[CANTON, OHIO, OCTOBER 13.]
Canton, the home of Hon. William McKinley, Jr., gave the President a most cordial and clamorous greeting. The G. A. R. and other organizations were out in full force. Among the leading citizens who welcomed the Chief Executive were: W. K. Miller, W. L. Alexander, Judge J. P. Fawcett, J. M. Campbell, Judge J. W. Underhill, Andrew D. Braden, Col. J. E. Dougherty, Col. J. J. Clark, N. Holloway, and Capt. C. T. Oldfield.
Major McKinley introduced the President, who addressed the large assemblage, saying:
My Fellow-citizens—The inconvenience which you suffer to-day, and under which I labor in attempting to speak to you, comes from the fact that there are more of you here than can come within the range of my voice, but not more, I assure you, my fellow-citizens, than I can take and do take most hospitably in my regard. [Cheers.] It gives me great pleasure to stand here in the prosperous and growing city of Canton. I am glad to be at the home of one with whom I have been associated in Congressional duties for a number of years, and who in all personal relations with me, as I believe in all personal relations with you, his neighbors, has won my regard, as I am sure he has won yours [cheers]; and without any regard to what may be thought of the McKinley bill, I am sure here to-day you are all the good neighbors and friends of William McKinley. [Cheers.] Kind-hearted and generous as he seems to me, I am sure he has not failed in these social relations, whatever judgment you may have of his political opinions, in making the masses of the people proud of him as their distinguished friend. [Cheers.]
You have here to-day the representatives of men from the shops, from the railroads, from the stores, from the offices of your city. You are living together in those helpful and interchanging relations which make American life pleasant and which make American cities prosperous. The foundation of our society is in the motto that every man shall have such wages as will enable him to live decently and comfortably, and rear his children as helpful and safe and useful American citizens. [Cheers.] We all desire, I am sure—every kindly heart—that all the relations between employers and workmen shall be friendly and kind. I wish everywhere the associations were closer and employers more thoughtful of those who work for them. I am sure there is one thing in which we all agree, whatever our views may be on the tariff or finance, and that is, there is no prosperity that in the wide, liberal sense does not embrace within it every deserving and industrious man and woman in the community. [Cheers.] We are here all responsible citizens, and we should all be free from anything that detracts from our liberties and independence, or that retards the development of our intelligence, morality, and patriotism.
I am glad here to speak to some, too, who were comrades in the great struggle of the Civil War [cheers]; glad that there are here soldiers who had part in that great success by which our institutions were preserved and the control and sovereignty of the Constitution and law were forever established. [Cheers.] To them, and to all such friends, I extend to-day a hearty greeting, and would if I could extend a comrade's hand. [Cheers.] And now, my friends, the heat of this day, the exhaustion of a dozen speeches, made at intervals as we have come along, renders it impossible that I should speak to you longer. I beg to thank you all for your presence. I beg to hope that, as American citizens, however we differ about particular matters of legislation or administration, we are all pledged, heart and soul, life and property, to the preservation of the Union and to the honor of our glorious flag. [Great cheering.]
[ALLIANCE, OHIO, OCTOBER 13.]
At Alliance the assembly was very large. A Reception Committee, headed by Mayor J. M. Stillwell and comprising the following leading citizens, met the President: Hon. David Fording, H. W. Harris, T. R. Morgan, Wm. Brinker, Madison Trail, Dr. J. H. Tressel, H. W. Brush, W. H. Morgan, Thos. Brocklebank, Chas. Ott, Dr. W. P. Preston, E. N. Johnston, J. H. Focht, W. H. Ramsey, W. W. Webb, E. E. Scranton, Henry Heer, Jr., and Harper Brosius.