The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1901-09-21

ty and glory. His state sustained him,
and at last the nation rewarded his
courage and consistency withs the
highest honors it could bestow."
Biographical sketch.
William Mckinley was born at Niles.
Trumbull County, Ohio, January % 1913,
He attended the public schools in his
neighborhood until 1861. when the out
break of the civil war infiam"d his ami
bition and aroused his patriotism 10 such
a degree that, although only II years old
he enlisted as a private soldier. His first
service was in the Twenty-third Ohio
until the close of the war, being mustered
out as captain and brevet major at the
age of 21.
He then studied law and was admitted
10 the bar, became q successful and popl-
lar lawyer, and from 1859 to lSll was pros
ecuting attorney for Stark county, q.
About this time he began - turn his at
tention seriously to politics cad was elect
- un-fhe rerfr4fcan ticket TO the Forty
: fifth, F0rty-sixth, Forty-ssventh, Fort. :
= crosses. IN the house of representatives
he made himself more popJtTr IS a curSf-
mittee worker than as debater on The
floor. He made few speeches, but from
the beginning ne showed much interest in
the tariff qffuestion, his first act as a rep
resentatiye being the presentation of a pc
tition from Ohio manufacturers, asking
congress to take no action In the way OF
tariff revision until a thorough investiga
tion of the needs of American industries
had been made. He actively supported
the civil service reform bill and Mr.. 1lol-
mans resolution declaring the unearned
land grants to the subsidy railroads for
felt to the government. Gradually ne
came to be looked upon by the repub-
licans in the house as a power In the par
ty. and at the republican national con-
vention In 1885 his name was freely mem
toned as a possible candidate for the
presidency; but In this convention Nc
Kinley led the Ohio delegation, which had
been instructed to vote for Senator John
Sherman.
1t is an interesting fact in American
political history that there was point in
the deliberations OF the convention when
Maj. Mckinley could possibly have had
the nomination had he been willing TO
sacrifice the authorized candidate Of his
state to his own interest, but ne abso-
utely refused to let his name be useh.
II am here" he said, by resolution
of the republican convention OF Ohio,
passed without one dissenting voice, coln-
handing me to cast my vote for john
Sherman and use every worthy endeavor
because my heart and judgment were in
accord with the letter and spirit and pur-
pose of that resolution. 1t has pleased
certain delegates to cast their votes for
me. can not, with honorable fidelity TO
John Sherman, who has trusted me In his
cause and with his confidence; can not
consistently with my own views or per-
sonal integrity consent, or seem to con-
sent, TO permit my name TO be used as a
candidate before. this convention / do re-
quest, / demand. that no delegate who
would not cast reflection on me shall cast
ballot for me-"
Maj Mckinley went out of that conven-
tion one of the most popular men in the
republican party, and as his views on
protection we're the most pronounced of
All the protectionist leaders, it naturally
followed that the Harrison administra-
tion placed the tariff question in his
hands. The result of this action was the
drafting of a bill known as the 'tMcKin-
ley bill' which afterward became a law.
Without attempting to analyze this bill,
L is sufficient TO say that Ii placed a
tariff for protection only on the highest
ground taken since the time when Henry
Clay first laid a protection proposition be-
fore the country. Mai. Mckinley rteired
from congress March 4. 1891, leaving his
ability as a legislator and tariff maker 70
pc Judged by his works, with an estab-
ilshed party popularity and reputation. In
ssl re was nominated by the republicans
Tor governor of Ohio, and was elected
over Gov. Iaroes E Campbell. the demo-
campaign.
Many viii recall the great republican
sonssltion Of 1854 when William McKin-