The San Francisco call., 1896-06-21

lnScrlpJlOD. Inc OONSIHOI neOlAdLICdlIy y
dipped his pen in ink and held the pen
poised above the flag.
Il will not write upon the stars and
stripes" he said quietly, but with de-
cision from which there could be unmis-
takably no appeal. That expression will
go down in history, although it sounded
commonplace there among the common
place people, who failed to take in its full
slgnihcance-the patriotism of the remark.
No." said one of the prosaic lawyers
from Manhattan, 'it's a misdemeanor.
That's so, remarked the man who had
disfigured his country's flag with bad let
tering. Write your autograph and your
name on a sheet of paper and that will be
just as good
The Governor readily complied with the
request, and for ten minutes was busy
writing his autograph. When 1 asked
him for one for THE CALL he replied:
II will give my autograph TO the San
Francisco CALL with pleasure" and he
dashed off "Yours. truly, VIM. McKin-
ley," in those bold, square characters, so
like the man himself, mentally and physi-
caIIy.
A seedy-looking but frank and honest
old man wearing on his coat lapel the cop
per button of the Grand Army pushed his
way through the crowd and stood in the
open space between the simicircle of visit
ors and the Governor. He was one of those
who would not write upon the stars and
stripes, and who had stood side by side
with William Mckinley in the dark and
bloody days Of the Republic, offering with
70 ho TO
stripes of his country's flag clean of the
word slavery" that had made it, in the
eyes of honesty, Haunting rag of shame.
The Governors bright eyes glanced mo-
ment on the old soldier. In a moment
more he had sprung to his feet. had
grasped the old mans hand and ex.
claimed with a heartiness which could
not have been assumed:
~ am glad to see you, Thompson"
Tears came into the eyes of the old SOL
dier, as he replied, "Yes, Governor, and
1 m glad to see you, too. helped to elect
you twenty-five years ago, and l and the
other old soldiers will help to elect you
next November"
The old soldiers Will not write upon the
stars and stripes by neglecting to vote for
their comrade, William Mckinley of loyal
Ohio. And Ohio appreciates the honor
that has been paid to her-the Presidency
of this great nation. The soul of the
nation is stirred to-day as [ have seen the
soul OF loyal Ohio stirred to its inmost
depths within the two days past.
The people of his birthplace came to
him this afternoon. The workers in the
tin factory at Niles, Ohio, an establish
ment made possible by the efforts of her
Governor toward the protection of Ameri-
can industries, called upon him this alter
noon with banners made of American tin,
and cheered their townsman to the echo
AS the Governor stepped upon the front
porch, it was seen that he wore upon his
left lapel badge of tin, representing one
OF the industries which had not existed
before in America, but which had been
brought into being under the beneficent
policy of protection, of which policy he
was the foremost advocate, next to Blaine,
of blessed memory.
In his speech on this occasion the Gov
ernor made the first political utterance
since his name was mentioned for the
Presidency. In few ample words he
laid his finger upon the cause OF the
trials which now afflicted the working
people Of this Nation when he said that he
was glad TO have demonstrated in his
native town that tin plate could be made
in America. His next sentence was
greeted by chorus of cheers:
'When 1 have given the American
worklngman a days wages and a days
work l will be satisfied.
The Republican party represents a
policy that will give to every American
workingman American wages; a policy
that will put money enough into the
treasury to run the Government; that will
bring back to US the period of prosperity
and plenty that we knew for more than
thirty years. 1t is especially pleasing to
have the men from my own boyhood town
and from the place of my birth gather
around me in my humble home as they
have done to-day. l wish for old Niles
prosperity in every workshop and every
factory, and love, contentment and happi-
ness in all your homes"
The Governor received me very cor
daily, but in reply to my request for a
statement from him on his conception of
public policy designed to secure the great
est happiness to the greater number of
the inhabitants of this country he said
that, while he would be pleased to favor
the San Francisco CALL in every way he
could, it would be impossible for him to
make any statements at this time for pub
hcation, for the reason that he might be
81 have declined to state anything of
that kind to Murat Halstead, John Rus
sell Young and a score or more of other
ne wspaper correspondents from the great
dailies of this country, because my friends
have advised me that it would not be
polite at this time, or discreet, to say any
thing on these matters. The committee
appointed to formally notify me of my
nomination will call upon me in about
ten days, and whatever l may have to say
on those matters will be given to the pub
lie on that occasion"
At this moment Mrs. Mckinley entered
the room. She has been for twenty-three
years a confirmed invalid and cannot walk
without the aid of a cane or other support
She is highly accomplished lady, of most
fascinating manner and of cheerful dis
position. 1t has been common remark
among those who have known this couple
for Of