The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-17
The Life Story
f 0f Dead PreSidenf

velOped in the smoke of an exploding
shell and we thought he had gone
down. But no. out of this smoke
emerged his wiry little brown horse
erect as a hussar. Now he had passed
under cover from the enerny's fire and
q sense of relief came to US all. Thus
far ne was all right, but we knew his
danger was just beginning Tor the en-
envy was still coming on. Mckinley
gave the colonel the orders from Hayes
to fall back and added. I supposed you
would go to the rear without orders.
The colonel replied, I was about con-
GLIDING l would retire. and am now
ready to go wherever you lead, but,
lieutenant 1 p'intediy believe 1 will
give them fellows a volley or two be-
fore 1 go Mckinley commanded,
Then up and at them as quickly as
possible, and as the regiment arose to
its feet, the enemy came into full view.
Colonel Browns boys gave them a
crushing volley and, following 1t with
a rafting fire. retreated toward some
woods directly in their rear. At this
they halted along Browns front, and
for some distance to the right and left,
feeling for the secondary line. during
which hesitancy Mckinley led the regi-
ment through the woods toward Win
chester. AS Crook and Hayes saw the
regiment safely off, they turned and.
following the column, with IL moved
slowly TO the rear down the Winchester
pike. At a point near Winchester Nc
Kinley brought the regiment to the
column and its place in the brigade. He
was greeted by a cheer, for all OF us
felt and knew one of the most gallant
acts of the war had been performed"
During a fierce engagement at Berry,
vile Captain McKinley's horse was
shot under him. His promotion 10 cap
tain took place on July %, 1854, when ne
was p years of age.
Captain Mckinley cast his first ballot
during a march from Martinsburg TO
Winchester. He voted for Lincoln In
an old cracker box which served for
ballot box.
Afterward Captain Mckinley served
on the staff of General Hancock and
as acting assistant adjutant general on
the staff of General Samuel 5. Carol.
He received the appointment as major
by brevet from President Lincoln just
one month before the ASSASSINATION OF
the latter.
At the close of the war he began the
study OF law under Judge Charles e.
Glidden and David M. Wilson at
Youngstown, o. He completed his
course at the law school in Albany and
was admitted to the bar at Warren. o.
He settled at Canton where his sister
was a teacher in the public schools.
He made his first political speeches in
the fall of 1867 in behalf of negro SUI
frage.
His first entry into politics was as the
nominee of the Republican party for
prosecuting attorney in 1863. His en-
ergy and activity oVeEcame an ad-
verse majority and he was elected he
was renominated in 1871, but failed of
election by forty-five votes. The next
five years of his life were devoted to
his large Legal practice.
He took the stump in the guberna-
torial campaign of 1875 and made such
Int
placed permanently on the roll of Re
publican speakers in Ohio. This work
led 10 his nomination for congress in
1876 and elected him by majority OF
$500.
From his first appearance in congress
Mckinley was identified with the pro-
tectiVe tariff idea and he successfully
cOmbatted the Wood tariff bill" the
first measure looking to reduction
of the tariff.
Owing to a gerrymander his re-elec-
ton in 1878 was by only 1924 majority.
1t was during his second term that he
took the place of Garfield as chairman
of the important ways and means COM
mittee and he remained on that COM
mittee to the end of his congressional
career. He was reelected to the For
ty-Seventh congress by 3,571 majority
He became member of the Republican
national committee in the same year
and spoke in several states. In 1882
he again appeared as an ardent de-
fender of protection on the floor of the
house.
The elections of this year resulted in
a Democratic majority of 1000 in Ohio,
but Mckinley was one of the eight
Republicans elected. He had but eight
more votes than his opponent.
Mckinley presided over the Ohio
state convention in 1884 and was elect
ed a delegate to the national conven-
ton. There he made a firm stand for
the nomination of James G. Blaine and
was honored by several delegates with
votes for his own nomination for the
presidency. During Blaine's candidacy
Mckinley accompanied him on his
ms lorable western tour, but found
time to canvass and carry his own
district by 1000 majority. Another ma
jority of =. $50 gave him his old seat in
1886 In the state campaigns Of 1881,
1888 and 1885 and again in 1887 he was
on the stump in all parts of Ohio. In
the Forty-ninth congress. April 2, 1886,
ne made a notable speech on arbitra-
ton as the best means of settling labor
disputes. Il believe in arbitration as a
principle said ne. II believe it should
prevail in the settlement of internal
tional differences"
He advocated the passage of the de-
pendent pension bill over President
Clevelands veto as a simple act of
Justice
The third annual message of Presi-
dent Cleveland, sent to congress in
December, 1887 gave Major Mckinley
the opportunity of his life, an oppor-
tunity which his studies, environment
and heeedity had prepared him TO fill.
His voice was heard in congress and in
Industrial centers in opposition to the
Democratic free trade measure called
the Mills bill" On April he present
ed the report of the minority of the
ways and means committee in OPPOSE
tion to the bill and, at the close of
the debate, delivered an eloquent speech
in defense of protection. The scenes
attending it's delivery We're full of
dramatic interest. The speaker who
Immediately preceded him was Samuel
J. Randall. who insisted upon being
brought from what afterward proved
his desthbed, 20 protest against the
passage of the proposed law. He spoke
slowly and with great difficulty and his
time expired before he had concluded
his argument. There We're cries of GO
on" and Randall asked permission to
finish. but Mills walked to the front
and shouted II object" and so the
distinguished ex-speaker was Obliged
to take his seat. The chair announced
that the gentleman from Ohio had
the floor" and Mckinley was instantly
on his feet. and, as the tumult subsidized
calmly, but clearly, spoke. Mr.. Chair
man." he said, Il yield to the gentle
MAI. from Pennsylvania out of my time
all that he may need in which to fin
ish his speech on this BILL The crowd
ed galleries, including nearly every re-
porter in the hall, broke into a mighty
cheer. members applauded. ladies
waved their handkerchiefS. and RAN