The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-14
MIR. M'KNLEY'S LIFE.

MIR. M'KINLEY'S LIFE. William Mckinley. Jr.. President, Gov born at Niles. Trumbull County, Ohio, February 2b Isi4 He attended the pubic schools Tn his nighborhood until 1Sb1, when the outbreak of the civil war in hanied his ambition and aroused his pa . trtotism to such Il degree that. although only T. years of age, he enlisted as a pri-
 vate soldier. His irst service was in the
 Ed Ohio Volunteer Infantry. with which
 he served uni! the close of the war, be- ing mustered out as Captain and Brevet-
 Matcr tae age of H.
 He then studied law. and was admitted to the bar, became a successful and pop uiar lawyer, and from 1869 to 1871 was
 prosecuting attorney for Stark County. Ohio. About this time he began to turn ms atteEtitn seriously to politics, and being Dc ssessed ot mary popular quali- ties he quickly became a favorite and was elected On the Republican ticket to the FGrty.ffth, F"rty-sixth. Forty; sey.
 enth, Forty eighth, FCrty-ninth, and Eff ticth Cofgi esses. In the House he made himself more prominent as worker in committee than as a debater on the floor, He made but few speeches, hut from the beginning displayed great interest in the tariff questicn, his first act as Rer- rcsentative being the presentation of d petition from Ohio manufacturers, asking Congress to take no action in the way of tariff revision until a thorough investi- gation of the needs of American labor and the condition of American industries the civil service reform bill and MT. Hol- mans resolution declaring the unearned land grants to the subsidy railroads for felt to the Government. Gradually he began to be looked upon by the Rerub- ltCans in the lower House as power ir the party. end at the Republican Nation al Convention in 1SSS, his name was free ly mentioned as a possible candidate for fha nrnSi6nnrVs hlIf in this convention Mator Mckinley led the Ohio delegation, which had been instructed to vote for Senator John Sherman It is an interest ing fact in American political history that there was a point in the deliberations of the convention when Major Mckinley could possibly have had the nomination thorized candidate of his State to his own interest. but he was staunch and refused absolutely to let his name be used
 q am here," he said, "by resolution of the Republican Convention of Ohio, passed without one dissenting voice, com manding me to cast my vote for John sherman, and to use every worthy en- deavor for his nomination. I accepted the trust because my heart and 1udg- ment were in accord with the letter and the spirit and the purpose Of that resolu- tion. It has pleased certain delegates to cast their votes for me. l cannot, with honorable fidelity to John Sherman, who has trusted me in his cause and with I with my own views of personal integrity, consent, or seem to consent, to permit my name to be used as a candidate be- fore this convention. do request, 1 command, that no delegate who would not cast reflection upon me shall cast ballot for me-
 Major Mckinley went out of that con- vention one of the most popular men In the Republican party, and as his views on protection were the most pronounced of all the protectionist leaders it natur- ally followed that the Harrison admin istration placed the tariff question in his hands. The result of this action was the drafting of bill known as the "Mckin- ley bill,' which afterwards became a law. Without attempting to analyze this bill, it is sufficient to say that 1t placed a tariff for protection only on the high est ground taken since the time when Henry Clay first laid a protection propo- sition before the country. By 1t, extra ordinary powers were given to the Presi- dent for tis proper enforcement, even to to close the ports of the United States to the products of manufactures of any foreign country which should attempt reprisals. Perhaps no , congressionaii al reproduction at the hands of its opponents. as did the Mckinley bill" Carried through by the enforcement of the de- cisions on the part of the Speaker of the House, which the opposition deemed ar bitrary and even revolutionary, it was at tackled as a whole and in detail by the anu lIuepeHutHI press, uOI only with a spirit of alarm, but with display of positive Virulency and feroCity. Its passage and enforcement resulted, in 1890, in Democratic tidal wave which swept the entire country, turning a small Republican into an enormous Democratic majority in the House of Representa- tives, altering the political complexion of the Senate, and defeating Major McKin- tion in a campaign in which his record ,asSrg tariff MatoT eoHstEqeter McKiG1eT retired ~H a from Congress es March {. 1881, leaving his ability as legislator and tariff maker to be judged by his works, but with party popularity and reputa- for the presidency. In 1891 he was nom- mated by the Republicans for Governor of Ohio and was elected over Governor James D. Campbell. the Democratic can didate. after a most exciting campaign. In 1893 he was reelected, defeating L. T. Neal. Democrat.
 of 1892, Major Mckinley supported the nomination of Benjamin Harrison, who was nominated, but there were 1S2 votes east for Mckinley over his protest. It was not until 1896 that Major Mckinley permitted his friends to announce him for the candidacy and to present his name to the R2publican National Con vention. Long before the Convention met it was foreseen that he would be the candidate of his party. and at the Con Vention he was nominated on the nrSt bdIlOt dIllu scenes or great enIHuSIdSlh The Republicans attempted to make the tarifr the issue of the campaign, but the Democrats and other parties made cur rency the issue and the result was sweeping victory for the Republican tick ct. During the four years of his first term. the most important event was the war with Spain, and the victory there of. combined with the currency question, again brought up by the Democrats in the, campaign of 1900, resulted in Mckin- ley's. reelection, At the Republican Con vention in Philadelphia in 1900. Major Mckinley. was renominated by an unan- imous vote. on the first ballot. No other name was presented. for the candidacy. The scene at the nomination was per haps never before witnessed at na- tional convention of any party in this country.
 Major Mckinley married daughter of the proprietor of The Canton (O.) Re pository. one of the oldest papers in the country S Rut one child, a & daughter; Hsrs was ago Mrs. McKinley has long been an invalid and the devotion manifested by her husband in caring for her and his unseltish solicitude were not the least