The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-09-20

BIRTH OF HIS TARIFF VIEWS.
McKinley's Congressional ca
.reer was marked by industry and
executive ability. He early showed
that he was a pronounced protec-
zionist of an extreme sort. In the
theories Of Alexander Hamilton
and Henry Clay, which to those
statesmen seemed fitted only to
temporary conditions. Mr.. McKin-
ley in those DAYS seemed to read a
permanent policy in which Ameri-
can prosperity was indissolubly
involved.
When, therefore. as Il member
of the Republican presidential con-
: ntion of 1884, be was placed on
the committee on platform, it was
he that selected the tariff planks.
He went to the convention as a
Blaine man. Foraker fought des-
perately for Sherman. After the
third ballot had been taken and
the hall was in confusion with the
Sherman forces clamoring for adj
journment, Mckinley arose, and
in a short speech, rallied the
Blaine men, beat the effort to sus
pend and SO helped materially in
the selection of his candidate, on
the next ballot.
He emerged from this conven.
ton with a national reputation.
In the convention four years later
was "a markedman. He was now
pledged TO Sherman. But, as in
1884, it soon developed that the
nomination of Sherman was i'm
possible. A compromise candi-
date seemed inevitable. On the
sixth ballot a delegate ventured on
a vote for Mckinley. He was
cheered again and again. The
next State that was called cast sew
enteen votes for Mckinley. The
cheers were renewed. 1t looked
as if the scene of Garfeld's nomi-
nation of 1880 were to be repeated.
Instantly Mr.. Mckinley leaped to
his feet. He reminded the con
vention that he was pledged to
Sherman.
TRUE TO HIS PLEDGE.
He was too much in earnest in
his speech not to be accepted at
his word. That speech turned the
tide to Harrison, who was elected
on the seventh BALLOT.
At the organization of the Fifty
first congress Mr.. Mckinley was a
candidate for speaker, but, though
strongly supported, he was defeat
ed in caucus by Thomas B. Reed.
Appointed chairman of the ways
and means committee, he became
the leader of the house under cir
cumstances of peculiar difficulty,
for his party had only a nominal
majority, and the opposition as
sumed a policy of obstruction. 1t
was during this Congress that he
made his most notable speeches on
the tariff question, and, on April
Is, 1890, he introduced the general
tariff measure which has since
borne his name. The bill passed
the House, and after Protracted and
stormy debates and repeated
amendments was signed by the
President, October 6, 1890.
This was Just before the general
elections when the Republicans
we're defeated, as had been gener-
lilly expected. Mr.. McKinley's
own district, which had been
iercely contested, was carried
against him. Thereupon u popular
arose in Ohio for his
nomination as governor 1t gath
cred such strength that the Repub-
ican convention, in June of next
year, nominated him by acclama-
ion. He was elected and re. elect
ID in 1898.
Even before the national con-
7entlon of 1892 Mckinley had
expressed himself in favor of the
Of President Harri-
ION. He went there a Harrison
delegate. Again he was elected
chairman and again an attempt
vas made to nominate him over
Harrison and Blaine. He pursued
he same course as in the prior
convention. By a masterful
peech from the platform he ar
ested the movement in his favor
nd turned the tide toward the man
o whom be was pledged. In the
ampaion which followed he was