The Washington times., 1901-09-22
A DAY TO Be REMEMBERED
Incidents of Mr.. Mckinley's Last
Departure From Washington.
How He Spent Friday, July 3, in
the Executive Mansion-Seldom
Seen in a Happier MOod-The Last
Cabinet Mccting-The Farewell.


the Executive Mansion-Seldon N,
Seen in n Happier MOod-The Last
Cabinet McetinE-The Farewell.
When, on the night of July 5, William
Mckinley left his private office in the
White House. where for over four years
he had labored and been the chief fac
tor in that history making epoch of
his country he little thought that he
would never return to it again. That
day was then without particular siSni-
ficance, save that the President was
going away for brief period of we'll
! earned rest and recreation. but the
events which have since transpired
have made it memorable one. Those
who saw him then, and for the last
! time, will have occasion to long re-
member it.
1t was the day following the great
national holiday commemorating the
| birth of the nation, and the President
was seldom seen in happier mood. He
had reason for rejoicing. Six weeks be-
fore he had returned from a triumphal
| tour from ocean to ocean, and every
where along ten thousand miles of the
transcontinental journey he had been
received. not ofTiy with dignity and re-
| spect, but with joyous greetings and
loud acclaims, which expressed the
kindly feeling of the people toward him,
and the high regard in which he was
held.
The tour had been marred by serious
illness of his invalid wife She had
| barely been snatched back from the
| jaws of death in a distant city, and
| brought home in a state of collapse.
Careful nursing and the Presidents un-
| faltering devotion had restored her
again to her normal health, and he was
| preparing to take her back to their
| cherished home in Canton where, sur
rounded by her old friends and neigh
bors and among quiet and congenial en-
vironments, she would be able to still
| further recuperate. In the four years
| of his service as the Chief Magistrate
! of the nation he had not before been
able to enjoy what might be termed an
uninterrupted vacation, There had
been troubles and vicissitudes which
beset the state and demanded his clos
est attention, his presence in Washing
ton throughout the greater portion of
| the heated summer season, and which
| gave him little opportunity for personal
| enjoyment and rest. But now had
come time when these difficulties
were passed, and the President felt at
| liberty to betake himself for a brief
! period from the scene of his labors and
"a he ioI,
was due him. So it was that on that
| day he was more than ever cheerful
DoUBLY HEAVY BURDEN.
| Mrs McKinley's illness had made the
burden upon him doubly heavy. Dur
ing the three weeks which preceded
his departure, and while she was con-
valescing, he had been obliged to- de-
vote much of his time at night to public
| business which had accumulated When
| July came all matters of state which
| needed his attention had been cleared
| up and he was able to leave Washing
| ton with the affairs of his Office in good
| condition.
That morning, as those who were
| about the White House remember, he
| was in his office little earlier than
| usual. He received number of callers
who came in to say gopd-by and to
wish him a pleasant vacation. 1t was
| with great satisfaction that he told all
enquirers that Mrs. Mckinley was
much better. and that he hoped for her
still further improvement at Canton.
| lie saw also few public men who still
| remained in Washington and came in
to secure his attention to. some minor
matters in which they were indivld-
ually interested.
At II O'clock the members Of the Cab
| met arrived, as was their custom on
Fridays throughout his Administra-
| ton 1t was the last meeting of that
body over which Mr.. Mckinley pre-
| sided, and those who sat around the
| historic table where they were wont to
| gather with the President at the head,
! little thought that when they should
| assemble again in that place ii would
| be with another sitting in his place.
| Secretary Hitchcock, who has the dis
| tinction of being the most punctual at
the Cabinet meetings. is remembered to
have been the first to arrive. Secretary
|
ed over from the Treasury Department.
Secretary Hay was absent. The tragic
| death of his son had occurred but
| short time before, and in sorrow he had
gone to his summer home in Newberry,
n. II.
Secretary Long was the only member
| of the Cabinet who never saw the
| President to speak with him again aft
| er that day. Secretary Hay and At
| torney General Knox visited him at his
| home in Canton and talked with him
upon matters of public Importance
| official family reached his bedside in
, Buffalo while he was stiil conscious, but
| Secretary Long arrived too late.
| THE LAST CABINET MEETING.
in the White House with President Nc
kinIey at the head of the table there
| were not many matters of great i'm
| portance acted upon. The business of
| the meeting was chiefly devoted to a
consideration of routine affairs and the
| clearing up of odds and ends of depart
mental matter preparatory to the sum-
mer vacation. Then there was some
| informal talk about the conditions in
the Philippines, in Porto Rico, and Gu
| ba as well. Philippine questions have
| during the past year or more been the
| meetings. and there was generally some