The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-19
M'KINLEY AS PRESIDENT
SENATOR HANNA's STORY OF LIFE
IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
ing Circumstances-His Singleness
of Purpose in War Time.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
BOSTON, May Ex-senator NJ. A. Han
mas third paper on Mckinley as I Knew
Him." will appear in the June number of
the National Magazine 1t deals with
Mckinley in the White House." and is
as follows:
1 came to Washington a few days I'm ad-
vance of the Inauguration in 1897 TO make
the final arrangements as chairman of the
national committee. How well remember
the morning OF McKinleys arrival, as /
went TO the Ebbitt House to meet him.
He had stopped at this hotel for many
years as a congressman, and was now
guest as President. l was particularly
that l had seen so often before in his
room at the hotel while a member of Con-
gress. There was nothing in his manner
or appearance TO denote that any change
whatever had come over him; there was
nothing in his expression of the exultation
OF success or political victory or personal
prestige. If there was any difference il
was that he appeared to me more serious,
more warmly sympathetic, in the gentle
dignity that came upon him under the
weight of the great responsibilities before
him. 1t would have taken a close observer
TO discover that he was other than the
old member Of Congress from Ohio quietly
assuming the duties and responsibilities of
an everyday routine in the work which
he loved. He greeted me with the same
sweet smile and hearty handshake which
l had known so well for thirty years, and
l could scarcely realize that he had be-
come the ruler of the greatest nation on
earth, and that he still to remain the
same confidential and loving friend as in
the old days.
auguration was over he appeared to slip in
TO his place with an ease and grace that
told the story to every one over again
that had been proclaimed so effectively
during the campaign just closed, that VIII
liam Mckinley, of all men, at this time,
exactly fitted the situation"
Immediately after Congress was called
in extraordinary session iE 1897, to begin
the business in hand, to fulfill the promises
made by the Republican party, the changed
conditions of the country seemed TO en-
gross his concentrated attention day after
day, hour after hour, morning, noon and
night. In all his talk and conversation
with me there was one supreme purpose,
and that was to bring the Nation back
to the old anchorage of sound money and
protective policy. His work from day
TO day was laid out with the system and
care or an architect or an artisan who had
SPECIFIC duties before him. The Dingley
bill was almost ready for the House and in
shaping and advising along this policy
keeping in mind prosperity for the people
as the one great desired object he was al
ways at his best and always enthusiastic
For the first few months of his admins
tration his whole time was taken up in
dealing with a proposition concerning
which he was acknowledged expert
and more than that, involving a labor OF
love which seemed to be more apparent in
MS work than sense of perfunctorily
performing executive duties He was i'm
fact enthusiastic in this work and had
happy, CHEEKY way of meeting old friends
as well as new acquaintances that had
always stood by him in so many fights
for the principles OF protection. Happy es-
pecially because in every outstretched
hand that came to greet him there was
a pledge of loyalty and support which
made i've in IL
termination to do his utmost for his coun-
try,s good 1t was not merely a general
ized or theorized purpose of patriotism
that INSPIRED him; he appeared always
to have the specific and concrete interests
of the people as individuals in mind when
he undertook to solve the great questions
of public welfare
HAPPY SOCIAL LIFE.
In those days his social life was a happy
one because his dear wife caught the in
spiration of the work in hand and in the
new environment her own life had been
Frightened. She was personally interested
in those things which have made the White
House a bright reflection of ideal Ameri-
can home life. Her interest in those mat
tiers was especially appreciated by the de-
voted husband, who seemed to feel that the
great purpose of all American policies
should concentrate i'm the betterment of
conditions of the American home and fire
side.
After the adjournment of Congress. about
the first of August. 1897, the President took
a much-needed vacation of a few weeks.
but during all that time was constantly
engrossed with work. He never seemed
to quite throw off the serious purpose that
had been interviewer in all acts of his pub
Tic career. Immediately after his return
to Washington he began the preparation
OF outlining in written data and notes the
nXed Ideas expressing his own line of pol
icy which was destined to be of so great
benefit 10 his country and to humanity
as well. When Congress re-assesmbed in
December, 1897, he had fully made his fore
cast and was prepared TO meet in a master
full way the questions of the hour
The country knows only too well how
quickly he grasped the serious situation
that came up later in the island of Cuba
and led to the outbreak of the Spanish
was. IL was during these trying DAYS that
l saw Governor Mckinley in new light.
AS difficulties multiplied and responsible
ties increased he seemed to grow even more
masterful and self-reliant. As close as we
had been as personal friends, each day
seemed 10 unfold some hitherto unobserved
strength of character and nobility of pur-
pose.
Under these conditions. l was forciblv
reminded of the CRITICISMS that had been
made at an earlier time when his candida
cy for the presidency was discussed. 1t
was claimed that Mckinley was a man of
a single idea; that he was an expert on
tariff matters only and that his claims
70 craftsmanship were confined to his adj
vocacy OF the policies and principles of
protection. Later developments proved this
10 be far from the truth. There was not
a detail or situation in any branch of the
government with which he came into con-
tact that he did not fully fathom and
master. The intricate and unprecedented
questions growing out of the war situation
he met in much the same way that he aid
as young lawyer in solving the intricacies
Of the case before him. While he had a
loyal and efficient Cabinet he always led
IN the newer propositions presented His
judgment never faltered. nor did he fail
TO awaken enthusiastic support in all with
whom he came into contact. In fact his
influence with men grew so strong that
the whole Congress of the United States
was ready TO follow his leadership in all
matters pertaining TO the conduct of the