The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-09-20
WAS A CLOSE FRIEND
OF the Martyred President and
Possesses q Keen In
sight to His Lofty
Character.

side of the immediate family circle,
has felt his death more keenly. In an
interview Tuesday Col. Taylor said:
There is no place man loves more
tnan home. Canton was McKinley's
home and he loved Canton. But next
to Canton in his heart was East Liver
pool. He loved her people. A loyalty
bad grown up between them that no.
thing could sever. loyalty and love
that never faltered and as two hearts
beat as one."
On July IA, 1891, he and Mrs. McKin.
ley visited Liverpool and spent some
time in our midst On the evening OF
his arrival he spoke to a vast concourse
of people from the veranda Of COL Tay-
lor. Being introduced by Col. Hill, he
said: "I cannot find words to express
my appreciation of this friendly visit
Of my friends of East Liverpool. There
Is no place l go where / receive more
pleasure than a visit to this goodly
town.
This community as much as any
other in eastern Ohio has been in my
10 years of public life steadfastly and
enthusiastically my friends. No mat
ter in what district ] was situated,
whether in the good old eighteenth or
the gerrymandered sixteenth, East
Liverpool has followed me with her
sympathy and support, and through
my entire public life since it's COM
mencement in 1876 you have supported
me with your most generous faith and
confidence"
Coming here on July IA, the visit
OF Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley was prolong-
ed until August Z. He was then candi-
date for governor of Ohio. On the
evening before his departure, July 6, he
was serenaded at the residence Of Col.
Taylor by what seemed to be the en-
tire population of Liverpool and in re-
sponse he made a speech that has gone
down into history as the opening speech
of the campaign.
In it he defined the policy of the
party not only in Ohio, but what has
since been the policy of the Republican
party. From that date and that speech
he became the leader of the party.
The Tribune" truthfully said in COM
menting on the speech, East Liverpool
was making political history Thursday
night. With health and life you were
looking on a future president of seven
ty millions of people; looking on a
man who will some day welcome you
to the white house in Washington;
looking on a man Of destiny" How
prophetic the words.
After Mckinley became president he
took the first opportunity to again visit
East Liverpool and reached there on the
evening of August 2S, 1899. 1t was late
hut in response to the multitude who
called to greet him he said: Crate
full to you for this more than generous
East Liverpool awakens tender memoir
les and looking into your faces touches
my very heart strings and awakens
rccollections Of early friendship"
On the evening of the 29th when
everybody turned out to welcome him.
Congressman Tayler in few well
chosen remarks introduced him and in
reply he said: IF anything would
make me forget my fatigue it would be
this friendly greeting, which know is
straight from the heart. l cannot
stand here even for moment to give
utterances to words of appreciation of
this welcome without recalling that
from this very place, year in and year
out, was In the habit of meeting this
people and they were kind enough to
always give me generous greeting.
This city through all the years of the
past has been faithful and firm in its
friendship for me, although, / have been
absent from you for more than four
years, that friendship has never dimin-
ished and my interest in you, in your
city. in your prosperity, in your home
life, in your young men and the young
women, in the boys and girls, has never
abated."
Gould anything be more touching or
express more feeling for community
than the above?"
Mckinley was the man that to know
was to love. He never forgot a face
and never went back on friend. He
knew you as president just as he knew
you when a citizen or congressman.
Il have been very close to Mckinley
for more than 20 years. l have met
him and been with him III most every
condition of life. l knew him only as
a true noble Christian man. A man
that you always felt better after
being with. In all my years with him
never heard him utter profane word
or use language of any description not
fit to be used before ladies. I never
knew him to be angry or speak i'll of
anyone, even his most bitter oppo
nents.
Liverpool has lost man whom they
mover can replace. Others may do
our people good and will, but no
man will ever be able or be In position
to benefit our community as he has
done. could fnd many illustrations
as to his loyalty and love for the COM
munity, but one will suffice. You will
remember when he became president
that we were working under the VIII
SOD bill at reduced wages. We all felt
that with Mckinley president crockery
would be restored to the old rate. Con-
gress however felt different and cl ock-
cry on the Dingley bill was put tt AZ
per cent which meant continuance ~