The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-29

uE2 United States today.
I@1l1 Lewis G. Reynolds OF
SN Richmond. who was the
W&4hW founder of the Carnation
NMA League of America, tells
in an article written for the Palladium
several years ago, how the idea orig
mated. The article Is reproduced
here.
have often been asked how came
conceive of "Carnation Day." I have
never told the story completely until
now.
l happened to be in Buffalo, N. r,
on September IA, 1902. the first ami
versary Of the late presidents death,
which as Is well known occurred In
that city. The mayor of Buffalo at the
instance of the city council. had Is
sued proclamation declaring Sept.
IA, 1902, legal holiday, requesting
the merchants to close their stores
and. together with the citizens gener-
ally to display flags draped In black,
or decorate their places OF business
and private homes with some insignia
of mourning.
A majority of the business houses
and great number of private resi-
dences responded loyalty.
was in the city on business. had
an acquaintance with Mr.. Mckinley,
as governor of my state and was a
great admirer of him as a man and
statesman. knew that the carnation
was his favorite flower and was al
ways seen in the lapel of his coat
whenever the occasion was appropri-
ate.
In an effort to enter into the spirit
Of the local observance of the day in
Buffalo, went to a florists, purchas-
ed pink carnation, attached a bit of
black ribbon to 1t and pinned it in the
button-hole Of my coat, little thinking
to what 1t might lead.
My business took me to Tonawanda
and Niagara Falls as well as Buffalo.
Throughout the day was accosted by
scores Of persons, utter strangers to
me most of them, who asked the
meaning Of the flower and the ribbon.
l explained in a few words. Many of
them took up with the idea, doubtless
told others and it spread so rapidly
that the stock Of carnations in the
three cities was quickly exhausted.
On my return to Buffalo in the even
ing, hundreds upon hundreds of the
flowers were in evidence, worn not
only by men but women as well. The
idea grew upon me as I thought the
more Of 1t and l wondered why 1t
might not be made National custom.
Explains carnation Day.
A few weeks later Senator Hanna
was in my home city in Ohio as the
principal speaker at a political mass
meeting in which took an inconspic-
uous part. After the meeting the
speakers were entertained at the City
club. I managed to get the senator's
attention for q few moments and ex-
planned the idea Of "Carnation Day"
The enthusiasm with which he re-
ceived it was most encouraging. In his
hearty manner and with his quick, al
most instantaneous grasp of subject,
he said: Capital! Capital! Just the
very thing; so simple and easy to OBJ
serve and can be taken part in by the
old and the young, men and wimen
alike. Except in some such simple
way as that it would be difficult to es-
tablish Mckinley day. Besides. it is
SO full Of sentiment that it will be
peculiarly appropriate as a memorial
to William" His voice broke and his
eyes brimmed with tears. He contin-
| ued: Just as soon as this campaign
is over, a few weeks now, want you
to come to Cleveland. We will then
talk the matter over at more length
and start is properly" He did not for
| get About ten days after the cleo
ton in November, I was invited to
| come to Cleveland. There I met, by
| appointment, Mr.. Ryerson Richie,
then secretary of the Mckinley Mem
| orial Association, which had in hand
the building of the mausoleum at Can
| ton, Ohio, and also Mr.. Myron T. Her
rick, later Governor of Ohio, ambassa-
dor to France, and now mentioned for
high honors. All were enthusiastic on
the proposition.
Congress to Change Date.
My original idea was that "Carna.
ton Day" should be observed on Sep
| TENDER 18th, the date of Mr.. McKin-
ley's death, and if that date were Sc
lected there was plenty of time to
consider the matter and not promul-
gate the idea until nearer the date OF
its proposed observance.
Senator Hanna had evidently men.
toned the matter to other members
of the board of trustees Of The Nc
Kinley Memorial Association of which
Mr.. Alexander III. Devell of Chicago
was one, and from him came the sug.
gestion that the date of birth be sc.
; lected as "Carnation Day." rather
than the date of death. He put his
suggestion tersely, thus: For myself
I want to remember that William Nc.
Kinley lived, not that he died" The
suggestion was accepted instantly and
thus 1t was that "Carnation Day" was
fixed as January 20, instead Of Sep
TENDER IA. But few weeks remained,
therefore, to form the plan and decide
upon the proper public PRONUNCIATION
of the matter, which was made early
in January of 1903. It received the
most widespread publicity and the
first "Carnation Day." January 30,
1903, the sixtieth anniversary OF Mr..
McKinley's birth was observed with
great unanimity throughout the coun-