Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-17
CELTS LISTEN
TO STORIES OF
MARTYR CHIEF
TRIBUTES PAID TO M'KlNLEY
BY OLD FRIENDS
OLD DAYS ARE RECALLED BY
DAVID @. BAILLIE
Intimate Stories of Men Who Made
History in Washington, Told
by One Who
Knew

DR.. George f. Bovard, president of
the Celtic club of Los Angeles, pre-
sided at the November dinner, which
was held at the Westminster hotel
last evening, and by reason of one of
the principal features Of the program
was a Mckinley night. DR.. Bovard is
one of President McKinley's kinsmen
his second cousin. President Nc
Kinley in the announcement of the
dinner was referred to as zone of the
most distinguished Celts who has con-
tributed to the making of American
history"
There was a good attendance of club
members. The program of speech
making was diversified by music. Pro-
fessor James Main Dixon, historian OF
the club, gave a most instructive adj
dress on the Bretons, one of the six
principal Celtic races. In these days
of a great Celtic revival, interest is
keen in all the branches of the far
flung race, and not the least inter-
esting part of Professor DiXons con-
tribution to the sum of information
concerning a subject that is now being
eagerly studied and investigated was
his statement that the most efficient
men of the French navy-in fact, the
only men who are the equals I'm efti-
cheney of the men Of the British and
American navies, are the men who are
akin TO many of the men of the Amer
lean and British navies-the Celtic
Bretons.
George Wharton James and others
spoke. Mr.. James giving his opinion
that in glorious California, superb of
climate and isolated geographically,
the last stand of English-speakin
civilization is to be made, and that in
the southern part of this state, the
part of which Los Angeles is the cap
ital, it is to reach its perfection.
Talks About Mckinley
David Gemmell Baillie. associate
editor of Los Angeles Herald was the
guest of the evening, and delivered an
address on personal Recolections of
President Mckinley" Mr.. Baillie was
listened to with the keenest interest,
and his remarks were applauded
heartily. He said:
While l knew Major Mckinley from
the time of the New York Tribune Jubl-
lee celebration, and had met him at
various times my closest and most
remarkable daily association with him
lasted for about a year. before the
first Republican convention. when I
went to carry him the news he would
he nominated on the first ballot. and
afterward during the speechmaklng
time between his nomination and his
election when he conducted his eele-
brated front porch campaign. l acted
as his personal representative at the
convention and then remained with him
until Inauguration. when accom-
panied him to washington as one of his
party of personal friends. and said good
by to him in the White House.
have been asked very often why
after such a phenomenal feat help
ing nominate. campaign and elect a
president. l did not leave the news
paper business and go into the consular
service.
An Unusual Record
I will tell you exactly what I said to
President Mckinley when he put that
question to me in the White House.
/ said: major, | have only had the
honor to be In the United states long
enough to marry and settle down
Some of the boys think nothing could be
finer than to be sent away from home
on foreign duty, but AM away from
home, in a foreign country, and enjoy
ing every minute Of it,"
President Mckinley said: "WeI, it's