Evening star., 1896-11-04
w L L I A M M cKINLEY,

of Judge Charles +. Glidden at Canton.
Shortly after he entered the law school at
Albany, n. Y, and graduated from that In
sttution. being admitted to the bar in 1867.
1t was slow and uphill work at first when
he opened his little office and hung out his
shingle in Canton but he made the most of
every opportunity, and soon gained a repu-
tation ready speaker.
For a republican, Stark county was not
a happy hunting ground. but whether II
was lack of clients or an Unborn tendency
that way Mckinley soon drifted into poll
tics. He obtained in 1869 what then
considered the empty honor of the repub-
liCan nomination for prosecuting attorney,
but with the seriousness that is character
iStic of him. he made an energetic personal
canvass and in the heart of a democratic
stronghold was triumphantly elected. Two
years later he renOminated, and,
though not elected, he kept his opponent s
ajority down to 40. when it had usually
run into the hundreds.
For the next five years he continued his
practice at the bar. though in 1919 he
stumped the state for Hayes election as
GOV ernor. and gained considerable reputa-
ton a public speaker In 1876 he deter
mined to try for Congress. 1t was not a
good year for the republican party. but he
carried the primaries in every township
but one in Stark county. and, having OBJ
tanned the nomination against two other
candidates. was elected by a substantial
majority.
In Congress-.
Notwithstanding three separate attempts
of the democrats, who had control of the
state to gerrymander his district he was
successfully returned to each succeeding
Congress for fourteen years. In 1890, after
the famous Mckinley tariff bill had been
placed on the statute books, determined
effort was made to defeat his reelection to
Congress. The foremost and ablest demo-
Gratis of the day invaded his district, and.
after hard-fought battle he was defeated
by 3O2 votes. This was but temporary
check that served as an incentive to fur
ther effort. In 1891 he was nominated by
the republicans of Ohio as their candidate q
for governor by acclamation. The fight on
protection and the high tariff question was
renewed, ard, after a three months cam
paign and d hard-fought fight, he was tri-
umphantly elected At the close of his
term he was again nominated by acclama-
tion and reelected by a majority of over
$1,000.
Much of Mckinley's success in life has
been attributed to his following the advice
said to have been given to him by Presi-
dent Hayes when he first entered Congress
ITO achieve success and fame Won must
pursue special line. You must not make
speech on every motion offered or every
bill introduced. You must confine yourself
10 one thing In particular. Become q spe-
clal1st Take up some branch of legisla-
ton and make that your study. Why not
choose the tariff"
N1chlAley ulu CnOOSe the tariff. His name
has become identified with it and with the
doctrine of protection ever since
Mrs. Mckinley.
When Maj. Mckinley first went 20 Can
ton to consult his sister on the choice of a
profession he met Miss Ida Saxton, the
pretty daughter of James Saxton, a we'll
to-do banker Of Canton. He was young
and good looking; she was sweet sixteen.
The acquaintanceship was Of short dura-
tion, for he had to go to Albany to study
law, and she had to return 10 school; but
the first thing that he did on his return to
canton as q full-fedged lawyer was to seek
her out and WOO her for his wife, They were
married on the 18th day of January, 1871,
and he says now 1t was the best suit he
ever won.
The young couple began their housekeep-
ing in the old Saxton home, at Canton,
which they still occupy. Two children
were born to them, but both died in infancy.
Since the birth of the second child Mrs
Mckinley has been an invalid, but yet a
happy and contented one, for the devotion
of her husband has been untring She fol-
lows his political career closely and often
he has been indebted to her for valuable
advice.
Mr.. Mckinleys mother, now in her
eighty-eighth year. is widow, her husband
having died three years ago. Her family
consists of her daughter, Miss Helen Nc
kinley, grandson of sixteen and Miss
Grace Mckinley. The two last named are
orphans. who have been taken into the
protecting home and guardianship cf their
grandmother
McKineys home life has not been with
out its effect in the political arena; it has