New-York tribune., 1896-06-21
MKINLEY IN WASHINGTON.
HOW HE APPEARED AMONG HIS coll
LEAGUES AND POLITICAL FRIENDS.


TRAITS wlI1-H PERSIST IN TIE STATES
MAN-uis CALMNEss IN DEBATE.
Washington. June 20 (SpeciaD.-There are
many pleasant recollectons Of Major Mckinney
here in WASHINGTON During his service IN Con
rress he lived at the Ebbitt House. and ne ana
his wife were extremely popular. Mrs. Mchihiey
was an invalid and on that account they went
ont hut little but they entered with zest INTO 'Ne
home life at the hotel and contributed h'"'"
toward the general enjoyment of the houss"0''
Major McKinlev's attitude toward MS vile "a
cited complimentary remark for us oons'a''
thoughtfulness He was as attentive as d VI
groom. The daily drive. prescribed D! "e' P"'
sican was rarely omitted. His business al ''''
House was always so arranged as 10 eiapi0 '
20 keep this appointment. Even at 1ha' tl'1'' '
was regarded as a Presidential poss'D'l''!' .
this caused him TO be pointed OUT 10 S''"
This Is an ordeal that drives some hrn o"' 20 =
hotel lobby. but Major Mckinley pore II "'."oI
complaint or embarrassment. lie esco'"0 80,
wife to meals In the public dlning-roo'" u '
his seat later with O friend In the slnoNi's
without any circumstances or the 1ie"
sign OF posing lie never attempted 10 p'"'
exclusive or to arrange his appearance VIVA
eve 10 effect He seemed never 10 thii'h ''"' ''''
.nr his place among his fellows In an e'.is uas
INV was anv other than the most natural 'h'ns
In the werll 10 do. ,,..
Al che same time there was certain dghl'!
49,. ,ho man which preserved him from famili-
er,tv. His friends knew his clean mind anu he"''
,,a rosnsct,nr them. regulated their conVersd-
.,on or1 nicxed their stories accordingly bu'
~. IN the sense or with the feeling OF ueai'"s
Nth q nrude for they always found hlrh '"o'-
oughly companiohaOie u"
lines. ,,,o hin,
The charge made by those who do not IKE i,i''
~ who sneak from n-dgested hearsa!' 'n''
Major Mckinley Is a cold man. finds ahii'e -
zion here He is not chummy, as Heherdi va
uas or witty as Mr. Reed is, but he likes d 0''"'
.snd ne tells story well. He is by TO 'i''''"'
man Of one idea, nor has his reauins w..
a.aa 20 law ard rolltcs He is, on the contrary
rarv fpI, man and he talks well on many suo-
1ac,s And he loves to talk. He used 70 de'di'
hts favored callers late at night anu nav O,'
story or arguments out with theiH' Inv" 80
..,,,ooor r.ouId show Itself in him. and he wonla
u-alk half way home with his guest s'oiP''e o'
some corner for protracteo pa'"ns "0'u
fact. Il Is the villager In MAJOR A'h'"re! inv
o,st,,rtas one Of his greatest charms. 1t keeps
MIN in touch with the plain people o"d ie"r'I
nir, q, all times approachable and companion
able No man in this town ever observer I'm
sbout him. No man who ever approached "'""
49,. ,r,o,3,v receIyea or curtly turned away
Ouo ra,er besitates on meeting him to state
-,uvprv case he may have sought him to explain
1ybi1a in Congress he made no promises 'hat "e
d,5 M, keeD and he demonstrated. according 10
excelleY,t authority, an unquestionaDle apill'y
20 cav "No" Men in and out OF Congress trusleu
min, ,nncitly He was a hard worker anu
nunctual in attendance both on House ana eo'-
,nittee meetings. He never dodsed votes iie
never complained Of criticism He ac'eu oii '"e
principle that the right thing would IN good .i'ie
Justify itself and therefore could be lrusleu -
take care of itself.
Major Mckinley did not participate as free!
IN the debates OF the House as MI feeo uiu
when they were on the floor together. MT heeu
is the ideal debater-quick. always reauy' ire
ouently witty, always effective Mt Mchille! IL
at his best in a set speech. But when ne cai''e "
lead the House In the List Congress he did 1t
we'll He was ready enough. and he gave lne
Sneaker excellent support. 1t was a trying ses-
sion. The Speakers programme set the Demo-
Gratis wild and they stormed about the floor for
,yaels @,lI ~ bIuster and threats Major MeKin-
lev never once lost his temper lie never once got
furried 1t was reported that at the outset ne
was not prepared TO 60 far as Mr. Reed was
hut however this may have been, when the
Speaker counted his first quorum Major Mckin-
ley, with the rest supported him. The episode
was highly exciting. The Democrats filled the
aisles and shouted at the tops OF their voices
Denunoiations without number were hurled at
the Speaker and some Of the infurlated indi-
yiduals addressed themselves to Major Mckin-
ley The fiery, and eince notorious. Colonel
Breckenridge, strode down his aisle, shaking MS
silver name, and glaring after the manner OF the
1nelodrama and declared that the proceeding was
not only revolutionary, but corrupt. Major Nc
Kinley replied TO him effectively and without
shade of excitement. This was also his manner
throughout the whole of the debate in committee
and in the House the tariff bill The prosiest
man was heard with respect and patience; the
most severe in the same spirit.
Major Mckinley is a good loser. This was
shown IN his contest for the Speakership Of the
List Congress. He entered that fight with hieh
hopes; his friends Likewise We're confident. They
knew that Mr.. Reed strong in the race, but
they never suspected how strong. Major Nc
Kinley opened headquarters al the Ebbitt House,
and he had good many callers. 1t soon became
apparent however. that the Maine man was the
favorte and would win Major Mckinley re-
mained in the race to the end. as Mr.. Reed has
done at 81. Louis, and when II was over he ac-
cepted defeat gracefully. He and Mr.. Reed
worked satisfactorily together, one In the Speak
ers chair, the other the leader Of the majority
the floor, and when at the November elections in
1890 the Democrats swept the country on what
they called the issue OF the Mckinley bill both
the Speaker and his lieutenant still stood up FOR
the measure and predicted the reversal Of the
popular judgment which has since taken place