The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-09-26
McKlNLEYsMASSlLLON 20
THE DIsHoNoRABLE COURSE OF
THE CHRISTIAN ~ STATESMAN.

THE CHRISTIAN ~ STATESMAN "
81 Don't Approve Of Using Money for Political
Purposes, but See Brother Abner"-NOne but
Church Members Appointed to OfIlCo-True
Inwardness Of the " Hot Coffee" Can
dldatO's Personal Honor.
The brief exposure of Major McKin'
ley's dishOnorable conduct in the Mas
sillon postoffice appointment, as told in
our last issue, has brought to this Office
several letters and many verbal requests
from prominent Republicans Of Perry
township that we should procure the
Ffull particulars of the utter disregard
with which Mckinley treated his friends
and supporters in having the present in
cumbent of that Office appointed. TIC
crafty the requests of these gentlemen
and at the same time show to all the
people from whom this solicitor Of votef
is asking a reelection, how he repayf
those who have befriended him in hit
hour of need, ard what high estimate
this "rising young statesman places or
his plighted word of honor as man, We
dispatched a special correspondent tc
Massillon to ascertain all the details
On arriving in the West End city oul
man filled his quiver full Of interroga'
ton points and cast about him for the
most desirable mark at which to dis
charge them. He soon discovered thai
the unsuccessful aspirant for the post
mastership, Mr.. Fred Hookway, was his
objective point for the desired informa,
! ton.
Before calling upon Mr.. Hookway he
learned incidentally what manner ol
man he was by an irregular interview ol
numerous prominent citizens. He has
been in business in MassilIon for thirty,
two years, and to epitomize all that was
said in his favor, his reputation for hon.
esty and veracity has never been ques-
toned. This gentleman was found by
our interviewer busy in his clothing es.
tablishment on Main street, and as soon
as disenpaged he was thus addressed
"Mr. Hookway, come to you from
the Stark County Democrat to get full
history of your candidacy for postmaster
of Massillon. Can you grant the time,
and favor that paper with your knowl-
edge of why you failed to secure the APP
pointment?"
The answer came promptly and ear
nestly:
81 shall be very glad to do 80, for
wish all my friends who supported me
to know how shamefully they were
treated in that matter"
He invited the man with the pencil to
his pleasant apartments over the store,
and after being seated told the following
astounding story;
ain the month of April previous to
McKinley's first nomination he told Mr..
Clement Russell that he must have my
services to assist in securing him the
nomination. / went to Canton, saw him,
aud after some general talk, told him
that l would not turn my hand in the
matter until he promised to make me
postmaster of Massilon. He replied to
me in about this language: Mr.. Hook
way, you can see the position it would
place me in ii l gave you distinct prom
ise to appoint you, in case it should be-
come known. Now, I've spoken so that
you can understand me; l am a man of
honor and a gentleman, and you 60 on
and do your work. Not perfectly salts
fed with this, sent Mr.. Russell to talk
with him. His report was that McKin-
ley had promised to not make the ap-
pointment without his (Russell's) sane
ton, and that there was no doubt about
it, l should 60 ahead. On the strength
of these answers l went to work. In the
first talk l had with him said if he would
do as wished I'd secure him the NOM
ination, but it would take money. In
answer to this he said that 1 must be
aware that he was opposed to using
money for political purposes, but says
he, go to my brother Abner, he'll &C.
commodate YOU l found that brother
Abner had no sCruples on that point, for
at different times when I asked MIN for
$50, $l00, or 5000, it was handed out
without a word, and l knew that the
Major knew that it was put where it
would do the most good. Not one cent
of that money Clung to my fingers, and
up to the time of the primary election l,
was securing all parts of the county and
paid nly OlOn expenses.
At the time of our first talk the Ma.
ior said that he, of course, would expect
me to furnish recommendations, so that
he could have something to show for
making the appointment; and after his
nomination my friends circulated peti.
tions and secured signers for that pur.
pose. My papers were forwarded to
Washington, and the subject dragged
along until the holiday recess of Con.
gress last winter, when the Major re.
turned home on visit. During his va.
cation in Canton l called on him in
reference to my prospects. We had a
talk of about two hours duration, and
during the conversation he said to me-
Mr.. Hookway, they tell me that you
are not church member2' At the time
l evaded the question, but again he put
it at me in this form: Fred, now be
candid. What church do you belong to-
and bow long has it been since you were
to church?' 1 told him quickly that l
had not been to church for twenty-five
years, but I said to him: Major, when
1 was working for your nomination you
didn't ask me what church l belonged to!
Now, when [ ask you to fulfill your
promise, you ask me whether 1 am a
Christian or not
Our man said to him, "Mr. Hookway,
how many signatures did you have to