The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-29

anu pose as Mr.. Mckinley for US" he
fairly shouted.
The newspaper man thought the fell
low crazy and began to back away
Wnen ne saw him take off his long
Prlnce Albert coat. The matter was
explained to Merton. In a few min
utes, dressed In the artists coat and
sl'k nat, he mounted the steps of the
mckinley home. and while the owner
ana future President slumbered inside,
ne posed for pictures which afterwards
became famous. Mr.. Mckinley, told
the day following OF the incident,
laughed heartily, and when the pic
lures appeared a week later he de-
clared they were among the best he
had ever had taken.
During the campaign there were
many other situations more or less
embarrassing for the time to Merton.
on several occasions he was stopped on
the street by delegations from outside
towns who had come to see Mr. Nc
klnley and present their compliments.
Ihere was freight agent named Mar
tin at Canton whose special delight
was to point out Merton to visitors.
There's Major Mckinley now" he
would say. He always denies his
identity when strangers tackle him.
But don't let that bluff you. It's only
his modesty.''
Then the strangers would beset Mer-
ton in spite of his protests, to his own
wrath and the glee of the station
agent. One morning in question u
delegation of perhaps one hundred en-
thusiastic Republicans from an adioin-
ing county reached Canton, with their
brass band and banners. They were
starting up from the station to the
Mckinley residence, when the mis-
chievous station agent came along.
Far UP the street he had spied Merton
coming down, and he hailed the stand
ard bearer:
Going to Major McKinley's?''
Yes"
well, the Major amt at home now"
observed Martin. He's gone out for
walk. But you're in luck" he add
ed, pointing to Merton, 'for here he
comes now"
Martin lodged behind a wagon. The
leader of the delegation spoke a few
hurried words to the band, which
struck up Hail to the Chief" and the
procession moved.
Merton, unconscious of impending
trouble, was brought up with a round
turn and found himself surrounded by
crowd of gaily decked country vot-
ers. The band screeched a welcome
and stopped. Before Merton could
start to run the spokesman advanced
with roll of parchment and began
an address to Maj. Mckinley. Mer-
glanced around helplessly and caught
sight of Martin, who, by this time,
had mounted the top of the wagon and
was almost in spasms of Joy. Merton
turned wroth and stopped the speech
maker, saying:
I'm not Mr.. Mckinley, my good
man. You have been imposed upon"
The spokesman glared at Merton and
blurted out:
why amt you Mr.. Mckinley"
This was hard one. Merton fioun-
dered, trying to explain that he was
a victim of a joke, but the spokesman
would have none of it. He pointed to
the life size picture of Mckinley on
their banner and asked Merton If he
dare deny, in the fact of such proof,
that he was Mr.. Mckinley. He de-
clared that the supposed Mckinley was
trying to throw down the voters from
that end of the state by declining to
recognize them. He said the county
from which they have now come had
always stood by Mckinley, but they
didn't want to be made sport of in this
way
Merton was in cold sweat by this
time. So was Martin. The last thing
either of them wanted was to lose
votes for Mr.. Mckinley. So Martin
came down from his wagon and be-
tween him and Merton the tangle was
Strengthened out, but it was not until
the delegation saw Mr.. Mckinley and
Merton together in the same yard that
afternoon that they were completely
satisfied.
AS long as Merton stayed in Canton
he was the victim of encounters of the
following sort. He would be apporach-
ed by lot of visitors, who would scan
him closely before the boldest of them
would venture to advance and extend
his hand. saying:
IT beg your pardon, but you are"
mo, sir; I am not" Merton would
reply YEARLY.
rs 1t possible that I am mistaken
in"
Eyes, sir; 1t is. More than possible.
And If you'd been asked that question
as many times as have you'd be pref
ty sick of it," and away he would go,
leaving/his interlocutor still doubling
1t got so that any one could put him
to ignominious flight by merely APP
preaching him with hand outstretched.
Some years ago Merton went into the
office of big Ohio newspaper where a
life size picture of President Mckinley
was one of the prominent wall fix
pie who had evidently not been long in
the town came in. They glanced at
the picture, then at Merton. One of
them came up, and without any pre-
liminaries, began to talk business.
Murton saw there was some mistake
and told him to speak to some one con-
nected with the paper.
Don't you own this paper?" said the
stranger.
mo Sorry to say DON'T" replied
Merton.
Now, what's the use of your telling
me that. We've got to have this thing
fixed up and there's no use of you try
ing to tell lies about it. You're the man
that owns the paper and we know it..
You've published that story and you
know it's a lie. YOU"
What do you mean by telling me
l lie? was never in this office I'M
til few minutes ago. l don't know
what you're talking about, and 1 guess
you don't either" roared Merton, now
thoroughly angry.
What are they doing with your pic
ture up there, if you're not the whole
thing here?" shouted the subscriber,
pointing to President McKinley's like
ness on the wall.
Merton walked out into the world.
He had no words to waste on the man
who didn't know President McKinley's
picture.
STOPPED THE ARMY.
Sy.suwx... Cau.nIatu tn MnvOr