Evening star., 1896-06-18

defeated by Mr.. Reed. He served on some
of the most important committees in IN.
House. but the tariff was his speciality and
II was as chairman on the committee of
ways and means that he became most
thoroughly identified with national politics.
Notwithstanding his retirement from Con-
gress. the republicans of Ohio looked upon
Mr.. Mckinley as their most active leader.
ana. in June. 1891. at the state convention
he was unanimously nominated for the Of
fce OF governor and was elected by plu-
IaIity of u .511 votes. Two years later he
was renominated without opposition and
was Reelected by plurality Of s0.9oo. this
being one OF the largest votes ever given in
the state of Ohio. Mr.. Mckinley declined
10 allow the use of his name at the last
state convention. as his candidacy for the
presidency was avowed and at that time
the marvellous organization that led to his
Triumphant nomination at St. Louis was
well in hand under the guidance OF Mark
Hanna Asa Bushnell was nominated and
elected by an overwhelming majority by
the republicans. succeeding Gov. Mckinley
in January. at which time the presidential
nominee retired from his temporary home
at Columbus, the state capital. TO Canton.
where he has been quietly living
since The death of his father i'm 1893 re-
duced his family circle. which
Sists of himself. his wife. his aged mother
and his sister Helen. The Mckinley home
stead at Canton is a pleasant place of mod
est and unpretentious style, and the home
life is simple and happy
National Figure.
Mr. Mck1nleyS work IN congress as an
authority the tariff and as a leader OF
the republican forces made him strong
possibility in national affairs of the party
His selection in 1854 as chairman of the
committee on resolutions first brought him
squarely to the front however, and that
year really marks his advent a presi-
Dental possibility. At that time John Sher-
man was the choice of the republicans OF
Ohio for the first Office in the gift OF the
people. The Ohio men at the national con-
vention were, however, divided in their
allegiance between Sherman and Blaine.
The name of Sherman was presented by
Senaror-eiect Foraker. On the third day af
the convention when the nominating
speeches for President had been made For
aker moved that the convention proceed to
a ballot, whereupon John NJ. Thurston Of
Nebraska permanent chairman of the
present convention, moved an adjournment
Until the following day. The call of states
was begun, but Mr.. Mckinley, by unani-
nous consent Interrupted with motion to
take recess. .uuul the following morning.
v hich was carried. Mr.. Blaine was NOM
mated on The fourth ballot.
In 1855 Mr.. Mckinley was one of the most
active delegates at the republican conven-
ton. Again he was mad chairman of the
platform committee. and this time il was
he, instead Of Foraker, who marshaled the
Sherman forces. On the first ballot the en-
tire forty-sfN votes OF Ohio were cast for
Sherman. For the first time McKinley's
name was then mentioned presidential
POSSIBILITY, anaTeNas cast two votes for
him. He had for some time been rec
ognized as a strong dark horse" for il
was realized that a stubborn battle was in
prospect between Gresham. Harrison and
Sherman. the other great leaders of the re-
publican party standing as powerful possi-
blities '-t.t.
Mckinley First SuEcested.
The open suggestion of McKinley's name
attracted attention. and it was feared by
some of the Ohio leaders that perhaps the
history of the convention of 1850 was to he
repeated. In that year Garfield was in
charge of the Ohio delegation. and after a
herce fight. was nominated compro-
mise candidate. On the second ballot Mr.
Mckinley received three votes, but imme-
dately urged his friends not to cast their
ballots for him, reminding them that hs