The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-23
McKINLEY'S FIRST SPEECH.
The Story RetOId by the Man who
Presided at the Meeting.

fFes1Ueu the meeting.
Canton CO., Telegram to St. Louis Re-
public.
On a dry goods box four feet long,
three feet wide, and three feet high
William Mckinley made his first po-
litical speech in the little town of New
Berlin, o., away back in '65. The box
stood in front of a house which has
since burned down, and just inside the
gate of a wooden fence within 100 feet
of the four corners of the business GEN.
ter. The man who introduced him to
his first audience lives in a new brick
house, built within ten feet of the To-
cation of the dry goods box which sup
ported the President on that memora-
BILE night. The benches in front of the
postoffice, next door, furnish resting
place for the old politicians who here
gather to get their mail daily and talk
over the most notable event in New
Berlins history, made notable by the
achievements of the boy orator, Nc
Kinley, in succeeding years.
"Can you make a speech?" said Mich
ael Bitter to William Mckinley when
the speaker arrived from Canton ready
TO follow Judge Underhill upon the i'm
provized stage. Michael Bitter was
the chairman of the meeting. He is
now SO years old, but he remembers
the night he introduced Mckinley as
if it were a happening of yesterday. .
The somewhat unexpected remark 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 Under
hill that Mr.. Bitter meant no offense
he regained his pleasant face, show
ing the kind disposition which is so
characteristic of him to-day.
Gould he speak?" said Michael.
well, l should say he could. Every
body was simply dumfounded. For
nearly an hour he talked as never
young man in Stark county had talked
before. l told Judge Underhill, who
accompanied him. after the meeting,
that Mckinley did blamed sight bet
ter than he did, and the judge, too,
pronounced him a coming politician.
IT really was surprised when Judge
Underhill introduced that young strip
of a boy to me, saying that he had
come to make a speech in place of
another judge, who was unable to be
present. OF course / only asked Nc
Kinley in a joke if he could make
speech. 1 spoke to him much as
would to a boy, but I really did have
my doubts about such a young man
doing justice to the occasion"
Mr.. Bitter introduced him as VIII
lam Mckinley of Canton. He little
thought he was introducing the COM
ing President of the United States.
Mckinley arose and looked over his
audience. There was not a sign OF
the emotion on his part which usually
attends the first speech of speaker
But" says Mr.. Bitter, "as l re-
member him, the same strong charac-
teristics which have been so notable
in his public life within the last few
years, stood out forcibly on that
night"
He spoke under the glimmer of the
street lighted by oil lamps for that
was before the days of electric lights.
His strong personality and his kindly
manner were noticed by the people OF
New Berlin. His hearty handshake
and his pleasant smile were all there,
only waiting for opportunity and
strength of purpose to develop them.