Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-09-11
THE VERMONT BRATmEBORO

"Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen Of the
Convention: | am here as one of the chos-
en- representatives of my state; / am here
by resolution of the Republican conven-
ton, passed without one dissenting voice,
commanding me to cast my vote for John
Sherman and use every worthy endeavor
for his nomination. l accepted the trust
because my heart and judgement were in
accord with the letter and spirit and pur-
pose of that resolution. 1t has pleased
certain delegates to cast their votes for me.
/ am not insensible to the honor they
would do me, but in the presence of the
duty resting upon me ] cannot remain ST.
lent with honor. L, cannot consistently
with the credit of the state whose creden-
tials l bear and which has trusted me; |
cannot with honorable fidelity to John
Sherman, who has trusted me in his cause
and with his condolences; | cannot consist
emily with my own views of my personal
integrity consent, or seem to consent, to
permit my name to be used as a candidate
before this convention. | would not re-
spect myself if | could find it in my heart
to do, to say or permit to be done that
which could even be ground for any one to
suspect that l wavered in my loyalty to
Ohio or my devotion to the chief of her
choice and the chief of mine. / do request
I demand-that no delegate who would
not cast reflection upon me shall cast bal
lot for me-"
In private life Mr.. Mckinley is very
agreeable, and he is extremely popular in
his hometown. Though quiet and unos-
tentatious, he is hospitable and thousands
of his fellCw-townsmen call frequently and
at all hours. He is fond of his home and
devoted to his invalid wife, Ida Sexton,
whom he married in 1871. She was a
daughter of the richest man in Canton at
that time, a banker, and the editor of the
Canton Repository. Ida was well educated
and had had the somewhat unusual advan
tage of foreign travel. Two children were
born, both daughters, one of whom died
soon after birth and the other at the age Of
four. This sad blow was the one grief Of
their married life. This shock and the
burdens Of motherhood made 4 lifelong in
valid Of Mrs. Mckinley.
The establishment of the McKinleys at
Canton, o., is very modest and unostenta-
tious. The house is plain, square, fam
lily mansion, and the library where Mr..
Mckinley works among his books and pa
pers is always open to friends and neigh
bors. His tastes are simple. He is ready
speaker, yet he always works his addresses
out carefully in advance. He told report
er last summer in an interview: "When
| have an important speech to make it alb
serbs me. 1t is hard work and it takes all
there is in me. | 60 over the subject again
and again in all its phases in my mind. |
read all can get hold of upon it, and the
speech gradually grows until it is ready for
delivery. If it is one that has to be given
to the press dictate it to my stenographer
and see that the copy is given out before
hand. This clarifies my thought, and
though | seldom make exactly the same
speech that have dictated, it is substan-
TALLY the same"
"Do you like to speak?"
"No, do not" replied Gov Mckinley
emphatically, IL dread 1t. My heart goes
down into my boots whenever get up be-
fore an audience, and tremble until
have begun to talk. This is always so and
still | have been making speeches for %
years.
The personal appearance of Mr.. McKin-
ley has been made known to the public
through many pictures. bat he has been
caricatured so much as Napoleon that the
resemblance, which is really rather slight,
than the Corsican, which gives him an ad-
vantage in public speaking. He is not
stout but has a full chest and upright car
riage which gives him portly bearing.
He has forcible and practical way of put
ting things which appeals TO the audience.
He is an effective campaigner, and his
strong physique and regular habits enable
him to do tremendous amount of work.