The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-10-01

The Mckinley mauso1eum, tribute
and gift OF a nation to the memory OF
the rnartyred president, was dedicat-
ed this afternoon in the presence of
hundreds of distinguished men from
all parts of the United States, repre-
sentatives of foreign countries and a
crowd of approximately $4,000 people
The dedication was distinguished by
the presence of the president of the
United States, Vice President Fair
banks, members OF the presidents S
cabinet and United States senators
and governors of several states. Ad-
dresses were delivered by President
Roosevelt, Chief Justice William b.
Day, McKinley's secretary Of state,
and Governor Harris of Ohio, who
acted as president of the day. The
program ended by the singing Of
America" and the benediction by
Bishop Hartman Of Cleveland.
President Roosevelt and party then
visited the interior of the tomb, as
did the invited guests and the gem
eral public. Several thousand passed
through the tomb, which is built at
a cost of over $500, 600 and is the do
nation Of over 1000, 900 Americans to
the memory Of William Mckinley.
Justice Day called the assembly 10
order and introduced Governor Harris,
president of the day. The governor
introduced Rev. Dr. Bristol of Wash
ington, whose church Mckinley at
tended while in Washington. DR..
Bristol offered prayer. Governor
Harris then delivered the opening ad-
dress Of the ceremonies, saying in
part: wv
"All who knew William Mckinley
loved and admired. him. He was
worthy of their fullest confidence and
equal to any emergency in either pub:
| lie or private life He had been 4
pupil Of Grant, Garfield and Harrison
in war and in peace, and he added
fresh laurels to the crown of his
elder comrades. 1t is therefore emf
nently fitting that the great defender
of popular rights who took up the
work when Mckinley ceased should
be the one on this sacred occasion tq
speak of the life and the services OF
the martyred president"
Justice Day was greeted with 81
| lent respect when he rose to tell the
story and. the history of the magnifi
cent mausoleum.
At the close Of Justice Days speech
Governor Harris asked the audience
| to rise while Miss Helen Mckinley
drew aside the flag disclosing the mag
nificent bronze figure of Mckinley II
| the attitude of delivering his las
speech on the day Of his assassination
/ at Buffalo, September 6, 1901. The
flag was removed slowly and impres
sively. This was followed by ths
reading of the poem, William Nc
Kinley,, by James Whitcomb Reilly
Governor Harris then introduced
the president of the United States
who delivered an oration on the ap
|preeiation of Mckinley. Presiden
Roosevelt spoke in part as follows
We have gathered together today II
pay our need of respect and aztec
tion to the memory of William McKin
ley, who as president won a place il
the hearts of the American peopl'
such as but three or four of all tn
presidents of this country have eve
won. He was of singular uprightnes
and purity of character, alike in pub
lie and in private life; a citizen VIII,
loved peace, he did his duty faithful
and well for four years OF war, whel
the honor of the nation called him t
arms. AS congressman, as gOvernO
of his state and finally as president
he rose to the foremost place anon
| our statesmen, reaching a position
i, which would satisfy the keenest amb
ton; but he never lost that simpl
and thoughtful Kindness toward ever
human being, great or small, lofty Q
humble, with whom he was brought /
contact, which so endeared him to on
people. He had to grapple with NOR
serious and complex problems tina
any president since Lincoln, and We
while meeting every demand of state
! manship. he continued to live beaut
{ full and touching family life, a Iii
= very healthy for this nation to see
7 Its foremost citizen; and now the W
!. man who walked in the shadow eve
1 after his death, the wife 10 whom h
g loss: was a calamity more crushin
n than it could be TO any other huma
being, lies beside him here in Il
same sepulcher.
$ There Is a singular appropriatene'
7 IN the Inscription on his monumen
d Mr.. Cortelyou whose relations Wi
Il him were OF such close intimac
|, gives me the following informatit
$ about it: On the presidents trip
the Pacific slope In the spring OF 10