The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-06
M'kISLEY AND HIS VISITORS.
How tho Prcsident-Eiecr Receives tho Up
Sitters In Canton.


From the ST. LOUIS Globe Democrat.
CANTON, o., Nov. 27.-He WAS a travelling
man who had spont part Of his life In South
Africa. Half n dozen visits had been made uy
him In q professional way to the Mckinley
homestead on North Market street. "Ah." no
remarked one day. the up.sitters seem to have
taken possession OF the Majors house, asked,
in the innocence OF ignorance. what an ~up-sitter
was. The travelled man told me that among
the Boer farmers Of the Transvaal the custom
of the lovelorn SWANS was to up-sit with the
object Of their affections when the wooing
reached that stage whore they must know their
fate. These fellows" he added. are evident
ly wooing the Major for onlce-I find them there
night and morning and morning and night"
Not all these persons who crowd Major Nc
klnley's library are themselves seeking office.
Almost any day one can find there the conf
dental adviser. the Cabinet tinker. the mysteri-
ors visitor. and the man who knows II all. They
are the original Mckinley men. who love to sit
and fight the battles over again. The Major is
cordial and hospitable. He chats with his WIS.,
itors. listens to their recitals, and has his stenog-
rnpher make n note Of their suggestions, but 1t
is Ill in public. His time is too valuable for pri-
vnte interviews with these callers, who
come and stay and hint and advise.
y blunt request for a private interview
may secure a courteous two minutes
in the hall. but II 1t be an application for office.
thatmust be filed In the regular way and 90
In one of the big boxes which Private Secretary
Boyle has provided for these cases. The conn
dental adviser may give his views on the tariff
but he must take the company into his con-
fdence. The mysterious visitor may hide his
identity among other mysterious visitors, b ut
he cannot cover his presence in some obscure
corner OF the Mckinley residence. The Cabinet
tinker finds the atmosphere SO friGid that after
one attempt he knocks off work.
There are more ways into Canton than out OF
Canton. Visitors who come hoping to keep their
presence u secie. discover how easy II Is to get
In without being known and how hard II is to
that the Presihent-rleCt dislikes the Appearance
O secrecy. Whatever their business. Major Nc
kinley is willing that their presence shall he
known. Cabinet spCculationsd do not worry him,
nor is there any EFFORT TO conceal the movements
OF persons who ARE! in confidential relations with
him. Cousin William Osborne tlts in and out
from the East, the bearer of important mes
s,xes. and grer,s everybody in town while he is
New York AT frequent intervals. ana talks with
freedom on MS own opinion OF the policy OF the
from cleveland, usually with a delegation OF
poIi,iG,"m' q rromlmtnG1; Their cHTing is
tell al! they think they know. Sometimes Mr..
Hanna WIN ask VIC ooiisinE railroad men 10
allows himself to hc pumped.
occasionally u visitor OF sone note will come
unahnonnccu. hnu VIII go away Win assurances
70 the public that Ito has not been invited into
the Cabinet. though he Is willing to serve tho
country in any position to which President Nc
Kinlny may call him. Congressnien, National
Committeeman. and stare leaders may 10 away
mixing up their own Impressions Of what ought
10 h" done On the tariff and financial Legislation
with what the Mckinley Administration may
or may not want done, Whether thor imUras-
stoas are accurate or not no shade OF annoyance
passes over tie exterior OF Major Mckinley.
The Major is liz unquestlpnablY "A good lis
tcnrr. lie keeps his own counsel and lets
public sentiment form itself. Usually to tho
visitors who are entitled to his confidence no
presents both sides ot every question. lfthey ARE
mem brrs OF COngrurs they are invited to give
their views freely o. the subjects OF tariff leUis-
lntion aud an extra session. The ofice-seekers
give him the least concern. Nobody IL offended, |
yet nobody ia permitted TO press questions OF
patronage before hu has hinlsel! taken office. ri
have heard that n considerable number Of those |
holding positions under President Cleveland
who are not protected by the evil service arc
putting IN applications TO lie retained. on the
ground thar tlley are gOld-staGdard Democrats.
Probably ut n later day some General policy will
be Adopted with regard to tlis class OF Office
holders. hut for the present their applications
are treated precisely like the applications OF
of those who geek Office. They are simply filed
AVA FOR future reference.