The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-01-29
ANNIvERsARY OF PRESIDENT Nc
kKINLEY's BIRTH is FlTTlNGLY
OBSERVED.
ROOSEVELT WEARS FLOWER
Ard in This Simple Manner the Chief
Executive Pays Respect to His
Predecessor - Carnaton Day Ap-
pCals to Every Citizen

Washington. Jan. 2'. President
Roosevelt appeared today wearing a.
carnauou in his buttouholr. in loving
memory Of his predecessor in the
presidential chair. and hts example
was followed by half thr citizens otI
the national capital. The carnatiou
league of America iuaueuratcd the
custom of rcmcmbering the birthday
Of the late William Mckinley by.
wearing q carnation. his faNoritc|
flower. and it Is now generally OBJ
served in Washington and throughout
the country. Democrats as well as
republicans among the senator's and
representatives paid this mark of re-
spcct TO the martyr president today.
William Mckinley was born Jan.
30. 1Si3 IN Ohio. Before his ascend
ency TO the office of president of the
United States he was chairman OF
the powerful ways and means com
mittee i'm congress and the tariff bill
OF which H. was the author still bears
noted place in American political
history.
Mckinley was shot Sept G.. at But-
falo. y. Y. by Czolgos and died eight
days later.
The dead president loved the car.
nation above all other flowers. 1t Is
peculiarly appropriate, therefore, that
"A nation should wear upon his birth
day this tender token OF affection.
The custom was originated by Lew
is G.. Reynolds of Dayton, o., who
wore white carnation drapcd in
black on the first anniversary of the
presidents death Later he concciy-
ed the idea of The Carnation League
Of America and took steps to organ
izc 1t.
II was while Mckinley was COVER
nor Of Ohio that his fancy for carna-
tiuus became fonducss \ bcvy OF
gil students Of Lake Erie college,
Plainsyinc, O., made his an honorary
member of their class, at the same
time pmning their class flower. a
carnation. in his buttonhole
The incident occurred while Cover
nor Mckinley was in Plainosyille as
guest Of the Garfield club. lie ever
afterwards cyinced an interest ia the
class aud often remembered and was
remembered by them Mrs. Mckinley
also became Interested in the class
and its insignia and provided bunch
of carnations for her husbands room
every morning. \ reunion of the class
was in progress when Mr. Mckinley
was first nominated for the presi
| dency and "A congratulatory telegram
was sent him. At each subsequent re-
union of the class the president was
remembered with box q carnations
When Mr. Reynolds presented tn,
"carnation day idea TO the attention
| of The Mckinley National Memoria,
association at Canton, Ohio, it me'
with the instant approval of the l"i,
Senator Hanna. Jude William X
Day and other trustees Of that asso
( citation II was Mr.. Reynolds origina
idea that "caruaton day be observed
on September II, the anniversary %
Mr.. McKinley's death Just as the
primrose Is worn In England on AprI
10. in memory of Lord Beaconsiield
but Alexander II. Reycll Of Chicago
a carnatiou league trustee, was sue
cessful In having the date changed Il
Jan. % as being more appropriate
The idea was promulgated througI
newspapers on December ?, 1902 an,
met with universal approval.
The primary object of the move
ment is, Of course, 10 provide a pei
petual memorial in honor OF McKm
ley. The object has already been aC
. compllshed Hundreds Of thousand
Of his countrymen had it in mind I
= do him honor, annually in some al
propriate manner The 'camattor
day idea struck a responsive chor
in line with the loyal impulse whlc
: prompted the stopping Of nearly a
n the wheels OF industry 10 rthose fe
5 moments Of the day Of burial
The day was first observed on Ja'
30. 1903 the sXtieth anniversary Z
McKinley's birth. Hundreds Of thou
ands Of Americans at home az
abroad wore the blossom as a take
nf thnlt. lnNn and 70. lDnL