Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-10-01
Justice VIM, r. DAYS Speech.

| the dead President whose services in
life we this day commemorate
Justice VIM. r. Days Speech.
Justice William r. Day. in his adj
dress on the building of the memorial,
| said in part:
The Mckinley National Memorial AS
ISOLATION today presents it's completed
work to the Nation and people who's .
| generosity has enabled ii to he built
For six years the work of duty and
| devotion crowned by the ceremony OF
| this day has been carried forward. On
| the day when the vast concourse OF
people who attended the funeral of thu.
| martyred President paid their tribute
| of affection and regret, 4 few friends
! remained to consider the manner of
| providing the final resting place and a
suitable memorial to the lamented
! dead. Other places had been sug-
| geSted, only one was seriously thought
| of. 1t was the known wish of Will
| liam Mckinley that when he should
| receive the final summons which comes
| to all. his body should rest among
kindred and friends and with the loved
! ones of his blood who had gone before.
| 1t was the undivided opinion of those
| assembled that at some spot near his
old home. near his kindred and among
| those loved ones. the place of sepulchre
should be located.
| To make this purpose effectual no
| better means were suggested than the
| formation Of permanent society An
executive committee had been APP
| pointed to have charge of the funeral
! ceremonies at Canton and this COM
mittae effected an organization under
the name Of the Mckinley National
| Memorial Association.
| An appeal to the public was pre-
pared and Issued the same day. The
| cooperation of the governors and
| officers of the states and municipalities
of the United States and of all re-
| ligious, educational, civic and other or
| CARNATIONS was invited The press of
| the country was asked to lend its aid
in collecting subscriptions. In ac-
cordance with the regulations of the
! association. the principal business office
| was established in Canton. 1t was in
formally decided that the sum of $500
| 600 would be necessary to erect suit
able memorial and properly endOw it
| with 4 fund for its care. Many thou
| sands Of letters were sent to people
throughout the Union asking for their
influence and cooperation in the rails
ing of the necessary funds. The
Grand Army of the Republic, benev"-
4 lert, ecclesiastical and labor orSaniZa
tons were asked to take up the worl:
il within their own bodies and they re-
1sponded most nobly to the call. Gov
! Of
IA proclamation asking that the ami
| yersary of the Presidents birth be OBJ
served with appropriate exercises by
the school children. in whose welfare
the President ever took the warmest
interest, and that every child in schooi
be given an opportunity to contribute
| to the memorial fund. Governor
Nash's proclamation was commune
| Gated to the governor of each state II,
the Union. requesting similar acton
This course had much to do with max :
ing McKinley's birthday Il general h"ll-
day in the country. and the resulting
contributions of the children made pam
that the confidence Of the association
| in their patriotism ard love of Il roGh
mans memory had not been mis-
| placed.
Canton having been chosen as the
| place, the society was carly confronted
with the question of the exact location
of the memorial. Tho place from
| which it now rises was part of the
property of the Canton Cemetery As
| ISOLATION. From this cminence. with
| friends. President Mckinley had often
looked upon tho sweep Of the sNr-
rounding city and country and re-
! marked its eligibility as site for a
/ monument to the deceased soldiers ami
sailors Of Stark county. A visit 70
this hill was made by the board or
trustees and the problem solved itself
II was at once decided to acquire TINS
spot.
At the meeting Of the trustees. on
June %. 1909 it was determined that
designs for the memorial should pc W
vited. ~ ~ GAsHNaASa1
| To the request for the submission OF
designs for the memorial more thah
sixty were submitted. The trustees
rcalizing the Importance and lasting
character of the work. and. that hoi'c
l of their number was expert IN SOUP
| ture and architecture. and tnat oniy
the best results could be had py III
| wiling the cooperation of the l"reli'oS.
i skilled talent of the country, requested
the cooperation of Mr.. Robert ;. Pea
i body CT Boston, and Mr.. Walter COOK
of New York, architects. and Mr.
DANIEL Chester French of New YORK
sculptor. On November %. 1914, the
trustees met in New York and received
the report of the committee conveying
the information that after viewing ana
considering the ten designs submitted