The Portland daily press., 1900-10-30
MCKINLEY'S FIRST SPEECH.
Delivered on Dry Goods Box
at New Berlin in 1865.
Michael Bitter the Han Who First IN
trOduced the President Into Politics
Thirty-five Years Ago-He is Proud
Of the Faet-Mr. Mckinley Makes
Acknowledgment to Him.

Canton, Ohio, Oct. 27.-On a dry goods
box feet long, feet wide and feet
high President Mckinley made his first
political speech in the little town of New
Berlin away back IN 1856. The box stood
In front Of house which has since been
burned, and just outside the gate of a
wooden fence, within 100 feet of the four
corners at the business centre. The man
who introduced him to his first audience
lives in q new brick house, built within
ten feet Of the location of the dry goods
box which supported the President on
that night.
"Can you make a speech?'' said
Michael Bi6zer to William Mckinley,
when the latter arrived from Canton,
ready to follow Judge Underhill upon
the iaproyised stage.
Bitter was the chairman Of the meet
ing He is now SO, but he remembers
the night b introduced William McKin-
ley as though it were a happening Of yes.
terday. The somewhat unexpected re-
mark of the chairman of the meeting to
the young man who was to make his de-
but before a large audience rather took
his breath away for moment, but on
the assurance OF Judge Underhin that
Mr.. Bitter meant no offence he soon re-
covered his composure.
"COuld he speak,? said Bitter yester-
day. "Well, 1 should say he could.
Everybody was simply dumbfounded.
! For nearly an hour he talked as never a
young nan in Stark county had talked
before. 1 told Judge Underhill, who &C.
COmpanied bin. after the meeting that
Mckinley did a blamed sight better than
he did and the Judge, too, pronounced
him coming politician.
Il really was surprised when Judge
Underhill introduced that young strip Of
boy to me, saying that he had come to
make speech In place Of another Judge
who was unable to be present. Of course
l only asked Mckinley in joke if he
could make a speech. 1 spoke to him
much as 1 WOald to boy but l really
did have lay doubts about such a young
man doing justice to the OCCASION Mr..
Bitter introduced him as William Nc
Kinley OF Canton
He little thought he was introducing
the coming President Of the United
States.
Mckinley arose and looked over his
audience. There was not a sign of the
emotion which usually attends a first
speech. In stature he was not portly
and strong as he IS today. In fact he
WASH even as tall. But SAYS Mr..
Bitter, ''as 1 remember him, the same
strong characteristics which have bseu
so notable in his public life within the
last few years stood out forcibly on that
night" He spoke under the light Of
oil lamps. His strong personality and
his kindly manner were noticed By the
people Of New Berlin. His hearty hand
shake, his pleasant smile were all there
only waiting for opportunity and strength
Of purpose TO develop them,
William Mckinley, then p years Of
age, had come TO Canton a short time
before from Poland in MahOning county.
His rise in the legal profession to the
office Of prosecuting attorney of Stark
county was rapid.
A short time ago Mr.. and Mrs McKin-
ley drove to New Berlin from Canton,
As they passed the place where Mr.. Nc
Kinley starred his political career upon
a dry goods box both turned their heads.
and a smile spread over the countenar o.
Of the Frssi1snt.
Mr.. Bitter is proud Of "intrOdu ing
the President into politics. as he calls it.