St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-25

friends among the OfhcerS urged me
to do so, and I would probably be in
the military service today if my father
and mother had not seriously objected.
Somehow or other, they did not think
much of my being in the army in the
time of peace. The result was that
came home and studied law. I went
to law school at Albany, and then
hung out my shingle in Canton, as a
young practitioner. I continued to
practice law until I was elected to
congress-
LAW AS A PROFESSION.
do you remember your first law
case, governor, and what do you think
of law as a profession? Financially,
and otherwise. is it worth the best
work of a mans life?"
Il will answer your last question
first" replied Gov. Mckinley. at con-
slider the law the best of professions.
There is enough in it to bring out all
there is in any man, and under proper
conditions it is financially profitable.
AS to my first law case, it was a suit
for replevin, which Judge Belden, of
Canton, asked me to try for him.
"How did it turn out?'
cit was successful
''What did you get for it?'
twenty-five dollars"
'In looking back over your career,
governor, have you ever wished that
you had stuck to- the law and kept out
of politics?"
YES" replied Gov. Mckinley, 81
have, q. number of times. But think
perhaps it is just as well as it is. The
things we want in this life, you know,
are the things we have not got. l do
not suppose there is a man in any pro-
fession who does not at times think he
would have done better in some other,
and this has been the case with me"
How did you get into politics?''
my first office was that of prose
cutting attorney. My friends made me
a candidate in 1859. 1 was elected and
served for two years. After that L
practiced law until 1876, at which time
1 was nominated for congress. l was
not anxious to, be the candidate at that
time. 1 thought 1 was too young to
go into politics. 1 had a good business,
and 1 was not well enough off to enter
public life. Still, 1 was nominated and
elected by a, large majority.
How long did you remain in con-
gress?''
81 served in the house for fourteen
years, and was then elected governor
of Ohio
do you like the governorship?"
eyes, very well,' replied Gov. Nc
Kinley. ct is an important position,
and there is plenty of work to do
here
HOW HE BECAME A PRoTEc-
ZIONIST.
Gov Mckinley, you are the great
apostle of protection in the United
States. How did you come to make
the tariff life work?'
81 don't know when I was not in
tod IN lnet sy ~nrnltn cd
Kinley. Il was brought up, as it
were, on protection. My boyhood was
spent in an iron manufacturing dis
trict, and among miners, and Canton,
where l went to live, is 81 center of
great manufacturing industries. The
first speech 1 made in Canton was in
favor of a protective tariff. 1t was
against Fernando Woods tariff bill in
1873 AS I went on in my study of the
question, I became more and more
convinced that this was the best way
to raise our revenues, and at the same
time to support our industries. The
tariff will always be live question"
A PERMANENT TARIFF.
"What do you think of the idea Of a
constitutional amendment prohibiting
the changing of the tariff within
limited period, say, five or ten years?'
81 don't think that such a thing
would be advisable. The changes of
conditions might make such an ar
rangement work great injury, and, be-
sides, congress is the lawmaking
power, and 1 do not think it would be
wise to make this restriction."
did the Mckinley bill have the eff
feet upon the business of the American
people that you eXpected"'
Yes; the anticipated effect of the
tariff law of 1880 was realized. 1t was
not as fully, realized, perhaps, as it
would have been had it not been for
the change of administration which
occurred when it was but two years
old. 1t protected American industries.
1t started the tin-plate factories, and
all agree that they are here to stay.
referring to your question as to
prohibiting the changing of the tariff
within a limited period the governor
went on, 81 do not think that the
American people would approve of such
an act. They want to be let alone, it
is true. but they do not want that
which is bad and injurious to the
country to be allowed to remain. We
have got to adjust matters to the pres
ent tariff as well as we can Until we
can change it. We can have no hope
but 1 believe there will be a change
in the future to meet the requirements
of the treasury and to promote our
industrial development. | think our
people believe in protection and re-
ciprocity. There is no doubt that we
can produce our own sugar, make our
own tin plate and other things which
we are now importing from abroad.
home as far as possible, and that with
protective tariff we will have better
times and a permanent prosperity"
what is the condition of the Re
publican party today, governor? Is it
alive, dead or dying?"
1T has never been in a more healthy
and vital condition than it is today"
replied Gov. Mckinley. There will be
no split in our party in the coming
campaign
what is the condition of the state Of
Ohio?'
Good" was the reply. "Our in
dustries are all growing and we have
a bright outlook for the future"
FRANK G. CARPENTER.