Evening star., 1897-04-27

precision upon the democrats. Judge OF the
charge IL his sentiment when he got to
the town and found on the placard some
thing like this: This t6W2 gave Foraker
13 votes in the last election This time 1t
will give Mckinley but . vuaes." Notwith-
standing this dire prediction Mckinley
Of his power Is q spe4ker it is recalled
that when Mckinley begin his political
career he could not speak 3keemporaneous-
ly. He had to write everything down.: He
young fellow named Chance, q fellow re-
publican, and they were booked to speak
at Navarro, a small town. Chance was a
wit and a was. He andi MCKINLEY started
to Navarro in buggy together. On their
way Chance asked McKiHley to let him
look over his speech. ;, Possessing re-
markable memory. Chance easily memor-
ized the speech while going over it. The
first that night. as Mckinley had been in
the habit Of leading or Mckinley was al
mcst paralyzed when Chance delivered his
speech almost verbatim making but few
changes When McKinley,s time came to
speak. he houndered around In helpless
shape and the democrats present were
tickled. AS years rolled on Mckinley be-
gan extemporaneous speeches, and Is now
fairly good in that line.
How He Got . Vote.
President Mckinley is a shrewd man in
a 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 successes previous to receiving the
republican nomination for President were
largely due to his own political foresight.
In the campaign of 1890, when Mckinley
was beaten by 308 votes for Congress, in
a district which had been gerrymandered
until 1t had nearly 1900 democratic ma
nj
eralship 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
hgurtng up the prospects Mckinley de-
ctded that every vote was needed. Some
one told him that one ofvhis best friends,
then absent on bridal toar, would prob
ably return II he mckinley sent a tele-
gram. The young fellow had been mar
ried about week, and was in New Eng
land with his bride. He mad intended to
him this telegram:
1T Is right to be married, and I congrat-
ulate you with all my heart, but every man
owes 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 to
vote. This was long remembered by Nc
Kinley.
Great Race for Governor.
The great race which Mckinley made
when he was elected governor of Ohio in
1891. the year after his defeat for Con-
gress, was full Of amusing Incidents be-
sides illustrating the shrewdness of the re-
publican managers and Of the candidate
himself. Expecting that the democrats
would make the fight on the tariff issue,
the republicans, it is charged by demo-
reSOrted w a
telling one. At the various meetings the
republicans had imported men who would
rise, declare that they were democrats, but
were going to support Mckinley because
of his protection views. This was done at
hundreds OF meetings, and was heralded
all over the state as showing a big change
in sentiment. One day Mckinley got on a
train going to Cincinnat.reH He found Jas.
E. Neal, the democratic leader. on the
same train. Neal wasa the democratic
manager of that campaign and two years
later was the democratic opponent of Gov.
Mckinley in the race fo governor. Gov.
chatted pleasantly. Mckinley was booked
to speak in Cincinnati that might, but was
also to make a speech at Xehia on his way.
When the train reached xenia a delegation
proceeded to announce theH program.
They did not know Col. Neal, and coyly
talked along. And, governor" said the
leader, I've have paid FIVE Fellows who have
como from long distance and are not
known to rise and sayrthfy have always
been democrats. but ara going to vote for
YOU" Gov. Mckinley smiled. and then in
troduced them to Col. NealHt rhe politicians
were badly frightened.
His Love OF, ElosSeFs. f,a-trT
President McKinleyHis as fond of flowers
as his wife. He loves to have them on his
desk, and politicians who see him fire.
quently notice a big bouquet OF flowers.
Every morning man takes a waiter of
cut flowers to the Presidents room and
puts them on his desk. They are cut in
the White House conservatory and consist
Of all kinds and varieties. The beautiful
and the fragrant are mixed. The President
likes fragrant flowers, but the beauty Of
some attract him.