The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-07-02
MckinIey's Birthplace.
Row the News of His Nomination was Received at
Niles, Ohio.
NILES. OHIO, June 10, 1896.

( W It'll anologles TO ROBERT Browning
Yesterday afternoon as | sat on the
lawn trying TO keep cool, and hoping
against hope on the outcome of the first
ballot at St. Louis, sudden noise of
whistles blowing and bells ringing told
me that all was over, and that the expect
ed had happened. 1t was worse than a
fourth of July racket. Every steam
whistle i'll town, and their number is
legion every bell, even unto the fire alarm,
every boy who could get a horn OF a hand
bell, added to the general commotion.
Fire crackers were set off by the half bar
rel at a time. Bontires were built in the
streets, men shouted, and women waved
their handkerchiefs. All hands in the
mills quit work, and pandemonium
reigned for the remainder of the day. A
stranger would certainly have thought
that the people of Niles had gone crazy,
and he wouldn't have been far out of the
! way; for was not William Mckinley, who
was born in Niles some fifty three years
dSo. tIIS lttN nominated DN dCCliludllpu
to the highest Office in the gift of the peo-
pie? Why should not the loyal sons of
Niles rejoice and make merry?
But amid all the rejoicing. there are
some who mourn bitterly, and will not be
comfolted. that the Republicans of the
! United States have passed over the great
er statesman in the country, the biggest
and blainiest man in the United States to-
day, Thomas Bracket Reed of Maine.
will venture to say that the mass Of
the people, | mean those not well versed
in politics, and there are many such in
this country, believe that Mckinley is the
sole author of the tariff bill which bears
his name, when the truth is that he had
no more to do with making it than a
dozen Others Nevertheless, he alone
protited by it politically, owing to the
fact that he had been appointed chairman
Of the Way and Means Committee by
Speaker Reed and necessarily the tariff
measure framed by that committee bore
his name
Had Reed been in the hands of as smart
man as Mckinley's manager, and been
aa we'll backed financially. a different
story would have been told by the Nation
al Convention. But the old adage tells us
that it is no use to cry over spilled milk,
SO let us hope that Tom Reed, remember
ing what Fessenden says about God
Almighty hating a ''quitter,' will recon-
slider his determination to quit politics
in the event OF his defeat at St Louis.
and continue to serve his country in the
National house until 1900, when | hope
and believe that the Republican party will
make him their standard bearer, and begin
the twentieth century with President
from the grand old Pine Tree State
In the first letter which | wrote to The
journal after coming to Ohio, | predicted
that Mckinley would be the next Republi-
can candidate for President q didn't real
ize then how sorry l was going to feel
about it.)
Perhaps sketch of his early life may
be of interest to your readers under the
existing circumstances
l have at hand, letter addressed in a
quaint, stiff old fashioned hand to f. l..
Boynton, Niles, Trumbull Co., Ohio, and
signed VIM. Mckinley, Senior The letter
was written at the opening of the Repub-
lican State Campaign in Ohio, five years
ago, aud as no one can be a better
authority on the early years of Mckinley
than his parents, l will quote it YER
batin.
CANTON, ONO, August II, 1891.
Mr. +. l.. Boyntop, Dear Sir:
ours Of the 10th instant received. con
tents noted. / cannot answer all your
questions and give exact dates to some
OF them, as have no statistics before me-
VIII answer all your questions as my wife
and | can recollect.
VIM. Mckinley Jr., was born in Niles,
Irumbull Co., Ohio, January 20, 1913.
Lived there until he was eleven years old.
when We left Niles and moved to Poland
Ohio. He remained there until the war
broke out. After the war closed he com
menced studying law under Judge Glidden,
was VIII Elul ABOUT one year, then went
to Albany Law School one term, Soon
after he commenced practising law in
Canton. He was partner Of Judge Belden
Tor some time before the Judges death,
Two years after he settled in Canton he
was elected prosecuting attorney for Stark
County. l cannot give you the date of his
contest with Wallace. He was unseated
by the Democratic majority in the House,
although he was fairly elected
The house he was born in was built and
we occupied it in 1910. 1t was a two
story frame house with hall in the
centre, three rooms below, and three
rooms above. Soon after the above date
l built an addition to it with four rooms
two below and two above. The room in
which he first saw the light was in the
north room of the first or main building.
We have answered all your questions as
near correct as we can. Allow us to thank
you for the interest you have manifested
tor our sons success in the coming cam
paign.
Very Truly Yours,
VIM. MCKINLEY AND WIFE.
The writer of that letter died some
time since, but his wife survives him and
recently celebrated q believe) her S5th
birthday 1t her home in Canton.
Canton, less than 40 miles from here, is
lid wit