maine is certainly deserving Of the most
earnest consideration.
Such patriotic movement cannot fall to
enlist general Aympathy.
Hoping that your efforts in such good