The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-05-19
GREAT DAY FOR
SAN FRANCISCO
BattIeship Launched Amid Mag
nificent Naval Pageant.
ADDRESS TO WORKINGMEN
Mckinley Received as 0yatlon--Grest Dem
oasiFAtlOn si YoIunieerS on BOard
Transport Sheridan -0hlOsss
10 Visit coIumbla.

SAN FRAN CISCO. May ls.-Fortu-
nately Mrs. McKlnley's condition today
permitted ,he president TO attend the
launching VI The battleshlp Ohio from
the varls Of the Union Iron Works.
To witness the launching OF this ship.
named In honor Of his native state. was
the real object OF the Presidents long
trip across the continent and was an
event which has attracted 10 the Pacific
coast the governors Of three states, the
Ohio congressional delegation, several
United States senator's and many 9TH
er notable and distinguished people.
Dramatic and picturesque as was the
sight Of 1900 tons Of steel sliding into
the full-brsasted .lde Of San Francisco
bay, 1t was not 50 splendid and mag
nhcent as the great naval pageant
which accompanied II nor as profound
ly impressive as the greeting extended
to the presIdelt by the $500 employees
OF the shipyard. With the threat Of
great strike impending, the presidents
words to workingmen have added sig
nihcance and his reference to expansion
and other national questions make his
speech, probably the last he win deliv-
hiu In.
notable one.
When the president left the sick room
OF his wife this morning every arrange
ment had been made TO notify him on
the instant Of any change for the worse
In her condition. The physicians as
sured him that here was no indication
of a setback. but at his request tele-
graphic connections were made at the
wharf and at the shipyard and save
for the time he was on the water he
was not for a minute away from d.
rect connection with the Scott residence.
The trip TO the Jnion Iron Works
on the tug Slocum proved to be a tri-
umphal journey the like Of which has
not been witnessed in this country since
Admiral Dawev lo0n his return from
the Philippines sailed up the Hudson
on the Olympia. Every craft in the
harbor was decked out in the gayest at
tire. Up near the ship yards the grim
warships Of the Pacific squadron we're
swinging at anchor.
on near Boat island lay the trans
port Sheridan. She had just arrived
from the Philippines and the steamer
had aboard the Forty-second and For
ty-six;h L. S. volunteer infantry, which
she had brought home. The president
saw her at once and requested that the
course of the Slocum should be changed
to allow him to pass near her. AS the
Slocum approached the big transport
there was a scene Of almost frenZled en-
thusiasm aboard. The soldiers. all in
their service uniforms, rushed to the
side ana rent the air with cheer upon
cheer at the sight of the president of
the United States come to welcome
them home. The president was plainly
moved by the remarkable demonstra-
ton. He stood on the lower deck un-
covered, bowing and smiling and way
ing his handkerchief. until the sound
Of the shouting died away In the dis
tance.
The president and his party moved to
the stand where a representative of the
$500 employees OF the Union Iron Works
having asked heartfelt blessing upon
the head of the president and express
ed tender sympathy Cor his suffering
wife, presented the president. as a tok-
en- of esteem of the workmen, with
gold plate engraved with a suitable in
scrlptiOn.
The presidents response aroused much
enthusiasm. He told mis- audience Of his
friendship for worklngmen during his
entire public career and touched the
hearts of the surg!ng crowd before him
as ne spoke eloquently Of the patriotic
response which Calf ornia had made
during the Spanish war, Many eyes
Were wet
When the president spoke of the con-
tentment of the working classes, there
was one diScordaat note. A big, strap
ping fellow, perchsd upon adjacent
soaffolding with his mind full of the
threatened strike shouted, How about
next week." Hundreds of his compan-
ions looked up and motioned to him
to cease.
The president said;
mo one can stand surrounded by the
workmen of this great establishment
without realizing the splendid work
done by the ships YOU nave built and
their priceless services to the country,
My fellow citizens we have great prob
lens before us. We never had more
important ones. We have expanded. |
Do you want to contract? (Cries Of
"No!"O 1t is not the question of wheth- |
er we will acquire the Philippines or
Porto Rico, or Guam or Wake island. |
or Hawaii or Tutuila. We have ac-