Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1901-09-18

IMAM ana PRESIDENT, will 30 down i'm
history as an American of the highest
type. In personality and achievement
MS career embodied those qualities
and triumphs that constitute the
choicest fruits of Amcrican!sm OF
humble birth and reared among Il sim
pie folk he rose steadily hy his own
efforts 10 the proudcSt position open
to men. and throughout his progress
his manhood remained unsull!ed by
single blemish.
William Mckinley was born at
Niles. Ohio. January &c. 1917. His an
cestry is generally classcd as Scotch
Irish, hut there We're III it strains of
German and English blood.
Niles in 1913 was one OF the smallest
towns in Ohio. little more than trad
ing place for ncighburlng farmers.
Wishing To give their large family of
children better educational facilities.
the father and mother decided to move
10 Poland. which boaSted of an mead
envy. During this period at Poland
young Mckinley studied at the aCad-
envy. led the village debating society.
often relieved the postmaster, tricd
his ability as teacher. ana was
marked rs tile most promising boy of
the community. 1t WAS there in 1873
odiSt Church. Il connection that he has
maintained throughout life.
fIe went from his SchoolmaStcr'S
desk into the army. He WAS In; hoy
of eighteen, hut he had learned his
duty 1T the hearthSton" When there
was 4 call for volunteers young Me
Einlcy was one of the first 10 enlist
He entered Company l. of the Twcn
ty-third Ohio Infantry as Il private
and he soon saw active service. For
fourteen months he trudged in the
ranks ana he was singled out for COM
miSsary sergeant. He displayed such
conspicuous gallantry ~ An;ictam ms
To attract the notice OF his Superiors
and win Il commission aS second lieu
tenant. McKmicy's regiment SAW
much fighting in the eastern cam
paigns. He was promoted To first lieu
tenant and captain, and in 1861 was
brevetted major by President Lincoln
''for gallant and mcritoriouS services
ut the battles of OpcQUaG. Cedar
Creek and Fishers HIM.
He was tempted To remain in the
army, hut at the request OF his father
he decided to return 10 civil life. and
was mustered out i'm September. 1860.
He was then in his twenty-third year.
Returning To Poland he took MP the
Stutly Ol XIV, ana SOOD IlttlWlrI
went TO law college nj Albany. y.
y. for Il two-ycar course. He was ad-
mitted to the bar in 1867. He was
then poor young man OF twenty
four. with no resources hut his native
pluck and ability. Seeking . larger
field Of action than Poland offered he
settled in Canton. Stark County. Ohio.
Mckinlcy'S first ease was suit for
reDieVin. the young lawyer scored Il
victory and earned fee of SD. lie
proved 10 be Il man of -. much force
that he soon impressed himself on the
the community, and after his arrival
at Canton he became the Republican
candidate for prosecuting attorney.
The county had always been SO hope
lessly Democratic that Republican
nominations were empty honorS. hut
he made vigorous canvass and sur
prised old politicians by winning He
was Il candidate for recollection. ana
was defeated by only forty-fvc votes.
Returning to legal practice. Major
Mckinley continued in private life un-
til 1876. when he became candidate
for the Republican nomination for
Congress. He carried every township
but one in his county against strong
opposition. He vas almost as popular
in the other counties OF the district,
and got his nomination on the first bal
+ lot
Congressman Mckinley held his
place in the National Legislature for
fourteen years. In 1878 ne was put
into district with an apparent ma
jority against him of 1900. but he car
ried IT by 1900. Six years later he
turned n supposed majority of 1900
into Il victory with 1900 votes TO spare
In 1880 he ran in n district that had
given the Democrats majority of
29OO the year before. 1t was Il politi-
cal combat which has beer compared
TO that fought out between Lincoln
and Douglas in Illinois
Mckinley was candidate against
Thomas l.. Reed in 1889 for the Speak
ership OF the House, but fate, wiser
than he, reserved him for the Chair
manship of the Ways and Means Com
lnittcc. the second highest place. and
sometimes the first, in the House. 1t
WAS thus that the way was paved for
the hicl[inlcy tariff bill of 1890
Mckinley was an important factor
in the National Convention OF 1854.
Four years later at Minneapolis he
was Il Harrison delegate. Ohio tried
to start Il Mckinley stampede by cast
ing it's vote for him, but he arose from
the chair. for he was presiding. and
challenged the vote, leaving no doubt
Of his loyalty to his pledge. After his
defeat for Congress in 1890 he was
nominated for Governor OF Ohio the
following year. He was elected and
reelected in 1893. The Presidential
nomination came to hin In 1896 The
rampaign OF --- - = - of the