The age-herald., 1901-05-19
President Mckinley Took Part in the Ceremony and
 Makes Happy Talk
PEOPLE SWARMED WHARFS
When His speec.. Was Ended Mir. Mo kinIey Hastened to His Carriage and Was Driven in Gallop to
 Wife's Bedside.

san fTd0CiSCO, Ady lo.-AhlSS AsaAoSi pressed the button and Miss Deshler smashed a bottle of California cham pagne and at 1926 D. m. the big hattleship Ohio took her first dip into the sea-
 Dramatic and picturesque as was the sight of 14o0O tons of steel sliding into the full breasted tide of San Francisco Bay, 1t was not so splendid and magnificent as the great naval pageant which accom- panied it, nor as profoundly impressive as the greeting extended to the President by the 450O employees of the ship yard. With the threat of a great strike inn pending, the Presidents words to the workingmen today have an added signif- canoe and his reference to the expansion and other national questions make his speech, which is probably the last he will deliver on his present tour in every re- spect a notable one.
 Every craft in the harbor was decked out in gayest attire and the city in the background was a perfect mound of way ing flags. Every wharf on the sea front swarmed with people, Up near the ship yards the grim warships of the Pacific squadron were swinging at anchor, with streams of signal flags extending fore and aft of the peaks from brow to tafraiL
 The First Gun.
 As the Slocum, bearing the President drew near the line of steel clad thunderers of the deep with tackles lining ths rails, | the marine guards up aft and officers in | full uniform on the bridges, a puff of smoke burst from the port quarter of the battleship Wisconsin. Admiral Casey's flagship. It was the first gun from the ships of twenty-one from each.
 Each of the warships turned loose its secondary battery as the Slocum steamed slowly by. Every vessel in the harbor followed with a booming salute. Finally the Slocum reached the pier upon which q broad aisle of white muslin ran, crowds of workmen being packed on either side. Up this path, arched over with flags and banners one of them bearing the inscrip- tion, 'the Oregon has made her record; watch the Ohio" The President and his party moved to a stand where repre- sentative of 400 employees of the Union Iron Works asked heartfelt blessing upon the President and expressed tender sym pathy for his suffering wife, gave the President, as a token of the esteem of the workmen, a gold plate engraved with suitable inscription. The Presidents response aroused much enthusiasm. His speech was as follows:
 The Presidents Speech.
 My Fellow Citizens: I am inexpressibly thankful to the Ruler of us all for His goodness and His mercy, which have made it possible for me to be with you here today. I have wanted to see the men of the Union Iron Works. have known of their skill. I have seen their nd xyo rIxrfta n g1 I have observed how well your spokes- man has welcomed me in your name. I am glad to be among these workingmen. I have been glad to be in the city of San Francisco, and while have not been able to meet all the people, have been able to meet tens of thousands of them; have heard their cheers for our country; have seen their smiling faces and have ob- served that peace and contentment which has been everywhere manifest upon the faces of the people as we have taken our long tourney from the Atlantic to the Pa cificc (applahse).
 You have no idea how deeply touched I have been in the last three years and half by the loyal patriotism of the people of San Francisco My mind. my heart have been here, for it was here we or ganized the first expedition to the Philip pine Islands. It was here, under com mand of General Merritt that that great army was assembled and started out upon the ocean, none of us knowing what might happen to them. but all knowing that the national honor was safe in their keeping; and remember that the people of San Francisco gave them their bless ing when they departed and their benedic- tion when they returned (applause).
 'I don't want a ship in the American navy built this year to be any better than the Ohio. Slaughter and appiause). I say that to you among ourselves. say it to you workmen who are going to build her. for have a great deal of pride in the old state CPpplause). l have great deal of pride in the name, but proud as I am of my native State, am thou sandtime more proud of the nation over all the states, supreme and sovereign and glorious in it's mission of good will and liberty to all mankind. (Applause)
 What we want is to build more ships. We ought to have a good commercial line from here to the Philippines made in the Union Iron Works Qaughter), built bv American worlkingmen and manned by American sailors and carrying the Amer ican flag. Gaughter.) There is nothing in the world that bring people so close together as commerce
 Then came the launching. Tho cere- monies were simple. There was no speech-rnalxing Mrs. Ida Eckert Law renee of Ohio read an original poem. The launching over, amid the widest demon- stration the trip back to the city was begun.
 When the Slocum came along side her wharf the President did notwait for the gangway to be run out. He stepped over the rail to the pier and almost ran to the carriage which was waiting for him. The door slammed and he was off at gailop for the bedside of his wife.