The times., 1901-06-02
The
Journey of the President
Scenes and Incidents on the Trip From the Capital to
the Golden Gate

decided to accept the invitation OF Henry
T Scott, the President Of the Union Iron
Works. to visit San Francisco and wit
ness the launching of the battleship
Ohio. constructed at that plant, the
White House mali began to be burdened
with invitations asking Mr.. Mckinley TO
stop at various places en- route to the
Pacific Coast and return. Delegations
from various cities came to Washington
to request Mr.. Mckinley to be the guest
OF their respective municipalities. and
members Of Congress importuned him 20
accept the hospitality which their con-
stituents We're anxious to bestow. Ac-
cordingly, it became necessary to plan a
tour which would include an acceptance
of as many of these Invitations as possi-
BILE and to make complete arrangements
in advance of leaving Washington. This
involved vast amount of work, which
was done under the direction of Secretary
Cortelyou. and included much correspond
ence with railroad companies and local
committees regarding the movements of
the Presidents special train and his en-
tertainment while en- route.
The original schedule contemplated a
journey of 1e,5Sl miles. with numerous
stops, varying from a few minutes to
several days. and it is due TO the excel
lent management Of Secretary Cortelyou
that every detail of arrangement as pre-
viously decided upon was carried out to
the letter, until, when nearing San Fran
cisco, the serious illness of Mrs. McKin-
ley made changes in the itinerary and
programme absolutely necessary. So
carefully was the schedule planned and
adhered to that upon only two occasions
during the entire trip was the train late
in arriving al any of the numerous points
where stops were contemplated. Once,
while passing through the northern part
of Alsy "a. a halt was made TO enable
the photographers aboard to make pic
tur=s Of the train and of the party, which
caused a delay OF d few minutes, and
again. in entering Austin. Tex, the train
was nrteen minutes late.
THE PRESIDENTS DEPARTURE.
Under the most favorable auspices, ac-
companied by members of his Cabinet.
and others to the number of thirty-nine
persons, the President left Washington on
the morning Of April %. The first days
journey was through a historical portion
of the Old Dominion, and many points
along the route were especially familiar
and interesting to the President by rea-
son Of the fact that during the civil war
he had camped, marched, and fought at
The very places where, upon his trans
continental tour. he passed in triumph
and received the plaudits of the very
mer who, nearly forty years ago, had
met him with guns and bayonets. The
happy references to these facts which the
President made in several of his speech
es through the State were well received
by the crowds, which were large al every
point. Even at so near q point as Alex
andria, the people turned out to the num-
Der Of several hundred to see the Presi-
Dental train. and during the brief time
Of the stop there Mr.. Mckinley took
occasion TO shake hands with I group of
children who gathered about his car to
greet him.
The first speech made by the President
upon his tour was delivered at Charlottes-
vile. where conspicuous in the throng
that surged about the train were the
students Of the University of Virginia,
who made the echoes ring with their col
Iege yell. At Lynchburg, where the next
stop was made, the President was met
to the people, who, notwithstanding the
fact that Buffalo Bills Wild West show
was in town, assembled TO the number Of
many thousands to see the nations Exec
utive, and to listen to the short address
which he made during a stay there Of
but ten minutes.
There was the same sort of a recep-
tion at Roanoke, where the crowd was so
dense and 50 eager 20 get a view of the
distinguished traveller that the local COM
mittee, which had arranged to board the
train and say few nice things TO the
President in welcoming him to the city,
was lost in the crowd and was unable
TO carry out the purpose for which it
had been appointed The manner in
which the populace received him When he
stepped TO the rear platform of his car
was assuring, however. and the President
felt no hesitancy in addressing the people
without formal introduction. It was
late at right when Bristol which lies
half in Virginia and half in Tennessee,
with the State line running along the
main street, was reached. Almost the
entire population from both sides of the
line was awaiting the arrival of the train.
Then, long after the curtains were drawn
and the train was dark, the people waited
at the different railroad stations through
Tennessee and cheered as the special few
by.
THROUGH NORTHERN ALABAMA
The special was passing through north
ern Alabama when the President awoke
the next morning and he was up at
O'Clock and shaking hands with a group
of countrymen at little station where
the train stopped for water Huntsville
was the first important stop in the State.
At Decatur. the next stop. Colonel Adams
boarded the train. The colonel is the
manager of the water works of the city.
a very important parsonage, as was soon
discovered, and a member Of the Govern
or's STAFF. He was attired in the uniform
OF his rank, with much gold braid and
heavy plumage. and upon Introducing
himself 10 the President welcomed him
10 the State npon behalf Of his chief
why" explained Colonel Adams, 81
was delighted when received telegram
from the Governor this morning instruct
ing me to accompany the President
through the State. hurried home and
put on my uniform so as to do the thing
properly. ] would not have missed the
pleasure Of this occasion If il had been
necessary TO close down the water works
and force the people 10 go thirsty for
day No, sir Why. this viii make me a
famous man in Alabama. for my name
viii be in every newspaper in tho State"
And it ~as as Colonel Adams had said
He proudly informed the President THAT
alfho41prh a Democrat he had himself ner-