Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-09-13
COMES AS A SHOCK.
Attack on President Mckinley Causes
Universal Grief-Mnny Express
sions of sympathy,


Washington. Sept. 1.-THE news OF the
shooting of President Mckinley, which
reached Washington late Friday after
noon caused a tremendous sensation. So
frequent have been rumors of this sort,
often put afioat in recent years for stock
Jobbing purposes that the general disposi-
tion at first was to withhold full accept
ance of the story of the news. but when 1t
was confirmed feeling of deep gloom and
profound sorrow spread over the city, for
nr. McKlnley's delightful personality had
endeared him to the citizens of Washing
ton, apart from the official class. in a de-
gree that rarely has been equaled.
1t was some time before the full force of
the blow was appreciated. The people
were stunned and they could not respond
at once and fully comprehend the extent of
the great disaster that had fallen upon the
country and themselves. Then the news
papers began to appear. The carriers
rushed madly through the streets and
crowds of people began to gather from all
quarters of the city around the newspaper
bulletin boards. The telephone system of
the city was simply paralyzed for a time
and so many were the calls upon the news
offices and upon the officials who might
be supposed to have knowledge of the de-
tails of the shooting that the operators
were overwhelmed.
No official confirmation of the shooting
came to the white house for three hours
after Its occurrence, when Col. Montgom-
cry, the chief operator at the white house,
was Informed at 7:20 o'clock by Secretary
Cortelyou at Buffalo that a surgical opera
tion upon the president was in progress,
and that $50 far everything is favorable"
Later he gave information of the compile
tion of the operation and followed that
statement with other messages giving pri-
vate information as to the presidents con-
dition and his removal to Mr.. Milburn's
residence.
Maj. Pruden assistant secretary to the
president, and Col. Crooks, disburslng OFF,
Ger, both veterans of the white house
force, arrived together shortly after five
O'Clock and assumed charge of the execu-
tive mansion.
At the war department, Gen. Gillespie,
chief of engineers of the army, was acting
secretary in the absence of Secretary
| Root who is i'll at his summer home in
| Southampton, l.. l., and Assistant Secre-
| tary Sanger, who is away on leave. He
also had quilted the building, but he had
| not been gone half an hour before word
| reached him and he hastily returned to his
| desk. He Immediately sent messages to
| the secretary of war and to Gen. Brooke,
| commanding the department of the east
| giving such unofficial information as was
| available. In order to apprse them of the
| main facts If they were known to him
| through the press dispatches. for official
| advices were singularly slow in reaching
| be ofticially informed. He also telegraphed
| TO Maj Simonds, the engineer officer sta
| toned at Buffalo, asking him to report the
| facts at the earliest possible moment. Con-
| ferences were held between Acting Secre-
tary Hackett and Gen. Gillespie in refer
enec TO any joint steps which the army and
navy might be called upon to take.
Steps were next taken to provide for the
| future of the executive branch of the gov
| ernment. 1t was realized that even under
| the most favorable conditions the presi-
dents injuries are of such a character as
to make 1t almost certain that he cannot
undertake for a long time to discharge
the duties of chief executive, even in the
most formal way. Every member OF the
cabinet able to travel is expected to speed
at once to Buffalo, and there a cabinet
council will be held to decide upon the
course to be followed by the executive
branch. Vice President Roosevelt Is un-
derstood TO be In Vermont, this being the
information furnished by his relatives
here and of course will hold himself in
readiness to do whatever is necessary and
to meet the obligations imposed upon the
vice president by the constitution of the
United States. These are contained in par
agraph 6. section l. article 2, in the follow
ing words:
&c. In case of the removal of the presi-
dent from office, or of his death, resigna-
tion or inability to discharge the powers
and duties of the said office, the same shall
devolve on the vice president, ETC."
Under the terms of this article, as soon
as Mr.. Roosevelt is assured by proper au-
thority, probably in this case by the Sc
nior member of the cabinet, Secretary
Hay, who will doubtless be in Buffalo by
this evening, he will undertake at once
in a provisional way to discharge such
duties as may devolve on him. Much will
depend upon the report of the physicians
upon the character of the presidents in
| . tI,aa ~ f,l, ATr
welt will discharge the presidential duties
If he undertakes them at all, and 1t is al
most certain that in the absence of grea
, emergency in public affairs. even If callec
to assume these obligations, the vice pres
ident will confine himself in the eXercis,
of his powers to the discharge of the mos
routine and indispensable functions.
( For the present the thought of a fata
, termination of the presidents condition
is referred to with awe like apprehension
and there is hopeful, even prayerful an
ticipation that there may be no need fo
meeting those grave emergencies which
, would follow a fatal termination of TIL,
tragic event. Should the worst come, how
ever, 1t is realized that important changes
5 in the public affairs of the country woult
soon be brought about Whether ther
would be an extra session of congress Il
open to question, but there seems no doub
that an extra session of the senate woulI
t be essential, as an incident to a change o
5 administration. All this has been though
, of here only in the vaguest manner AM
confidence is almost universal here, base'
on the presidents magnificent constitu
= ton, his present excellent physical condi
tlon and the tremendous strides that hav
been made since Garfeld's time In surger.
that there will be no occasion to resort I
: the constitutional provisions made to NEE
. the demise of a president in Office.
q Burlington, VT, Sept. 7.-Vice PresIden
Roosevelt on his arrival here from Isl
: La Motto started at once for Buffalo. T,
e a press representative he said: II am to
Y shocked and greved to express my feel
ings." "A few minutes later, when a bul
letin was handed him saying that Presi
e dent McSinley's wound was not fatal. III
= vice president sent word TO the gathering
p Like all our people, and like the Who'll
civilized world, you will rejoice to hear thl
: good news"
I London. Sept. 1.-THE news of the at
e tempt upon the life of President McKinle
h spread slowly in London. The first ticke
reports were discredited; then, with tn
s. confirmation and general dissemination q
the news. arose a far-reaching feeling q
sorrow and indignation which, whereve
A . T. oI,, ,f,,n