The morning times., 1897-03-01
NO WINE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
An Early Statement of Mrs. Nc
Kinley's Views.

kinley's Views.
Canton. Feb. 2S.-Tbere will be no wine
in the White House after March T. The
Majors foot will not have to be put down
in the matter: Mrs Mckinley settled that
question years ago.
She has been an earnest advocate Of
temperance for many years, and while not
an active worker in the cause, yet Mrs.
Mckinley, as the wife OF the Governor OF
Ohio, set rigid example Of teetotaIism
During her long residence at hotels in
Columbus, she refrained from countenancing
drinking in every way. and often earnestly
deprecated it's use among her friends and
acquaintances. There is a well known
young man in Columbus who was once
strongly impressed with the future Presi-
dent s wire's adherence OF iutoxicants.
He is a brilliant young journalist and was
reporting the session OF the legislature for
several Ohio papers. The McKinIeys lived
at the Neil House, directly opposite the
State house, and in the hotel is one OF the
best patroniZed saloons in the city
The last session of the legislature dur
ing Mr.. McKinley's incumbency as gov
ernor was a quiet one, and some of the
correspondents spent time and money be
fore the bar in the Neil House cafe The
young man in question was noted among
his associates for his absteniiousness and
now and again won their regard and adj
miration by sending out for them the news
when they were busy with more seductive
occupations.
He was not n total abstainer, but quietly
said, when asked his principles upon the
liquor question, that he knew when he had
enough, and never drank 10 excess.
This was true. However, into the life
of every man who drinks at all, there
comes an evil hour. Then he drinks too
much 1t may have been so with this
reporter The incident of his taking one
drop too much, and its consequences are
better told by himself. The day after
its happening he was in sackcioth and q
Turkish bath. He told inquiring friends
the following story: Il seldom drink. on
all know this. 1 know when I've had
enough. This last assertion is false. I
want to say that no man who puts the
awful stuff into his stomach can calculate
when his capacity is exactly attained.
II went to a banquet a night or 10 ago,
and though wine flowed freely. 1 drank no
intoxicants l went hCme after finishing
my work and got up at 10 O'Clock the next
day, feeling poorly l went in the Neil
House and met a friend who insisted on
my taking a drink. He was anxious that
l was really afraid of insulting him, SO /
took one We had another and-I fOget
whether we had one more.
"A o.,
cinnati paper. telling ne 10 interview Mrs.
Mckinley on certain matter. IL was
for an afternoon sheet, and | had 10 time
TO waste / sent my card to the guber-
Material apartments, and received word TO
come up.
Going up in the elevator the heat
overcame me and 1 felt dizzy
You know / had not drunk much, and
was Just as sober as / am now, but il
was the steam heat. / went in the re-
ception-rOom, and in few minutes Mrs.
Mckinley entered. / was sort OF daZed
and stumbled in speaking to her. She
knew me well. and she looked sort of dis
pleased. / tried to explain that l was not
feeling well. She sympathized With me
when | told her that | was subject to
these attacks, and said that 1 should diet
myself.
II knew 1 was getting worse, as the
heat was Just pouring out OF the radiators
and all seeming TO make a rush for my
head / forgot what l had come 10 see
Mrs Mckinley about, and realizing that
/ might appear in a wrong light / was
about To go, when she asked me TO wait
until she returned. In moment OF two
she came back with a glass half full
OF something-I never knew what it was
and told me to drink it.
I'D have tossed off coal oil at that
time, as / was anxious to get away. I
did SO, and when / was in the open cir
got steady again. 1 was crossing the
State House yard when 1 felt suddenly
i'll. That stuff Mrs. Mckinley gave ME
was frigh1fuI in its effects. 1 thought
l had been poisoned and went for a
doctor, after l had reached the senate
chamber The doctor gave me Some
thing worse 1 took Il solemn oath never
to touch. taste, handle or smell liquor
again.
And he kept his word. Mrs McKinley's
heroic remedy made him teetotaler.