Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-07-04
M ckinley'S Weakness
Ohio All but Bankrupt Under
His Rule as Governor.

From the New York World.
Mckinley in the White House
What a vista of possibilities the words
open up.
On the very day Mr.. Bushnell was
informed that he had been nominated
to succeed Major kcKinley Governor
Of Ohio, he learned that there was less
than s43, 900 in the Ohio State treasury
and that within four days the common.
wealth would he literally bankrupt,
as the money warrants already issued
covered all the funds ON hand.
1t was a startling situation. Gov.
Mckinley had allowed Ohio TO drift
to the verge Of bankruptcy, although
only few months before-in MAY,
1S94-he had borrowed $500, 600 to
meet expenses.
Unless something was done to mend
the blunder there would not he n
dollar in the treasury at the end of
four days. The State could not meet
its ordinary obligations.
NEARLY BANKRUrTED OHIO.
As soon as the party managers saw
the danger, appeals were sent to the
treasurers Of several prominent coun-
ties. This was early in June, a year
ago. The tax settlements were not due
from the counties until August,
although few advance payments had
been made
So great was the pressure brought to
bear that many os the county treasurers
were induced to waive formalities and
advance enough money on account OF
taxes to save Ohio from the disgrace
of an absolutely empty treasury.
These are plain, hard facts set down
in the official records of the State.
This was not the first time that official
mismanagement made advance drafts
on the taxes necessity, but Gov. Me-
Kinley broke the record, for advances
were never called for ~ early in the
year.
| Ii is hard 10 understand how Mr..
Mckinley ever came to be seriously
regarded rs candidate for President
in Ohio, where his business incapacity
and utter lack Of executive ability are
notorious ~ Governor of Ohio he
was failure in an executive sense.
His untitness for the office excited pity
on the one hand and laughter on the
other. lis two administrations were
conspicuous for scandals, blunders and
open neglect Of official duties. The
affairs of the State were i'm confusion
/
The Governor did not average more
than three days week in his office.
The rest of his time was given up to
political jaunts and speechmakng.
Private Secretary Boyle. bright
young newspaper correspondent, vir-
tually performed The Governor duties.
While occupying this high office
Mr.. Mckinley gave blank promis>ory
notes to his partner in business enter
prise ut Youngstown. knowing that
his official position would give his
name n weight AMI credit out OF pro-
portion to his financial resources. The
crash came while he was still Governor.
The blank promissorv notes hearing
his signature and other promissory
notes CARRYING his Endorsement made
him bankrupt. Mr.. Mckinley
allowed committee of his political
hackers, Mark Hanna. Mr.. Herrick,
Of Cleveland, and ii. III. kolhsaat, of
Chicago, to raise big subscriptions from
politicians and manufacturers to pay
his debts.
OTHERS PAID HIS DEBTs.
The Governor permitted these gen
tlemen to pay more than 800, 900 out
Of their pockets to his creditors.
The incident is an exceedingly pain
full one to all sensitive Ohioans, but
Gov. Mckinley smiingly indorsed the
extraordinary transaction, and made
no protest when the subscribers to the
Mckinley bankruptcy fund gave back
to him the property which he had
assigned to meet his liabilities. The
Governor might have paid his own
debts in time, but Mr.. Hanna and his
other political friends were eager to
prevent investigation or further pub
licity. They covered the matter up
ut once They even destroyed the
notes, although they might have held
Mr.. Mckinley'> partner responsible,
for his name was also on every evidence
OF debt
ONO PEOPLE ASHAMED.
The plain inference was so nn-
fortunate that the people of Ohio
seldom refer to the matter, although
the circumstances under which the
Governor became bankrupt are
known throughout the State.
1t is generally recognized not only
in America, but also in European
countries, that the office of Presiden,
OF the United States calls for a higher
degree of purely administrative and
business qualities than any other
political office in the world. The
President has not only to scrutinize
the whole work OF Congress in detail,
and to SUI ervise the operations of the