The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-04
Something About the Next President and
ViCe-Presidert of the United States

the staff. on McKinley's safe return
Hayes said to him: Il never eXpecte0
To see you in life again" At Opequan
Mckinlcy's good judgment and qu!cS
apprehension of what should or what
should not be done stood him in gooo
need The battle was fought by Sheri-
dan. hut Mcliinl y played a strong part
in bringing about the final success. 1t
was So with all of his actions during
the five years he served in the army
one of his intimates here says of h's
career then: He took great care To be
sure that he was right, but o..ce sat
fed nothing could stop him. That qual
ity made him one OF the best soldiers
Ohio sent to the war" II was almost
at the close of his army life that Nc
kinlcy became a mason, receiving the
degree in Hiram lodge, Winchester
Va. May l, 1865. He is now a Knight
Templar, Knight of Pythias and
Greek fraternity man. They tell here
and in Po'and that Major Nick inley was
loath to leave the army when the war
was at an end. and that he was strong
ly urged by General Carroll to enter the
regular branch of the service. Be that
as 1t may, his father. whose iron fur
mace interests had grown to consider
able proportions, was extremely desir-
Gus that he should enter civil life. and
SO his son decided to do. He returned to
Poland and began the study of law
with Judge Charles T.. Glidden of
Welcoming county. During this time he
went to Albany. New York. and took a
two years course in the law school
there. He was admitted to the bar in
1867. and began that part of his career
which will end in the presidency. He
was poor man: he had no resources
save his native pluck and brain. but he
determined to win. and win he has. He
lett Poland in the spring of 1867 and
began the practice of law in Canton.
Since then. except as he has gone to
congress or been in the gubernato:ial
chair at Columbus. this has been mis-
hcmc. What he has accomplished here
is part of the history of Ohio now and
OF the nation. Stark county was so
Democratic in those early days that
Republican nomination for any county
office was looked on as an empty honor.
Nevertheless. two years after taking up
his residence in Canton Mckinley was
nominated for county prosecutor on the
Republican ticket. He accepted the
nomination, stumped the county from
one end to the other. made himself ac-
quainted with every voter in the county
and was elected. He not only surprised
the Democrats. but his own party by
his victory. He served two years and
then was defeated for reelection by a
majority ofi5. But he had made n strong
impression on the people of Canton and
in 1876 was elected to congress. where
he remained until 1890 as a representa-
tive from the Eighteenth Ohio district.
In 1871 he became governor of Ohio.
While in congress serving on the COM
mittee OF the revision of laws. the iu-
dietary committee of expenditures of
the postotiice department and the COM
mittee on rules he made his executive
strength felt as he had i'm the army
and at the bar before. When Garfield
was nominated for the presidency Nc
kinlCy was assigned to the com ,nmittee
on ways and means in his place. and
remained with the committee until the
end of his congressional career While
there he gave to Americans his famous
tariff bin and the doctrine of protec-
tion for American industries.
Mckinley at home is very little diff
ferrnt from Mckinley at Washington
or swinging around the circle on a
| campaigning tour. Simplicity charac-
terizes all that he does, and much of
this is unquestionably due to the two
predominating influences over his life
that of his mother and that of his
wife. Gentleness and consideration
| for others are the distinguishing traits
of his character. Undoubtedly this is
| as mach matter of education as of
/ natural attributes. For over q score of
| years he has been q devoted attendant
upon a delicate wife. He is So years
and in superb health. He possesses
the family characteristics physically.
Although inclined to stockiness in build.
he is shapely and well propOrtioned. He
| is muscular naturally. He has been
compared to Stephen A. Douglass In
appearance, bur he is more like him in
| pose and manner than i'm personal ap-
pearance. He married Miss Ida Sax
ton, OF Canton, January %. 1871. She
came To join with his mother in mold
ing and shaping the life which means
so much 10 both of them. Miss Sax
ton was the daughter of James A. Sax
| ton. one of the woalthiest and most
| prominent men for years of this Sec
ton of the state. Ma jor Mckinley met
her first in 1866. when he was fresh
| from the army. and modest with the
honors which had been bestowed upon
him. In 1861. when he made Canton his
| permanent home. ha met Miss SaXton
| again, ana they were mutually attract
od 10 each other. but an engagement
did not Immediately follow. Miss SAX
| ton, Il beautiful and attriciivo girl
| completed her education at the private
school nf Miss Eastman, at Medca, Pa
! She also attended school in Cleveland
| and then spent six months abroad in
| travel with friends. ON her return
| from Europe she entered the bank OF
ncr father aS cashier. and remained
| tn, re until marriage. 1t is told that
al the time Major Mckinley solicited
Tanker Sax'nn for the hand Of his
| daughter. th" answer made 90 him
, WaS: You are the only man ] have
eyer known In y hom could intrust my
daughter The marriage proved I,
| he a most happy union. While SORROW
has come 10 both husband ana wife, it.
! effect has been to more closely draw
them together and To make their nome
life wherever they are the ccmmcnj
and admiration OF all permitted to en-.
ter the charmed circle. There is 6
! story told of Mrs. McEinlev's admira
tOn for her husband. which runs thi:
way. Mrs. Mckinley is such a de
voted wife that | believe if her hus
band should become free trader she
too. in short time. would he con
vert to the faith" Two children have
been born To the couple. hut both diet
years ago. Since then the fIaiity o.
Mrs. Mckinley has kept her hushan,
Gn almost constant attendant upon
her when official duties have not inter
fered. Their marriage was one of iov.
"a strong man and n beautiful. intel
lcctual woman uniting their energie
for the good Of all with whom the,
came in contact. Mrs. Mckinley wa
q Presbyterian IN the early days of he
life. but subsequently joined tn,
church of her husband. the Methodist
She delights To have children call upoI
her. and next to her love for them, i
her fondness for flowers. Her favorit
flower is the pink rose. For art an,
statuary and the drama she has an in
tense feeling. She enjoys the friend
chip and admiration of Joseph Jeffer
son. and. as her health permits, at
tends the theater.
Mrs. McKinley's life has been con
slant object lesson to her husband. al
inspiration which his best friends her
feel is constantly squirting him on I