The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-06-05
HOW HE GOT A VOTE.

President Mckinley is a shrewd man
In political fight. Those who think
that Chairman Hanna exclusively
furnished the generalship for the last
campaign don't know Mckinley He
was consulted on many things, and his
judgment accepted His success pre-
vious to receiving the Republican NOM
ination for president were largely due
to his own political foresight In the
campaign of 1890, when Mckinley was
beaten by 906 votes for congress, in a
district which had been gerrymandered
until it had nearly 5000 Democratic
majority, Mckinley displayed wonder
full generalship. Four days before the
election Mckinley and his managers
knew how nearly every man in the
district would vote. They saw the
probability of defeat, but were plucky
enough to put up the greatest fight
known in the district. In figuring up
the prospects Mckinley decided that
every vote was needed. Some one told
him that one of his best friends, then
absent on a bridal tour, would prob
ably return if he mckinley sent a
telegram. The young fellow had been
married about a week, and was In
New England with his bride. He had
intended to be away a good while
Mckinley sent him this telegram:
"It Is right to be married, and con-
gratulate you with all my heart, but
every man owes a debt to his country
! That debt can best be paid by voting
as his conscience dictates on election
day."
The young friend returned in time tc
vote. This was long remembered by
Mckinley.
GREAT RACE FOR GOVERNOR.
The great race which Mckinley made
when he was elected governor of Ohio
in 1891, the year after his defeat fol
congress, was full of amusing Incl
dents, besides illustrating the shrewd'
ness of the Republican managers an6
| of the candidate himself. Expecting
| that the Democrats would make the
fight on the tariff issue, the Republi'
| cans, 1t is charged by Democrats, re-
sorted to a scheme which was a tell
| ing one. At the various meetings the
Republicans had imported men whc
would rise, declare that they were
Democrats, but were going to support
| Mckinley because of his protection
views. This was done at hundreds o.
meetings, and was heralded all ovei
the state as showing a big change il
sentiment. One day Mckinley got OF
a train going 10 Cincinnati He found
James e. Neal, the Democratic lead
| err, on the same train. Neal was tht
Democratic manager of that campaign
| and two years later was the Demo
cratic opponent of Governor Mckinley
| in the race for governor. Governor
Mckinley and Colonel Neal sat togeth
| er and chatted pleasantly. Mckinley
was booked to speak in Cincinnati tha
night, but was also to make a speech
at Xenia on his way, When the trair
| received Xenia a delegation of loca
Republicans boarded the train and pro
ceeded to announce their programme.
They did not know Colonel Neal, anC
| coyly talked along. And, governor,
said the leader. I'VE have paid five
reached Xenia a delegation of loca
| distance and are not known to rise
and say they have always been Dem
ocrats. but are going TO vote for you.
| Governor Mckinley smiled and theT
| introduced them to Colonel Neal. Th'
politicians were badly frightened.
President Mckinley Is as fond o
flowers as his wife. He loves to hav'
them on his desk, and politicians wh'
see him frequently notice big bou
| quet of flowers. Every morning a maj
takes a waiter OF cut flowers TO thu
presidents room and puts them on hi
desk. They are cut in the Whit
House conservatory and consist of al
kinds and varieties. The beautiful ant
the fragrant are mixed The presi
dent likes fragrant flowers, but tn,
/ haaufv of soma attract him