The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-15
AMID The Pines
McKinley's Presidential Boom
Takes on Strength
Away Down in Dixie,at Thomas
vile, Georgia
WORKERS MEET THERE
Four Hundred Atlanta Demo-
Gratis Form Club
To Support Mckinley for Presi-
dent in 1896.

TOWNSVILLE, Ga, March 15.-Major
William McKinley's campaign for presi-
dent has begun, and it has begun in the
most unexpected place imaginable; in
the midst of the Georgia pines. This
city now enjoys the distinction of having
within its gates a man who is perhaps
the most prominent man before the peo-
pie today next to President Cleveland.
He is accompanied by his wife. Mira Will
liam Osborn of Boston. Mass. and j. P.
Smith, state librarian of Ohio They are
staying at the elegant winter residence
OF Mark A. Hanna of Cleveland, who is
wintering here. 1t has been noised
abroad that the trip of Governor McKin-
ley was solely to visit his friend Mr.
Hanna, and to spend a couple of weeks
resting from his duties.
But outside circumstances seem to in
dicate strongly that the presidential
nomination of 1896 has something to do
with Mr.. McKinley's visit 1t is gener-
ally conceded that while in Thomasville
Mr. Mckinley will have conference
with large number of the leading Re
publicans of Georgia as well from
numerous other states representing every
section of the union. Such men as
Medill and Kohlsaat of Chicago will be
here aud they will consider matter re-
lating to Governor McKinley's nomina-
tion for president by the republicans in
1896.
The night before McKinley's arrival in
Georgia it was announced that 400 Dem
ocrats of Atlanta had organized d club
known as the Southern Republican club,
and at its head was W. a. Venerable,
who is the president of the Georgia
state senate, and who has always been u
Democrat
1t is said that Mckinley is very solid in
Birmingham, and that the sugar planters
of Louisiana are his sworn friends.
Mckinley, it is said, has an idea, which
is perhaps true, that the protection ele-
ment is growing in strength in the south.
Mckinley will be very apt to take better
in the south than Reed. The OHIO gov
ernor is the smoother citizen of the two.
| He does not say smart things, and is not
afraid to say dull thing if expsdient to
do so Reed would not say u dull thing
for state delegation Mckinley is a
man of excellent poise, of good taste,
extremely amiable and fair mixer He
carries himself very attractiveiy and
without half trying wins the regard of
those who lean even to the fortunes of
other candidates.
| Mckinley is good campaigner. He
will probably run across the Massachus-
| etts assemblymen, who are down in
Georgia now investigating the methods
of cotton manufacturing in the south. If
he does Reed had better keep close
watch on his New England friends.
Some of McKinlev's friends boast that
he will have a solid south controlled by
the iron mongers of Alabama and Ten.
nessee. the sugar growers of Louisiana
the fruit raisers of Florida and the cotton
manufacturers of Georgia.
A poll of the Republicans of the New
Hampshire Legislature few days ago
showed that while 100 were for Reed,
there were more than so for Mckinley as
first choice. There was a poll of the Re-
publicans of the Pennsylvania legisla-
ture and while Hastings, the governor,
got the largest Individual vote. which
was no doubt mplimentary, Mckinley
supporters outnumbered Reeds
Mckinley goes to New York next
month and is booked to make a speech
at Grants tomb at no distant day. He
will probably keep himself very much in
evidence and very much on the platform
during the next fifteen or sixteen
months