New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-20
RICHARD SMITH ON MKINLEY
THE VETERAN OHIO EDITOR TELLS WHY
HE SUPPORTS THE OHIO STATESMAN.

A TRIED AND TRUE REPUBLICAN. MAN OF THE
PEOPLE PRoTEcTIoNIsT. A SOUND MONEY
MAN. BROAD STATESMAN. HE is
THE MAN FOR PRESIDENT.
Cincinnati. April 10 CspeciaD.-A correspondent
of The Tribune found Mr.. Richard smith IN MS
private library in Mount Auburn ana hao
conversation with him on the political OUTLOOK
Mr. Smith has been in the editorial harness lor
over forty years and has. therefore, "ioe eA-
perience He supported Taylor. Scott. Fremont
Lincoln, Grant, Hayes. Garfield, Shame anu ii"'
rison when candidates for election. The views VI
this old observer, therefore, are enti'ieo 10
weight.
"Why do YOU favor William Mckinney as d
Republican candidate for the Presidency" ne
was asked.
First and foremost favor him because De-
,sve him n he honest. capable and fully equipped
FOR the office of President. IL has BEEN as ne
"a now q tried and steadfast Republican ana
fair commemorative of the fundamental principles
OF that party He has been before the couhu!
as county officer, legislator. Congressman ana
Governor for q third Of a century he mas hNeu
In the broad light Of day and is known ~ NC
honest II disposed to be corrupt he hao great
opportunities but he is now, as he mas always
BEEN a comparatively poor man.
"In the next place. I favor him because ne Is
manifestly the choice " what we call the oohi-
mon people. With the masses he mas always
heen IN close touch and in full sympathy, and he
is. therefore. properly spoken OF as a man Oh 'he
neople. He is not an enemy Of any legitimate
interest but he is friend Of all economic meas
ures which are intended and adapted TO promote
the prosperity and the happiness of the whole
people. Looking Mckinley squarely in the eye
and having knowledge of his character, 90 not
sunnose man lives who would dare to approach
him with corrupt proposition or VINO Wouiu
expect that he would turn to the right mana OF
20 the left out Of the way that he conscientiousy
believed to be right
what importance do you attach to the fact
that Democratic leaders and Democratic news
papers have united in their opposition TO Mch'h-
lev and seek to bettle his prospects FOR the nom
ination, while passing by other Republican candi-
dates?"
THE DEMOCRATIC ATTACK
"well this may be called good politics 1t is
game that politicians always play, and looNihe
at 1t from strictly partisan point OF view .he
nocv NAV be regarded as legitimate Mckinley
is unouestionably the choice OF the great mass OF
the Republicans for the nomination, as he would
be Of the whole party, and of very many Deiiio-
Gratis. at the polls If candidate Our Demo-
cratic opponents understand this, and hence their
desire 10 defeat the candidate Of the people
Some OF their leaders profess t. say he would De
an easy man to beat If they really believed
that they would help tc nominate him instead OF
concentrating their efforts to have somebody else
chosen
"You have said that Mckinley is the popular
candidate and that he has deep hold upon the
people To what do you attribute this?'
Largely to the fact that he represents the
principle under the operations OF which the IN
dustries Of this country prospered While not
entirely responsible for the tariff OF 1890 ne was
as chairman Of the Ways and Means Committee
of the House of Representatives, so closely idenu-
Asd with II that that measure has come to be
known as the Mckinley tariff. This country
since the repeal of that measure. since the sec
ond election of Mr.. Cleveland and since the In
Fiction upon the Nation Of the LIIId Congress,
has been. as everybody knows, in condition OF
extreme depression. Factories have been wholly
or partially closed, willing workers have peen
thrown out Of employment, wages have been
largely reduced imports Of the product OF ior-
eign cheap labor have been increased, While
the revenues through customs duties have not
been sufficient to pay the current expenses or the
Government. To meet these expenses and main
tain the gold reserve 1858 900 in
ing bonds have been issued by the Cleveland Ad-
ministration.
FACTS EASILY UNDERSTOOD.
these are facts that the people understand
They understand also that while prior to 1882
there was sunshine in their homes. now, and FOR
three years past. there have been gloom and
dependency While prices Of foreign goods
have in many respects been reduced. there is no
money to purchase cheap goods This is an ex-
perience that no amount Of talk. no academic dis
plo
wipe out from the understanding of the people
The latter want work. and they want 1t badly.
and they are perfectly satisfied in their own
minds that the means to this end are to be found
IN a change In the Administration. and conse-
ouent change In the economic policy OF the Gov
eminent With this in view they have fixed
upon Mckinley as the logical candidate. and ne
IL now regarded as the Moses to lead the country
from the depths Of depression to the much-desred
level Of prosperity. Thus the whole case Is
presented. and the result is that the people have
taken hold Of his canvass and are conducting II
In their own way without regard to machine pol
itics or Presidential trusts
"you think. then. that Mckinley will be nomi-
mated. and that II nominated he will be elected?'
"I most certainly do. OF course. II combines
and traffic ARRANGEMENTS and boss rule and
swineine delegates could defeat him at ST. Louis
ne would not be nominated, but another idea has
taken hold Of, the people and that Is that the
less they have to do with machine traitors and
self-constituted managers the better 1t Will bt
for the country. This sentiment VIII. think
control the st. Louis Convention"
"rhere IA an impression that Mckinley is 6
man Of one idea and II elected President NJ
-o,,,a favor the re-enactment as q whole Of thu
so-called Mckinley tariff"
THE "ONE-IDEA", ARGUMENT
,sWell-informed people who make this assertion
know that 1t is unfounded. Mckinley Is wei
knou.n in most OF the States OF this Union. H