Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1907 — TRIBUTE TO M’KINLEY [ARTICLE]

TRIBUTE TO M’KINLEY

Roosevelt Takes Part in Dedication of Monument. AT IIIE CANTON TOMB / - Mausoleum the Finest Ever Erected for Any President. THOUSANDS ATTEND CEREMONY.

Memorial Is Nation’s Gift to Memory of Martyred Executive. Canton, -Ohio, never.-before placed the host to such a large number of "distinguished Amorterms-aod -so-maay-thousands of other guests as came Monday to participate In or witness the ceremonies attending the dedicatlon of the McKinley memorial on Monument Hill, in West Lawn cemetery. President Roosevelt arrived abort ty after 10 o'clock on a -speclaL traln, and was greeted at the station by a crowd that blocked the streets In every direction. Other special trains rushed thousands Into the city, including governors of States, Senators and -Congressmen, mayors and other civic authorities from all over Ohio and adjoining States. The leading feature of the day’s eelebrntion was the dedication of the beautiful granite structure In whiclT the bodies of the murdered President and his wife will lie. From the speakers’ stand at the foot of the broad steps leading up to the monument President Roosevelt delivered his eulogy of McKinley before a throng of people that filled every'lnch of the open space and overflowed far into the adjoining part of the cemetery. Justice W. R. Day, president of the memorial association, and Governor Harris also made speeches, and James Whitcomb Riley read a poem. The heroic bronze monument of Mr. McKinley was unveiled by Miss Helen McKinley, his sister. The parade through the streets of Canton was the most impressive ever witnessed in the city. For miles the marching ranks passed in a narrow lane through solid banks of spectators, sweeping past the reviewing stand in West rublic Square, where stood President Roosevelt and other distinguish ed visitors. Shawl ASmUob of PeopU. The McKinley tomb, around which centered the Impressive ceremonial of the day, is the most elaborate monument erected over the last resting place of any of the country’s Presidents. It typifies both the affection of all the people and the devotion of hie personal friends, for its cost was defrayed by the general public, while those close to the President in his lifetime collected a fund of SIOO,OOO, which will assure the maintenance of the mausoleum in perfect repair for generations. West Lawn cemetery, where the monument stands, is on the outskirts of Canton, and the lofty structure, on the-emst of a hill, may he seen for miles, and'from the passing trains which carry travelers to and from the “home town” of McKinley. It was not long after Mr. McKinley’s death that the movement to erect a mighty and impressive tomb was launched. As the first step the McKinley National Memorial Association was formed and $600,000 was raised by popular subscription. With a part of the fund twenty-six acres In the cemetery was purchased. A number of architects were invited to submit designs for a mausoleum, and that prepared by 11. Van Buren Magonigle of New York was selected. The structure that is the result rises to a height of 108. feet and at the base is seventy-nine feet In diameter. The exterior is of pink Milford granite. Within, the walls are faced with light gray Knoxville marble. The structure is lighted only from above and the Shaft of sunlight which penetrates the twilight of the mausoleum and falls upon the great sarcophagus adds beauty to the solemn, 6ilent room. The double sarcophagus which holds the bodies of Mr. McKinley and his wife is constructed of brick and cement, with an exterior of polished black marble. The two caskets, exactly alike, are of brouze and are of great weight The mausoleum stands in what is In reality a park of its own. , From its facade on the edge of the hill a broad granite stairway sweeps downward, broken by four landings to the “long watejc” which stretches from the base of the bill and mirrors the glistening tomb and long white stairway. The hill Itself has been cut Into four terraces, and at its base Is a broad plaza encircled toy * low parapet walL