The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-21
FARMER VISITS M,KINLEY.
Presidents Tenant Tells of His In
augural Experiences.

NO, sir, l don't want to live in Washing
ton. L had a big time while there and
would not take 500 for the experience
while in the capital. but / guess the farm
is the place for me- So spoke Jack
Adams, President McKinley's farm tenant.
Mr.. Adams had just come back TO his
wealth of experience and incidents while
a guest at the White House was fresh
in his mind.
He talked of his trip and gave his i'm
pressions of the capital city, the Inaugural
ton, his treatment at the hands of Pres
ident and Mrs Mckinley, and the White
House attaches, and told in his unique
way of the inaugural ball. Here is his
story:
the President did not forget a promise
made TO me. A few weeks ago the Pres
ident sent for a barrel of apples. L got
them in shape and sent them by freight.
because 1 thought it would cost him TOO
much TO send them by express.
Il sent a letter telling the President OF
the shipment and at the same time said
If he remembered his promise of four
That's all told him. What was the
promise? Why a short time before his
first inauguration l was in Canton to see
the Major. He asked me if i was going to
see him inaugurated.
Il told him no, that l could not afford it,
but l added in a joking way that the next
Washington to see him.. He said. All right,
L will send you transportation. So that
was what i meant when L shipped him the
apples. A few days before inauguration L
sot the pass.
"You see, my wife can trust me way
from home alone. so she did not go along.
Joseph Alexander, OF Minerva, went with
me. We got rooms at Washington and set
tied Saturday, March 2. We went up to see
the President. He did not keep us waiting
fifteen minutes; no, not ten minutes. he
shook hands with us and inquired about
our families and said he was glad to see
us. You will stay right here he said to
us. / said, No, Mr. President, we nave
rooms engaged. You have plenty of big
| people to entertain and we will not stay
Never mind he replied, we have plenty of
room for you, and you will stay right here
with me-
THAT settled it. We stayed and had a
fine time. Saturday afternoon Mrs. Mckin-
ley and some ladies' were going out driving.
She saw me and motioned to me. L hardly
knew what to do, but l had sense enough to
take off my hat. She said: You are Mr..
Adams, of the farm. are you not? l said:
Yes, MN She said she was glad to see
me and she inquired about my family and
whether we were comfortable. / told her
we were all right and had plenty enough to
eat. The barrel of apples you sent were all
frozen she said. l replied l was very sor-
ry, but could not help that, as L had taken
special pains to pack them well.
al told her l did not send them by ex-
press because 1 thought it would cost her
too much. She smiled, talked about a few
other things and drove away.
81 went to the inaugural ball and thought
/ would stay only a short time, but l got so
interested I'll be blamed If Ii wasn't half
past 2 o'clock in the morning before L left.
How did / like the dresses worn? Well,
they were this way and this way and cut
TO here" said Mr.. Adams, showing the ball
room decollette. land the men had on the
low-cut vests and coats what We used to
call swallow tails many years ago. OF
course. those rigs were not the kind I'm
| used to, but they were all right for them,
but not for me.
my friend Alexander and i had a good
bed and were treated frst-class at the
White House. OF course, we did not eat
with the President. That report is false.
We ate with the steward, maids, L guess,
and some other people. They had plenty
to eat and 1t was all liked up nice. but
then some good country dinners suit me
nave little side dishes, like they do a.
hotels. Nearly everything was on the
table. They passed some things. but a fell
low could have helped himself if he wanted
to.
II saw the Presidents horses, but L
admit the men know better how to take
care of them than / do. have one of
fered $1,000 for him a short time ago. OF
course, l did not say anything, but 1
thought If he was mine I'd let him CO.
Jack Adams has been tenant on the farm
now owned by the President twenty-one
years. The property in reality belongs to
Mrs Mckinley. it having been willed to
her by her late father. The farm is four
teen miles southeast OF Canton, in Column
/ biana county. Mr.. Adams says the Nc
Kinleys have not visited the place for
about six years. 81 farm on the half"
said Farmer Adams. 1.-The President owns
half of all the stock. We now have
eleven horses, thirty-fve cattle and other
stock. | never get any orders from the
President. He allows me to run the place
products and all sales. and settle with
him occasionally.