Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-21
PRESIDENT At JEKYL.
fie Arrives at the Island as the
Guest of His Late Secretary
of the Interior.
SPEAKER REED is THERE, ALSO,

And a Political Conference at Which Great
| Things will Be Settled Looms Before the
Vision of the Spectator in Facts-Greet-
| ing Between the Maine Statesman aud
the Chief Observation-Disclosures That
No Politics VIII Be Considered.
Brunswick. Ga. March 21.-PresiGent
| Mckinley rests today on Jeky! island
the beautiful winter club home OF
| number of eastern millioraires on ST.
Simon's sound. ten miles up the coast
from Brunswick. With him are Mrs
Mckinley. Vice President and Mrs. Ho-
bart and Senator Hanna. They are the
guests Of eX-Sscretary of the Interior
Cornelius Bliss, whom the president
promised to visit last year. In another
cottage on the island is Speaker Thomas
B. Reed. All persons in any way con-
Cerned il their presence at Jekyl assert
positively ana urreserVeQly that the
visit Of the two political leaders at the
same time is mere coincidence. Wheth
er any Improvement of their alleged
strained personal or political relations
viii be one of the aCCid antS of their in
eVitable meeting on the island no one
will predict. The speaker probably Will
leave JekyI this afternoon or tOmor-
row. and the presidential party during
tomorrow forenoon.
Fast Run without Incident.
The run of the presidential train here
from Thomasville over the Plant sys-
TEN was rapid and without incident. y
committee from the Jekyl Island club
comprising eX-Secretary Bliss. Author
Thomas Nelson Page. Gable Promoter
J. a. Scrymser and Coal Operator Jo-
seph Stickney, of Philadelphia, vel
coined the president. and assisted by
Mayor Atkinson and former Mayor
Crovatt escorted him to Jekyl island.
The president was greeted with a few
cheers whi5h he slightly acknowledged
by lifting his hat when he emerged
from the train and assisted Mrs. Nc
Einley TO the carriage which took them
to where the revenue cutter ColfaX lay
in waiting. Another small Nolley of
cheers broke forth as the boat cast off
and started on the trip to Jekyl.
Reed Greets the Chief Magistrate.
Speaker Reed, some club members.
and a score of pretty girls in summer
frocks were at the waters edge to greet
the presidential party. The big speak
er's attitude was characteristic, his
hands behind his back and his head
thrown back and upturned. When the
president walked ashore Reed smilingly
raised his hat and said: How do you
do. Mr.. President" Mckinley acknowl-
edged the greeting with low bow and
How do You do. Mr.. Speaker" The
president and Mrs. Mckinley entered a
carriage and drove away. Late in the
afternoon the president and Vice Pres
iGent Hobart went out driving. The
stay of the president at Jekyl will be
made as pleasant and likewise Is infor-
NAL as possible. No reception will be
given and Mckinley and the others Will
be treated during their stay as a part OF
the islands large family. The president
and party are quartered in the cottage ,
of Frederic Baker, who is in Europe !
travelling.
People Watched That Meeting.
The president and Mrs. Mckinley
rested for an hour or two and at dinner |
had with them Mr.. Bliss, Mr.. and Mrs
Thomas Nelson Page and one or two |
others The meeting of the president
and the speaker at the wharf was
watched with interest by all persons |
assembled. The president was charmed |
with the island. its fine roads, beautiful |
beaches and preserves well stocked with !
deer ana game.
Bliss said that there was absolutely |
no present significance wha lever to be |
attached to the trip. and rest and recre- |
alton were the sole objects of the presi- |
dents visit. He was sorry that SO much |
had been made of the trip, for there was !
absolutely no base for reports that there !
would he any conferences as to Ny. /
Reed.