Evening star., 1897-04-27
M'KINLEY, THE MAN
The President as He is Known to His
Intimates.
HIS FONDNESS FOR TEASING
He Loves a Good Joke and Tells
Stories on Himself.
CAMPAIGN EXPERIENCES

EnrVery little Is known among the thousands
Of Office seekers who flock to Washington
and go to the White House Of the personal
characteristics of President Mckinley. This
is also true of hundreds of men in public
life who have known Mckinley for years.
They have met him as a dignifed man,
with solemn and important duties resting
upon his shoulders. They have not met
him as Mckinley. the man, with a twinkle
of humor in his eyes and q good story on
Ills lips. 1t is only those who have been in
timately thrown with him for years who
enjoy and appreciate the lighter and more
jovial side Of his nature. This part Of the
chief executive of the nation does not de-
velop itself except to those he knows close
iy. Among such men are Senator Hanna
and James Boyle, who for six years has
been the private secretary of Mckinley. but
who now goes as consul of this country to
Liverpool 1t Is doubtful IL there is a man
living who knows more of the nature of the
chief executive of the land than Mr.. Boyle,
who has 5ovial smile playing on his face
for every man. 1t may be that this smile
Is one which was acquired by Mr.. Boyle
from political necessity. At any rate, 1t is
there.
learn the man he stands in such close rela-
tions to. He knew little Of Mckinley until
he was called to Canton and offered the po-
sition he now holds. Since he has been sec
retary to the President he has had few op-
portunities to find out the sunny side of the
man who Is admitted by political enemies
10 be making popular President PERSONAL
ly. After they are together longer, and af-
ter some of the burdens of appointing re-
publtcans to offices are laid aside Mr.. Por-
ter will get chance to study the man he Is
now serving. So far neither the President
nor Secretary Porter have had opportuni-
IN find i,,cf h<,xr, IT,
other, or rather how they will like the per-
sonal traits of each other. From $50 o clock
each morning until II o'clock each night
they work together, more like machines
matters relating to the political fortunes of
other people.
He is n Great Teaser.
After a while, when the horde of Office
seekers get all which is then in sight, and
the disconsolate return mournfully to their
homes the President and his secretary will
then be thrown together so they can talk
about affairs less imI Iortant than those of
state. Then. if the President thinks that
his secretary is not himself too dignifieL
for that kind of fun, he will begin to tease
tie Connecticut man. He won't do that
unless he likes Mr.. Porter more and more
each week Tho better he likes him the
more he will tease. Former Secretary.
Boyle and number Of the young men who
have been close to the President for years
know how thoroughly he enjoys this inno-
cent sport Mr.: Boyle has often been the
victim OF the Presidents sportive turn of
mind. That fact endeared the President
10 the former secretary.
.Ihose who have enjoyed the honor of
peing selected as the victims of this exer-
else on the part of the President, say thai
the better he likes man the harder he
leases him. He never selects q subject on
wnlcn ms victim Is too sensitive. but picks
eomethfng not personal enough to be dis
agreeable. The young men who know and
love the President have found their love
anairs with the charming sex touched upon
at times, without references which were too
personal The state Of their young hearts,
the number Of times their pulses beat each
minute when away from their best girls.
and such little things have given the Presi-
dent topics for merriment at their expense
Of course there has been little of this for
some months. because of the multitude of
duties devolving upon Mr.. Mckinley, but
he occasionally finds time even now to
Joke" some Of his friends on various mat
ters.
The President is not a wit. but he loves
humor in a mild form. Nobody ever heard
him tell coarse story, which many men
think contain the pith of humor. His
in the presence of women. He enjoys a
joke on himself end tells 1t more often
than others do. Since he has been in the
White House there is a splendid story GO
has keen sense of humor What the
story was is not recorded. The facts are
that some one OF the Presidents friends
was telling story after supper one night,
when all were smoking. The story was SO
good that the President laughed almost
immoderately. He continued to laugh and
in trying to return his cigar to his mouth
before his hilarity was over he put the
wrong end between his lips 1t didn't do
much harm. but the warm end stopped his
laughter for few minutes.
How They Used the Spittoons.
A story which the President used to tell
illustrates the character of his stories He
says he went to Oberlin, Ohio. several
years ago to make an address. He stop
ped with Prof. Monroe, the head Of Oberlin
College. Every man who has been to
Oberlin knows what a straight-laced town
it is. There is no drinking no chewing of
tobacco, no smoking. After supper. with
fessor he believed he would go to the smok-
ing room to enjoy a cigar. why, we
haven't such thing as smoking room
smokes in this town, but wen find a
place. He led the way to a secluded room,
where no one could see the operation, and
Mckinley lit good cigar and began to
contentedly puff away. In few minutes
he looked around for cuspidor. but, not
seeing one, he inquired for one There
is not such thing in town. saidsthe head
OF tne cOileSe. w ell, / Will see that you
get some when 1 get back home," answered
Mckinley. True to his word, but more as
a joke than anything else Mckinley wrote
to a mutual friend of himself and Prof
Monroe of the predicament OF the latter,
The friend Immediately sent a barrel of
cuspidors by express to Professor Monroe
Several months after the incident Mckinley
again went to Oberlin. and. once more de-
string to indulge In a cigar called for a Gus
pidor. my gracious, man, I'm SORRY" said
Monroe. but my wife has used all Of them
fo-' flower pots, not knowing what they
were for" When he finishes this story,
told in an attractive way. the President al
ways has a good laugh.
Since those days the President smokes
fewer cigars. He has had a number Of
boxes of the finest cigars sent him. but he
never smokes when on duty in his office,
and 1t Is against his wishes that there
should be any smoking in any of the rooms
good many congressman have been re-
minded OF this wish Of the President, and
few lighted cigars are found among the
visitors to the White House. dozen men
putting at an equal number Of cigars of
various grades of tobacco in a room is
SUFFICIENT cause to have the weed tabooad
Smoking Is prohibited in the rooms opd
Railways adjoining the Presidents rooms.
Another of His Jokes,
In cne Of his campaigns for Congress
Mckinley made, as was his custom, a tour