The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-14

rious strikes which he prevented. Sew
eral times he was obliged to order out
the militia in support of the civil au-
thorities, but in every instance his ac-
ton had the thorough approval OF the
people.
1t was in 1884 that Mckinley rose
into prominence as a member of the
National Republican Convention that
nominated James G.. Blaine. Next TO
Blaine, he was in favor of John Sher-
man, but the eyes of the Republicans
were turned towards the statesman
from Maine, and he was made the
standard bearer of a cause that met
defeat at the polls. In 1888 he was
again one of the Ohio Big Four of del
egates- large. and supported John
Sherman. In this convention there
was a marked sentiment favor1ng the
nomination of Mckinley. Pennsyl-
vania, under the leadership of Quay,
was ready to come to him, and every
Republican member of the House then
in Washington joined in telegram
urging his nomination. Connecticut
cast one vote for him.
Declines IL Nomination.
At this point Mr.. Mckinley arose, in
terrupted the roll call and defined ms
position He said he had come TO the
convention instructed by his state TO
vote for the nomination of John Sher-
man, and his heart and judgment were
in accord with his Instructions ne
could not remain silent with honor nor
consistently with the credit of Ohio, hon
orable fidelity to John Sherman, or
with his own views of personal integ-
rity consent, or even seem to consent
to be a candidate. In closing ne sald
Il request, / demand, that no delegate
who would not cast a reflection upon me
+, shall cast a ballot for me-"
Many o. his Republican friends De
lieve that that speech cost Mckinney
the presidency. Mckinley was chair
man of the Committee on Resolutions
in this convention.
In 1892 Mckinley was again one OF
the delegates at-large to the national
convention and one of the prominent
figures in 1t. He was chairman OF the
Committee on Resolutions, and the
platform was supposed to bear the i'm
press of his labors. Later he was chos-
en- permanent chairman of the conven-
ton When it became evident that
Harrison could not be defeated py
Blaine, many of the opposition turned
to Mckinley. The first state called, Al
ALBANIA, cast her Blaine strength Tor
Mckinley. When Ohio was reached.
Gov Foraker, as acting chairman or
the delegation, cast "A votes for Nc
Kinley, 2 for Harrison.
Mckinley stopped the roll call, and
demanded poll of the delegation,
claiming as a delegate the right to
have his vote counted. you were not
in your seat" replied Foraker, land
your alternate voted for YOU" The
delegation was polled, and the vote an
| nounced-McKinley. As; Harrison, /;
which latter was cast by Mckinley. The
ballot resulted: Harrison, 535; Blaine,
1872 SIS; Mckinley, 1872 1-6.
Presidential HOnors.
In the convention of 1896 Mckinley
was nominated for the presidency on
| the first ballot, receiving 661h votes to
| S4h for Thomas B. Reed, of Maine;
| 61lh for M. S. Quay of Pennsylvania;
| IS for Levi P. Morton of New York
and 35Jh for w. r. Allison, of Iowa
| During the campaign it was manifest
| that there was great detection among
the Republicans of the West. Several
| prominent delegates to the convention,
| including Senator Teller, of Colorado,
| left the hall, because of the failure of
| the party to indorse the proposition
| for the free coinage of silver at the
| 16 to l ratio. There was also disaffec-
| ton among the Democrats. Their Chi
| cago Convention had Nominated for
President William J ! Bryan, of Ne
| braska, who was more of a Populist
| than a Democrat. The Populist party
| Endorsed Bryan, while the National or
| Gold, Democrats placed Gen. John M.
| Palmer in the field. Early in the cam
| paign the Republicans attempted to
| wage the contest on the tariff issue
realizing that upon this the party was
| invincible. The Democrats and Repub-
| lican silverites, however, insisted upon
the currency question as the principal
| issue, and in this they had their way.
| For a time it appeared as though the
| Bryanites were to sweep the country
1 before them, but by hard work the
| Republicans turned the tide, and secur-
| ed the victory. 1t happened that Nc
Kinley was personally weak on the
| money question. During his canvass
| for the nomination he had persistently
| declined to commit himself upon this
/ burning question. Indeed, it was doubt
| full where he stood until he wrote his
| letter of acceptance, placing himself
| squarely upon the st. Louis platform
| of his party. In November 1877, he had
| voted with Bland to suspend the rules
and pass a bill authorizing the free
coinage of silver. In 1878 and in 1885 ne
| had also voted with the Silverite ele-
| ment. In 1888, as chairman of the Ma
| tional Republican Conventions Com
mittee on Resolutions. Mckinley refut-
ed resolution "condemning the poi
| icy of the Democratic administration
| tCleveland's) IN its efforts to demone-
| tie silver
During the campaign of 1896, how
ever, Mckinley was in line with his
party on the currency question, and
! there was no doubt as to his position
! AS the result of the contest, Mckinley
was elected, securing 271 electoral
votes to lie for Bryan. McKinley's
| popular vote was 7,1073 while Bryan
polled 6292, 42S on the Democratic
ticket and 240. 657 on the Populist ticket.
MckinIey's Administration.
McKinley's first administration was
an eventful one. marked chiefly by the
war with Spain for the liberation of
! Cuba. which resulted in the loss to the
mother country of Cuba, Porto Rico,
| the Philippines and Guam. The Re
publicans contend that as a sovereign
power the United States has an inhe-
/ rent right to govern new possessions
under regulations of Congress, independ-
ent of the general limitations of the
constitution This is the imperial
! ism" which the Democrats oppose
Their claim is that the constitution is
applicable of itself to every foot of soil
subject to the autonomy of this nation
Other features of McKinley's admins
ley tariff, with a scale of rates unpre-
cedentedly high and the measure for
the entrenchment of the gold standard