The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-10
M'KINLEY SAW HIM
VICTOR SMALLEY, OF NORTHWEST
MAGAZINE, ENJOYS TALK WITH
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
HARD TO GAIN ENTRANCE
Once Past WatchfuI Guardians of
Reception Room, Mckinley Re-
ceived the Young NeSvspa-
per Man AffabIy.

Victor H. Smalley, editor of the North
west Magazine, tells an interesting
story of his meeting. with President Nc
Kinley in the White house at Washing
ton. Mr.. Smalley was at the time en-
ployed in the organization of the Ma
tional Sound Money league, of which
his father was general secretary. The
league was organized after Mr.. Nc
Kinley's first election, when the Repub-
lican leaders appreciated the gravity of
the strength exhibited by the free silver
movement and decided to prepare to fight
the sixteen to one fallacy during the
next four years. Mr.. Mckinley was
intensely interested in the movement
and, after the younger Smalley had
travelled throughout the entire West or
ganizing the league, expressing a desire
to see him regarding his trip.
1T was a bright fall day when I was
uShered into the general reception room
of the president in the White house."
said Mr.. Smalley. THE apartment was
filled with a motley collection of poll
ticians. -officeseekers and old soldiers all
anxious to get chance to have
theart: ito heart talk with the chief
executive. 1t looked discouraging for
me as 1 viewed the many applicants for
an audience with our president, but sue
cor came from a most unexpected quar-
ter. An aged negro who acted as
generalissimo and took the cards of the
visitors to be inspected by the presidents
private secrtary, peered curiously into
my face as he glanced at my card.
ANY relation to E. v. Smalley?' he
asked
His son. 1 answered
We'll, well, WELL said the old fell
low as he grasped my hand and shook
1t heartily. I knew your father very
well in the days of Garfield. Your dad
used to stay round this old place a lot
when he was reporting for the New
York Tribune. Now, you just sit down
and make yourself comfortable and I'll
see what l can do for you
I found a vacant chair between two
rather shabby individuals and while
waiting, fell into conversation with the
one on my right. He told me he was
the mayor of little Detroit town and
had 'whopped her up considerably for
the president during the hot election
times. He wanted to get an office and
had been coming to the White house
every day for two weeks.
''.Haven't you seen Mr.. Mckinley yet?'
asked in establishment.
Nope was the rejoiner, but I'm
going to, if I have to wear out the up
holstery work on every chair in this
room
THE man on my left was wizened,
emaciatedF Indiana man, who chewed to-
bacco vigorously and spat unceremon-
iously on the carpet. He lowed he
had some claims on the president and
wanted to be a consul.
Where?' I asked
&c Anywhere he answered
'After two hours of waiting my sable
friend beckoned to me, and ushered me
through a swinging door AS I entered
I heard suppressed grunt of disap-
proval from the crowd which was left
behind
g This is where those go who really
can see President Mckinley, explained
the negro and then left me.
ct was a big, square room in the CEN
ter of which was a beautiful, hand
carved table. Two windows, reaching
from the ceiling to the floor, looked out
on the common, and the sky-piercing
Washington monument was seen in the
distance. There were only two other peo-
pie in the room. One was a middle-aged
man who had come to ask for promo
ton for his boy who was in the army
The other was the governor of an East
ern state. It was not very long before
these gentlemen had entered an adjoin-
ing room where the president was at
out and told me that the president would
see me.
1.-THE room into which I stepped was
rather small. At desk near me sat
Mr.. Mckinley, who at once arose and
gave me his hand. I saw in him a
rather short, we'll dressed gentleman. I
noticed at once as we clasped hands, his
peculiar handshake,N which, 1t is said,
he adopted in order to save him much
inconvenience, as he has to shake SO
many hands during his Iife He grasp
ed my hand rather by the fingers than
otherwise, in such manner that it was
impossible to get much of a squeeze
into the salutation.
HE talked long and earnestly about
the free silver movement in the West
asked me many questions, and laughed
heartily when I told him Of the care
and secrecy had to exercise in organiz-
ing the league In the free silverites hot
bed in Montana
GAS I left him he said earnestly:
6" Tt won't last, Smalley, it won't last
We won't have any free. silver next cleo
tion.'"