The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-09
ENCOURAGING I'KINLEY,
Plain Citizen john q. Crisp Tells Him the
People Believe In Him.

Washington Cor OF the st. Louis
Globe Democrat: II have introduced n
thousand men to President Mckinley"
said Senator Elkirs. land never be-
fore got so much satisfaction out Of one
OF these presentations as did when /
took in John T. Crisp. OF Missouri"
No one Is more welcome at the white
house under this administration than
Senator Ellslrs. The time and manner
OF Col. Crisp's introduction were suspl-
clous. The President was just at the
end Of one of those wearyng sIeges
from the long string or callers, each
with his own more or less importunate
plea about the patronage He had tried
TO fix his mind on this petty business,
while all of the time the great over
shadOwing question of the relations
with Spain were weighing him down.
He was leaning back in his chair,
limp from the strain, with look on the
face that commanded sympathy, whea
Elhns and Crisp entered. Elkins OK
planned, and Crisp uttered the common
place, but in no commonplace manner,
about simply Wishing to pay his re-
spects to the head OF the nation.
Il want to say something to the pres
ldent. said Crisp. turning to Eikins
with an enquiring look. The senator
HUuueu anu CTlSp began.
II have never in all my experience
heard such 4 conversation said Sem
ator Elklns, In recalling the scene. The
President leaned back in his chair and
listened. The color came back into his
face. The features lost the look of
strain and assumed that of interest.
The fire came into the eyes. Once he
raised his hand. stayed the flow of
Crisp's, speech, and, turning TO Senator
Elkins, said: II want to thank you for
bringing Col. Crisp here. This Is doing
nc more good than YOU Know"
"TlIen turning back to Crisp, he said:
Go on, colonel: excuse ME for inter-
ruptlng.'
The visit lasted an hour. and when
Crisp retired It was with hearty grip
Of the Presidents hand. such as no
other visitor received that day. OF
what did the Missourian talk? or what
didn't he talk?
He told the President what the peo-
pie at home were saying and thinking.
He told him he must not think the men
who came to him. who surrounded him,
who wanted this and tnat, and who
tried 10 make 1t appeal: that they were
the medium of communication between
people ard President. were really that.
He likened the would-be dispensers OF
the patronage 10 the tape-worm of poll
tics, devour!ng substance and doing the
body no good.
~ want 10 say TO You. Mr. Presi-
dent, that the people believe in you.
Outside OF all political differences and
considerations, they feel that you are a
sincere man, an American and gen.
tleman. They feel that you and they
are of the same kind! Mr.. President
continued Col. Crisp I want to say to
you that am q Democrat. ,but In the
recognition of your sincerity and OF
your character as an honest and honor
able American gentleman, | am a Re-
publican: and all OF the people, mean
the people who are at home. who do not
come here and talk to you about the
offices. whose hearts are filled with love
Of their country, whose patriotism Is
not tainted with selflshness-feel Just
that way, and they want you TO know
1t. You are to them what no other
President since Lincoln has been. They
are with you In whatever may come,
and they want you to know 1t. They
hope you may feel 1t, and may not Judge
OF their sentiment by what you may
hear from some who claim to represent
them. but whose motives are unwor-
thy