New-York tribune., 1905-01-29
MKINLEYS BIRTHDAY.
Gro5oth of Custom of Wearing Car
nation on That Day.

To-day is Carnation Day. Sxty-two years ago
to-day William Mckinley was born. Two years
ago to-day this date was first observed in his
honor, and the custom established of wearing
that occasion the favOrite flower of the mar
tyred President.
The society which has been organized for the
purpose of perpetuating Carnation Day is the
Carnation League of America. This organiza-
ton already includes hundred thousand
members, and among its trustees are men Of high
national prominence. This year the league has
made a special appeal for the observance of
the day, it falls ON Sunday. 1t has partic-
ularly requested all the churches and other
religious and patriotic organizations to include
a memorial to the dead President In their reg
ular services.
The fondness of William Mckinley for the
carnation is said to date back to his visit to the
Lake Erie College at PainesviIle Ohio, when he
was Governor of that State. A bevy of girl
pupils greeted him. and after telling him that
they had made him an honorary member of
their class they pinned to his coat their class
fOwer the carnation. From that day to the
day when he was shot he always wore this
Hover in his buttonhole. Mrs Mckinley also
look great interest in the class and its token,
and was wont to provide bunch of carnations
Tr her husbands room every morning.
Oftentimes the President would wear a hum
!red flowers in one day. Senator Hanna in tell
Sg why he needed so many blossoms, said one
9me:
Mr.. Mckinley always appeared at the Ex-
tcutive office in the morning with carnation
In his buttonhole. and when it became neces-
Iary to turn down a candidate for office who
lad succeeded in obtaining a personal inter-
eW he frequently took the flower from his
own buttonhole and pinned it on the coat of the
Office seeker. 1t was generally understood by
the officials in the outer rooms that when a
-,1ndidate came from the Presidents office
1hus decorated the carnation was all he got"
The idea of Carnation Day originated with
Lewis G. Reynolds, of Dayton Ohio On Sep
enber IL, 1902, the first anniversary of the
residents death, MIR. Reynolds happened to
he in Buffalo In telling of the occasion, Mr..
teynolds said:
The day had been proclaimed holiday but
he display of draped flags was meagre; not
from any feeling of Indifference on the part of
The people, but because few were prepared with
The proper materials for the display
Knowing that the carnation was Mr.. Nc
Kinley's favorite flower, I purchased one tied
a bit of black ribbon to it, and wore it in my
buttonhole the entire day, without for the
moment. thinking of what it might mean later
on The idea Of Carnation Day grew upon me-
however. and a few weeks later I brought the
al Memorial Association at Canton, Ohio and it
met with the instant approval of Senator Han
ma, Judge William R. Day and other trustees
of the association. 1t was my original idea that
Carnation Day be observed September H.
the anniversary of Mr.. McKinley's death lust
as the primrose is worn in England on April 10
in memory Of Lord Beaconsfeld, but Alexander
H Revell. of Chicago, a Carnation League trus-
tee, was successful in having the date changed
to January 20. Mr.. McKinley's birthday as
being more appropriate"
The trustees of the league President
Roosevelt, Charles w. Fairbanks Vice -Presi-
dent-elect; George B. Cortelyou, chairman of the
Republican National Committee; William r
Day, justice of the United States Supreme
Court; David R Francis president of the St
Louis Exposition; Myron T. Herrick Governor
of Ohio; Alexander H Revell, the well known
merchant and educator of Chicago; S. B. RAN
kin and Lewis c. Reynolds.