Details of Luncheon in President’s Honor

ABOUT 200 PROMINENT OFFICIALS AND OTHERS WILL
BE INVITED—AFFAIR WILL BE EXCLUSIVE.

     Director-General Buchanan of the American Exposition, and President Lockwood of the New York State Commission to the Exposition at a conference yesterday afternoon determined the details of the luncheon to the President that is to be given in the New York State Building on President’s Day.
     New York State’s tribute to the Nation’s chief will not consume more than an hour of Mr. McKinley’s time. It will occur at 1 o’clock.
     Tables elaborately decorated with flowers supplied by Superintendent of Floriculture Scott will be arranged in the big reception room and the balconied lobbies on the second floor of the handsome marble building. Covers will be laid for 200. The invitations have been sent to officials only. The guests will include the members of the President’s cabinet, other government officials, United States Army officers in Buffalo, etc.
     The luncheon will be served in four courses, and will be light, partaking little of the nature of a banquet. Any speechmaking that occurs will be informal. The members of the New York State Commission understand readily the strain that the visit to the Exposition will be to the President, and they have decided not to ask him to make a speech. If the President, unsolicited, should say a few words, President Lockwood, as host, will probably reply.
     During the course of the luncheon the building will be closed to all but the holders of invitations. Exposition guards and the members of the 4th National Guard Signal Corps, which is to act as the President’s escort, will form a cordon about the building and keep the crowds back.