Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-06-25


James q. Blaine, in his Twenty
Years Of Congress, reviews the Forty
fifth congress, in which Mckinley first
sat, as follows: William Mckinley,
Jr, entered from the Canton district
He enlisted in an Ohio regiment when
but II years OLD and won the rank of
major by meritorious service. The inter
est # his constituency and his own bent
of mind led him to the study of indus
trial questions, and he was soon recog-
MID IL the house as one Of the most
thorough statisticians and one of the
ablest defenders Of the doctrine Of pro-
lection. ~
At agreat mass meeting i'll Indianapo-
lis several years ago ex-President Har-
rison was presiding officer. Mckinley
was one of the speakers, and Harrison
introduced him as follows:
"IIe has endeared himself to all bv
his record as a gallant young soldier
battling for the flag. He has honored
himself, his state and the country by his
conspicuous services in high legislative
and executive places No man more than
he is familiar with the questions that
now engage public thought No man is
more able than he lucidly to set them
before the people. l do not need to in
woke your attention to what he shall
say. He will command it. -
The sentiment which resulted in the
nomination Of Mckinley for governor
OF OHIO was engendered Immediately
upon the announcement of the result of
the election of 1890, when after IA
years continuous service in congress the
Ohio statesman was defeated for re-elec-
ton, despite the fact that he cut down
the Democratic majority from 2, 900 to
302
During his gubernatorial campaign in
1898 Mckinley visited Sc of the SO coun-
ties Of Ohio and made 1870 speeches He
was elected by plurality of so, 1896, up
to that time the record plurality in
Ohio's history.
The policy which Governor Mckinley
pursued during his four years of occu-
pancy OF the gubernatorial chair was
well outlined when i'll his inaugural ad-
dress he said: 1T is my desire to CO.
operate with you in every endeavor to
secure wise, economical and honorable
administration, and, SO far as can be
done the improvement and elevation of
the public service. y
From the day of his inauguration
Governor Mckinley took the greatest in
tereSt i'll the management Of the public
benevolent institutions Of the state, and
he made study Of means for their bet
terment During his first term the state
board of arbitration was created, and he
mad" the workings Of the board a mat
ter Of personal supervision during the
entire four years Of his administration
This board has had its services enlisted
in 2S strikes, and i'll 10 cases its efforts
have been successful.
No account of Mckinley's connection
with labor problems would be complete
without some mention of the tireless
energy which he displayed III securing
relief for the ? 600 miners III the Hook
ing valley mining district who early in
1899 were reported out of work and des
titute. The news first came to the gov
ernOr ono night at midnight, but before
5 o'clock in the morning he had upon
his own responsibility dispatched to the
afflicted disrr.rt a car containing 81, 0eQ
worth Of provisions. Later he made APP
peal5 for assistance and finally distri-
butnd among the 2.732 families in the
district clothing ard provisions to the
amount Of $32, 100. %.