Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-27
WOULD HONOR DEAD.
Formation of Carnation League
Proposed in Memory Of Mckinley.
MANY NOTED MEN ARE MEMBERS

MANY NUlED MEN AXE MEMBEkS
Idea Was First Advanced in Dayton,
oho-Plan to Have Each Member
Wear Carnation on January 29-Mc-
kiniey's Birthday Anniversary.
Ottumwans who were admirers of
the late William Mckinley will doubt
less be interested in the proposition to
form "Carnation League of America"
for the purpose of doing honor to his
memory and teaching the lessons of
patriotism that are manifest in his
life. Already the idea has been re-
ceived with favor in many places and
the carnation league has been formed.
The trustees of the league are: Geo.
B. Cortelyou, Washington, d. c.; VIM.
R. Day, Canton; David R. Francis, st.
Louis; M. A. Hanna, Cleveland; VIM.
R. Harper, University of Chicago; My
ron T. Herrick, CLEVELAND; Alexander
Fl. Revell, Chicago; Ryerson Richie,
Cleveland; Lewis G. Reynolds, Dayton.
Mr.. Reynolds is secretary of the
movement. The names of the prelim-
mary trustees of the movement are
in themselves enough to give it the
stamp of dignity it assumes and which
it will maintain.
A full statement of the objects and
purposes of the "Carnation League OF
America" is given by one of the Off
GERS as follows:
"The idea is to institute Mckinley
memorial association, to be known as
The Carnation League of America;
the sole purpose being to properly
commemorate the life and work of
William Mckinley. Monuments, tab
lets. arches and memorials of many
kinds have been and will be erected
to his memory, but once done that is
the end of the matter except with a
few of the donors or projectors.
"The Carnation League will be an
entirely new feature in the way OF
commemorating the life work OF any
of our past public men.
1--WE cannot state too strongly that
absolutely no faint Of commerclallsm
attaches to the movement, and it will
be kept entirely free from such faint
If ever there was a national move
ment conceived and projected with
the best motives of patriotism, it is
The Carnat.on League of America.
1t is meet and proper that some annu.
al tribute or observance be mad IN
memory of William Mckinley; ms
pure, clean private life and his faith
full public service calls for some per,
ennial observance, and hundreds OF
thousands of his countrymen have it in
their heats to do it. The same loyal
impulse that prompted the stoppage
of almost all the wheels of industry
for those few moments on the day OF
his burial may find annual expression
| in this tribute suggested by The Car
nation League
1.-THE plan of the movement is sim
| pie, inexpensive and attractive one
and can be taken part in by the OLE
and the young of either sex. beau
| tiful fragrant flower worn in the lap
/ ell of the coat, or at the throat. or II
| the hair. in silent memory of pas
| public servant. whose life was forfeit
| ed because he was our servant, /:
what is contemplated by this move
ment The fact that the carnation wa!
President McKinley's favorite fiou
and was always found in his button
| hole. is the reason for its choice as
| league symbol. No idea was had o
making it the national flower, neithe
was 1t arbitrarily taken as symbol
The president himself made the salec
| ticn and the league will merely con
tinue it's use for the purpose set forth
On all other days of the year it will
be what it is today, the common pee
pies flower of all the highly cultivate
! varieties. but On January 80 of eacl
year it becomes, especially, the pres
! dents flower and will be worn in silen
tribute to his memory
eff the matter We're to go no farthe
than this already has, there will b.
hundreds of thousands of people VIII
will wear and display the carnatiol
upon the designated day, so long a
they live.
Letters and notices have been re
| ceived from al over the country higf
| ly approving the idea, and the SINAI
opposition that has been made ha
| come from sources where it was al
parent that the object was misundel
4 stood. 1t is not proposed to give tn
| league the Importance of local orgs
nizations. There is no need of it. Blu
| it is desirable that opportunity be gi.
/ en- for a careful enrolment and prope
classification of the names of all VIII
are in sympathy with the idea. TIL
record will be kept at the headquarter
at Dayton, Ohio. Every bit of info
nation will be given to the publ
through the press, except such as ma
be sent later by mail to all member
of record and any attempt on the PAL
of anybody to solicit funds or wor
any business scheme is spurious an
unauthorized.
IF the 'Carnation League of Anne
lea" serves the purpose of perennis
memorial to faithful public servan
and at the same time fosters a nation
| II ,f ,;/t; Il