Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-07-23


house will not be lonesome
president"
Thus spoke Maj. Mckinley on the
lawn beside his house III Canton, o., on
the afternoon of the Sunday following
the nomination of Mr.. Bryan in July,
1898. Sitting under tree with Con-
gresham Apsley, of Massachusetts,,
and another friend, smoking after
dinner cigars, Maj. Mckinley quietly
made that statement which was then a
prediction. Now it is a historic fact.
The gentlemen were adverting to the
fact that of the leading men of the po-
litical party which Grover Cleveland
twice led to success. very few were in
the habit of calling at the white house.
No unkind word had been said nor any
uncharitable criticism uttered con-
corning President Cleveland; but the
fact was mentioned that he had been
deserted by many of the men who had
formerly supported him, when Maj.
Mckinley said: II will not be lone
some president"
He has not been lonesome. On the
contrary, he has had more callers
| daily since he has been in the white
house than he could always find time
| to greet and welcome there. Leading
men of both political parties have con-
stantly called, and all of them have
been on friendly missions. He has not
been lonesome. He has not been
austere, nor has he been repellant.
Because he has emphatioally an
nounced that he has no further po-
litical aspirations, he may now be
commended with tongue and pen by
men who talk and write with nom
partisan conservativeness. Therefore,
the people may be told that, many
months before his first election, Pres
ident Mckinley determined that pub
lie men should always be made vel
come at the executive mansion. That
one fact, heretofore unpublished, will
account in great measure for the pres
ident's popularity with all classes OF
his fellow citizens.
On the day following his first In.
auguration President Mckinley went
forth from the white house for a stroll
down Pennsylvania avenue. His ac-
ton YVES surprise to the people. Dur
ing the preceding ~ years no presi:
dent had been seen alone in public IN
that manner. Grover Cleveland four
years, Benjamin Harrison four years
and again Grover Cleveland four years,
had been exclusively and rsclusively
incumbents Of the white house with
out appearing on public thorough.
fare. When the narrator met Preai.
dent Mckinley on the day following
his first Inauguration there were only
formal salutations in passing, but the
memory of the narrator wildly re-
called those words: II will not be a
lonesome president"
| 1t was strikingly apparent that Maj.
Mckinley was showing himself to be a
man of the people from the very be-
ginning: and he was doing it to let
them all know that he did not intend
to be "a lonesome president"
The reader must not erroneously
suppose that any unkind ref ctions
are directed towards the two proceed
ing presidents in this contrast. They
are not the only ones who have seen
lonesome days in the white house.
Although every president has been
revered and respected when his name
has gone down into history, everyone
!, of them was subjected to harsh, de
structiye criticism during his as
! cendancy: even the great and GOOD
! Washington and Lincoln having beer
; no exceptions to the general rule. i
I was the misfortune of Washington tt