The Washington times., 1901-09-13
TEE M'KINLEY RECEPTION.
District Commissioners Express
Hearty Approval of the Plan.
It's FuifIIment to BE Subject Entire
ly TO the Presidents State OF
Health ON His Return Here-serv-
ices of Thanksgiving Suggested.

| " TO the Presidents State OF
Health on His Return Here-serv-
| ices of Thanksgiving Suggested.
The District Commissioners are heartily
| In accord with the plans suggested by the
! Board of Trade of Washington to give
J the President fitting reception upon ms
| return to the National Capital They re-
| ceivod from the Board of Trade yesterday
| its views in regard to the matter. The
\ Board of Trade signified Willingness TO
! take charge of the arrangements for the
\ event.
4 As yet nothing beyond a few indefinite
suggestions have been made with refer
| ence to the matter. In the first place the
| proposed reception is conditioned upon
| the President final recovery and restora-
! tion to health, which now seems assured
| In the next place the reception VIII be
| conditioned upon the state of Mir. Mckin-
| ley's health when he comes to Washing
| ton. If he should be in an enfeebled con-
dition and not In his accustomed strength
the appearance of military. Of shouting
! crowds and booming guns might be en-
tirely out of place.
| Commissioner Ross suggested yesterday
| that under such circumstances thanks
| giving in the churches might be the better
way to show the gratitude of the District
! for the outcome of the attack upon the
President 5 life.
The Commissioners are agreed that
whatever is done shall be with the knowl-
| edge and cooperation of Mr.. Cortelyou,
the Presidents Secretary, who VIII be IN
position 10 make known the President
wishes. The Commissioners are of the
| opinion that no great demonstration is
necessary to show the President the en-
tire loyalty and sympathy of the people
of the District. AT the same time they
| recognize the propriety of giving the
| President such a reception as only the
people of the District can give, who have
known him so long and who recognize his
work as a man and his honor as the Chief
Magistrate The Commissioners, there
fore, are ready to execute the Will OF the
people in whatever way may seem best at
The time when the President comes home
Commissioner Macfarland yesterday
said in rtference to the matter:
The President is out of danger, or 1
would not be here for I felt it to be my
duty to remain until that point was
reached. As 1 telegTaphed Commissioner
Ross yesterday afternoon, ] hope that
within a month we will be able to ap-
propriately welcome the President to
Washingt on l told Secretary Cortelyou
yesterday afterfoon that the Commits
sioners would desire to formally welcome
the President on his return, after such
an extraordinary experience. and in token
of the Districts appreciation of his de-
liverance from death, and he said that he
knew the President would be gald TO re-
ceive such a welcome. ! did not, of
course, know at that time Of the Board
of Trades suggestion of a welcome for
the President but am very glad to know
that. as was to be expected, the Board of
Trade and all the other citizens are ready
to take part in the preparation for what
ever may turn out TO be the most appro-
pirate form Of showing the Districts
feeling.
after the success of District Day and
of the gracious hospitality of Buffalo
then and on Presidents Day. the tragedy
Of Friday came with terrible shock, but
the providential recovery from it has been
even more remarkable. AS we went
through the functions of Presidents Day
/ thought had never seen the President
looking so well or SO happy. and he told
me while we were waiting for luncheon
that he felt just as he looked. He said he
mad had perfect rest at Canton. and that
II had done him great good. This was
fortunate preparation for the event which
day. The President was delighted with
the Pan-American Exposition and with
all the courtesies of Buffalo. Certainly
tne exposition IS an admirable one, and
there are no more hospitable people than
the men and women of Buffalo, whose
courage and ability have made it what
il is
Il conveyed TO Secretary Cortelyou as
promptly as possible the sympathy of the
District. and. before left. its congratula-
lions Secretary Cortelyou said the Pres
ident was especially interested in the feel
ing of the District"
Commissioner Macfarland speaks In the
highest terms of the work done by Secre-
tary Cortelyou in connection with the at
tack on the President, and since that
time. He said:
During all the fearful moments which
followed the shooting Sir. Cortelyou was
coOlness and wisdom itself His manage
ment of the Presidents personal affairs
has been most admirable. He took the
reins and handled them with wonderful
ability 1t was Mr.. Cortelyou who au-
thoriZed the operation which unquestion-
ably resulted in saving the Presidents
life. Of course every praise that can be
bestowed should be given the eminent sur
geons who actually performed the oper-
alton, especially DIR. Mann. but they could
not go ahead until the family consent had
been given. AIRS. Mckinley could not be
consulted, and so 1t was Mr.. COrtelyou
who took the responsibility.
Since the events of last Friday the
amount of work which has devolved upon
Mr.. Cortelyou can hardly be imagined by
those not on the scene. He has worked
indefatigably, morning, noon and night,
and often has slumbered but one hour in
fypnty-fotIr'