The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-19
MR.. M'KINLEY'S KINDNESS
HOW 1T HAS IMPRESSED ITSELF ON
VISITORS GENERALLY.
In His Intercourse with White House
Employees or Callers He Was Al
ways AmiabIe and Courteous.
Letter in New York Post.

Washington Letter in New York Post.
Quite as impressive as anything else in
the development OF the last few days has
been the clear light in which they show
how President McKinley's personal charms
and qualities as a man have won the az
lection OF the country. Particularly Is this
noticeable here. where. from his long serv-
Ice in Congress and for more than four
years in the presidential chair, he has be-
come known personally as TO no other part
Of the country, except, perhaps, TO ms
neighbors in Canton. DR.. David j. Hill, as
sistant secretary of state. once remarked
to friend when Mr.. McKinley's person
atty was under discussion, that II the
Lord had ever breathed the breath OF life
into a more gracious and amiable man
than Mr.. Mckinley" DR.. Hill had yet to
find it out. This is a thoroughly character
istic estimate. and one that is by no means
confined in its expression to occasions OF
GRIEF and strain like the present
Mr.. Mckinley. according to the best esti-
mates here, always does the amiable and
courteous thing If he has ever had any
feeling Of injured dignity or ill-temper, he
has never let it be discovered even by those
White House comes away pleasantly i'm
pressed, whether he be Republican, Demo-
crat, Populist, Anti Imperialist or Social
list; negro, a Chinese or a Caucasian. 1t
has not been uncommon with other Presi-
dents for men OF more or less prominence
to come away from the White House saying
rather unpleasant things about the treat
ment they had received. With Mckinley it
has been different, and in that personal
equation doubtless lies large share of his
success, as a public man and party leader
in securing acceptance of the policies for
which he stands. When before, il Is fire.
quently asked, has a President carried the
House of Representatives in three Con-
crosses in succession? When before has
President sustained such friendly relations
with the senator's that they have rejected
none of his nominations for office, or that
he, in turn, has had to veto none of their
bills? For this Is substantially the situa-
ton. The very few vetoes and rejected nom
nations, and their number has been
trifing, have rarely been unwelcome TO the
other side, but were rather in the nature Of
the correction of errors due to newly dis
covered evidence.
COURTESY TO AN OPPONENT.
When the secretary of the Anti-Imperial-
ist League first visited Washington the
President came out of a Cabinet meeting to
receive him-a most unusual courtesy.
Many a President who had been fattered
as Mckinley has been would have taken
affront at some of the utterances of the
league. and, standing on his dignity, have
refused altogether to see its representative.
One Of McKinley's predecessors steadily re-
fused to see during his term OF Office an
eminent doctor of divinity who several
times called on public business, because he
had, as preacher, alluded to his alleged
mountaineering President
Arthur. with all that graciousness of man.
ner which has associated itself with his
name, proved hard master for the cler1-
cal force in his immediate employ. If he de-
sired letter or paper from the files for
any purpose, he could brook no delay and
was seemingly unwilling 10 grant that time
might be necessary even for those who
served a President.
In fact, those who know the White House
best, in its various aspects towards the
public, are able TO relate a great many
incidents showing considerable human ma
ture on the part of the various Presidents
who have occupied 1t, but OF Mckinley they
have nothing to relate but pleasant things,
kindly acts and genial ways. He seems
never offended at those who have most
newspapers one day that Senator Tillman
declares that Mr.. Mckinley is gradually
becoming a dictator, to the subversion of
the old Republic; the next day we read that
Mr.. Tillman went to the White House to
ask for a small consulship for one Of his
constituents, and, strange to relate. that.
ly obtained il. In fact, Tillman has said in
public way that in his opinion no finer
gentleman from George Washngtons time
TO the present had ever occupied the presi-
Dental chair. He never went to the White
House in the latter part of Mr.. Cleveland's
administration, just as there were many
Republicans of prominence that were not
very neighborly with Mr.. Harrison, and
others, to be sure. who did not like Mr..
HE WAS ADAPTABLE.
hos Oh 70 10
observers, who have talked with public
men, who have come away from a confer
ence with the chief executive, how gener-
ally he has made their wishes his own. In
the organization of the first Philippine COM
mission, one of the men Professionally Sc
lected FASTENED to Washington to tell Mr..
Mckinley that he was not much of a be-
lever in his expansion policy, and that,
probably knowing this. Mr.. Mckinley would
want somebody else to serve. quite the
contrary" was the Presidents answer.
I'VE need just the element Of opinion on
that commission which you represent. l
Another man whom Mr.. Mckinley was
about to appoint TO high office expressed
in the same way his skepticism on the sub
Ject OF protection, as Identified with Mr..
McKinley's name In the same spirit Mr.
Mckinley assured him that the view OF the
case which he held was the very one which
the President was eager to have repre-
sented Mr.. Mckinley has been so able to
see both sides OF questions, 10 recognize
personal and local limitations, that his re-
lations with the world and with the Amer
lean public have been wonderfully pleasant.
1t will be recalled how enthusiastic the
Democratic South became when on his visit
to that section he allowed a Confederate
badge, pinned playfully on the lapel Of his
coat, TO remain there all day, and how he
recommended that the federal government
Join with the Southern States in the care
of the cemeteries in which were buried the
Confederate dead. Wherever he has gone,
North, East, West or South, he has fallen
in so acceptably with the prevailing views
and aspirations of the people as 10 win
their most marked favor. BY his diplomatic
way, he has led great many persons to
his manner Of thinking, when they did not
realize that they were being led.