The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1899-10-26
John II. Mclean
Helped to Save Mckinley From Bank
ruptsy.

NEW YORK Oct. pa Toledo die
patch to the Journal is as follows:
president McKinley's friends in
Ohio are greatly embarrassed by
Governor Bushnell's disclosure of
the fact that John r. Mclean, the
Democratic candidate for governor
is one Of the men who helped pay
Mr.. McKinley's debts when he was
a bankrupt.
"As the Republican managers
have been abusing Mr.. Mclean as
though he were an outlaw, the facts
have an extraordinary interest just
now. Mr.. Hanna has not spared the
Democratic candidate in public or in
private speech. Yet lit was Mr.. Han.
ma who received Mr.. McLean's con-
tribution of $1,000 to the fund which
was raised for Mr.. Mckinley.
at will be remembered that Mr..
Mckinley was then governor of Ohio
Although he was man practically
without means, he alternately signed
and indorsed a number of blank pro-
mlssory notes and gave them to Mr.
Walker. of the Youngstown TIr
Plate works.
AS private citizen Mr.. McKin.
ley's signature or Endorsement was
almost worthless In bank. But the
fact that he was governor of Ohio en-
abled Mr.. Walker to peddle notes
around the state and Mr.. Mckinley
was involved in liabilities amounting
to about $11S,000. When Mr.. Walker
failed in business Mr.. Mckinley dis
covered for the first time the amounts
writteni nto the blank promissory
notes. The governor was IN a hu
milatjng position. He had contract
debts without having the means tt
pay them. Mr.. Hanna, Myron II
Hsrrick, Herman Kohlsaat and sew
eral other friends of Mckinley start
ed movement to relieve the bank
rupt from his deplorabie and mex,
plicable position.
I "They begged contribution from
prominent manufacturs and leading
Republicans. Among. those wht
subscribed to this fund was Benjamin
Warder, Governor Bushnells bust.
ness partner. So great was the de
sire to save Governor Mckinley from
disgrace that his friends even applied
to Democrats for contributions.
"Mr. Warder went to Mr.. McLeal
and asked him to assist in paying Mr.
McKinley's debts.on the ground tha
the governor was good fellow
/" How much have you given?' ask
Mr.. Mclean.
"A thousand dollars" said MI
Warder.
Then put me down for thous
and dollars, too said Mr.. Mclean.
That's generous thing to d
for the poor fellow remarked MI
Warder.
"'I'm really sorry for him, said MI
Mclean. Its nothing more than
would do for any good fellow il
trouble
''Mr. Mclean sent his check TO
$1,000 To Mr.. Warder, and few day
later Mr.. Hanna sent a letter to MI
Warder acknowledging the. receip
OF the money and saying that it wa
a nice thing for Mr.. Mclean to dc
| For years Mr.. Mclean has kept th
4 incident to himself, notwithstandin
the constant abuse poured upon hi
head by Mr.. Hanna and the persona
agents of Mr.. Mckinley.
Nothing could tempt him to brea
his silence. Neither Mr.. McKinl4
tnor Mr. Hanna has ever given tn
slightest hins of the occurrence, no
have they shown any consideratio
for the man who was generou
enough to assista ruined politica
rival.
sand now, when Mclean Is a can
didate for governor, and the McKin
ley and Hanna orators and news
papers are mercilessly denouncin
him as q scoundrel without redeem
ing trait, the Republican governo
of Ohio reveals the truth as an act q
! justice"