The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-06-25
M,KINLEy,s TRIUMPH.

guished fellow townsman, has been NOM
mated by the National Republican Con-
yention for President of the United
States. 1t is an ambition that he has
had since 1884, though he was never
looked upon seriously as candidate until
four years ago. In 1899 he was the per-
manent chairman of the National Repub-
iican Convention which met at Minne-
apolis. and although his name was not
presented, he was voted for, receiving 1S2
votes, which was only one-sixth of vote
less than were given the "Plumed
Knight" There is little doubt that had
Harrison failed to receive the nomination
on the first ballot at Minneapolis, the
field would have concentrated against
him and MoKinlcy, not Blaine, would
have been the nominee. No greater mis-
fortune could have bofallen him, for ne
would have surely been defeated, as Har.
rison then was, and now classed as Harri-
son is, back number in politics
In 1892 the tide was surging against
the Republican party with terrific force.
The surplus which was in the treasury
when President Cleveland vacated his
office in 1889 had entirely disappeared,
while the national revenue from 1889 to
1899 had fallen short of the expenditures
by nearly the same amount The tariff
law which bore McKinley's name did not
suit the people, aud it was repudiated by
them at the congressional elections by a
full million majority. From the very day
that 1t became law, wages had been
steadily going down till, In the latter
half of 1892, the discomfort Of labor had
become so fierce that in many places 1t
amounted to insurrection. In June of
that year the Homestead Steel Works
closed, throwing 3, 900 men out of work.
In July an attempt was made to land
Pinkerton men at Homestead; several Of
them were killed, and on the 10th, the
National Guard of Pennsylvania was
called out. On the 11th there was battle
between the union and non-un.on miners
| in Idaho and number Of men were
killed. Martial law was declared. and on
the 10th, President Harrison, by proc
lamation called on all persons in insurrec-
tion in Idaho to disperse. On the 18th
warrants were issued for the Homestead
leaders charged with the murder of Pink
erton guards. August 14th the switchmen
on the Lehigh Valley railroad struck,
and during the next two days troops were
hurried into Buffalo. On the 18th the
strike extended to the West Shore and
New YORK Central switchmen, and more
troops were called out On the 10th and
| Goth !, 900 Tennessee miners attacked the
militia at Coal Creek ana defeated them.
During September the grand jury returned
true bills for murder against 1877 Home
stead strikers, and the Idaho miners were
tried for conspiracy, and four were con-
victed. These occurrences, all taking place
under Republican administration and
on the eve Of presidential election, made
1t impossible for the Republicans to elect
their candi late. The Republican nom
inotion, then, was nothing more than an
empty honor, and MoKinley's defeat in
that convention was the most fortunate
thing that ever happened him.
| No one in this community will be
grudge Major Mckinley the nomination.
It will bring hundreds of thousands of
dollars to this city, and we all, irrespective
of party, have local pride enough to con-
gratulate ourselves that so distinguished
an ho.or has been conferred upon our city
by one of the great political parties of the
country. Mr.. Mckinley had perfect
right to seek the presidency. 1t is an
honorable office and his ambition in that
direction has been oommendable one.
Fer nearly third of a century he has
lived In Stark county, and mingled and
oom mingled with our people. He is a
self-made man In the popular acoeptation
of the term. He started out in the hard
battle of life without friends or fortuitous
circumstances to strew roses In his path
way At an early age he entered the
Union army He had no political friends
to hasten his promotion, but he served
throughout the war with unusual credit.
He began his successful political career
just twenty years ago, when he was elect
ed to Congress in the seventeenth Ohio
district That he is exceedingly popular
with the people is we'll demonstrated
by the fact that he was elected seven
times to Congress, and twice Governor OF
/