Charity chain letter. President McKinley Memorial. Three copies. US,  1905.

No. 209

                              York, Nebr. October 26th 1905.

E. N. Merrill Esq.

Dear Sir:-
          It has been suggested that a subscription be started
to accumulate a fund to build a monument to our martyred President,
William McKinley, in his cemetery lot at Canton, Ohio.
          Justice Day of that City, one of the Supreme Justices,
is president of the movement.   In no other way is it as easy to
raise this amount of money, for this purpose, as by the chain
system.   Will you therefore mail ten cents in this letter, to
Justice Day, Canton, Ohio, and write three distinct letters, copies
of this one, signing your name and numbering them one higher than
this one, and send them to three of your friends, who will be
interested in the movement.
          It would be advisable to send one to a nearby friend and
the others to friends as far away as possible, in order to send
the plan broadcast.
          Under no conditions break the chain.
          Send remittances and this letter to Honorable W.R. Day,
Canton, Ohio.

                             Very truly yours,
                                        Otto E. Evans

Blue typing (mimeograph?) on 8.5 by 11 inch paper.  No envelope.  Names are signed.  Keystrokes preserved. See the New York Times, "Mason's McKinley Fund," Sept., 27, 1906, p. 7:2. [Statement that McKinley National Memorial Association is not involved with an effort by Masons to collect money for a McKinley memorial.  They received "a number of endless - chain letters" soliciting money for a monument at late president's cemetery lot in Canton, Ohio.]
Provided by Rob Washburn.  Ebay lot 449813231 to VanArsdale, 10/30/00. Have same chain, 1901.

ce1905-10-26_mckinley_sdq3

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