The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-12-27
Description
Of The Trip Which Ohio Boys
Made TO Washington
Written By Clyde ". Purdy
A Knox County Boy

VII Zip SuCu dS over tnTee nun
dred and fifty Ohio boys enjoyed the
past week, there are many advantages
In a great number going as one, and
representing other individuals and
perhaps Industries at home.
Many privileges are given, such as
meeting and listening to men OF
world wide fame and visiting some
places of national interest, which
pleasure would not be granted to an
individual, observing only for his own
benefit.
A few prominent people who accom-.
panied US on our trip to the national
capital were Mr.. A. P. Sandles, sec.
retary OF the State Board Of Agricul.
ture, three or four members Of the
board, MIR. Dewey Hanes, the cham.
pion corn grower. Miss Mary Whittak.
er, the only girl In the company, who
raised an acre Of corn, and represen.
tatives Of different newspapers.
We started from Columbus on a
special train Of Pullmans about eight
thirty o'clock Monday afternoon and
reached Pittsburg about two O'Clock
Tuesday morning.
We ate breakfast at the Fort Pitt
Hotel where we were addressed by
Mr.. Sandles, and Mr.. Harmon, editor
of the National Stockman and Farm.
er. In Pittsburg we visited the Pitts.
burg Packing Cos. Plant where we
watched them kill and dress cattle
and hogs ready for the Christmas
market. We also visited the Heinz
company who gave us banquet and
told about their building and improv.
ed methods Of picking various fruits
The next stop on our way was Har.
risburg. Here we banquetted at the
board of trade hall. and visited the
noted Capitol Building of the Keystone
State, where we were addressed by
Governor Tener. From Harrisburg we
made no more stops until we reached
the Capitol City. ,As for scenery the
trip through Pennsylvania was simply
grand. but as for soil and the condi
zion of the town and cities, give me
Ohio every time.
Wednesday morningswe were taken
over the city OF Washington in autos
each company having lecturer who
explained to us the things of interes,
as we passed them.
On this trip We saw the old homes
of Edgar Allen Poe, Jefferson Davis
Fighting Bob" Evans, General Grant
and Admiral Dewey, the Unitarian
church which Taft attends. the home
OF DIR. Riley, of pure GOOD fame, Ford's
theatre where Lincoln was shot and
the house where he died, National
buildings, and the homes of prominent
f; men.
While at Washington we made two
attempts to reach Mt. Vernon, Wash
ington's old home. On the first 1t wal
60 fOggy that the pilot Of our boa,
could not find his way, so we wenI
back and the next morning we tried
1t again. This time we were success
full. A brisk wind had sprung up ant
lifted the fog during the night And
a great success it was too, for the
scenery along the Potomac riveri is Ger
tainly beautiful and 1t was the one
event OF our lives to view the scenes
and to walk in the paths which wer,
familiar to George Washington, ant
to look through his old home, ant
greatest OF all TO nave the privilege
of standing, with barred heads, bef0r'
the resting place Of the father Of ou
country.
In the National building which W,
visited In Washington. think tn,
most interesting were the Capitol an
Congressional Library. The Lbrar
OF Congress Is the costliest and mos
beautiful library in the world. 1t cos
ten million dollars and It took thirtee
years tn build It, It contains the fan
GUS Vedder Morale. At the capital "
were addressed by Champ Clark an
Uncle Joe Cannon. We were also n
ceived in the East room OF the Whit
House where President Taft gave u
the history Of the building. He ais
praised agriculture In general an
corn growing in particular.
The trip was replete with theatr
parties, banquets. sightseeing. NEE
ing Of prominent men. and Is was ed
,cational as wei as entertaining frol
beginning to end. Through these Co
umns wish to thank the Grams
and the individuals who made 1t po
sible for me to go.
CLYDE w. PURDY.