The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-20
QUIET HOURS OF CHATTING
M'KINLEY AND HIS FRIEND OFTEN
SMOKED AND TALKED.
First Football Game-The Man That
Looked Like NapoIeOn-McE<iniey
Taste i'm Music and Plays.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
BOSTON, Jan. 19.-The February number
of the National Magazine will contain the
second article of the series, written by
Senator Marcus A. Hanna, on William
Mckinley as l Knew Him" The third
paper will appear in the March number.
Senator Hanna's February contribution fol-
lows:
The one absorbing purpose in William
McKinley's political career was 10 keep
closely in touch with the people, so that he
might promote their material and moral
welfare. He seemed TO study and watch
current events as "A barometer, gauging the
growth of public sentiment keenly, and par
ticularly watching the development of the
new industries and new resources. He ac-
centuated the American idea I'm everything
he undertook.
There was something sublime in the way
in which he viewed his defeat in the tariff
reform cyclone OF 1892 / often discussed
the situation with him-and then we talked
of the Mckinley bill / remember how his
eyes sparkled when ii was suggested that
his bill was the sole cause OF Republican
defeat, and how he deliberated a statement
TO me with air of prophecy: That may
have been so, but the biz was passed SO
short a time prior To election that IL
easy for our opponents 10 make charges
and there was no time for us 10 combat
them but wait and see. Mark-wait and see .
The principles and policies OF that bill will
yet win a greater victory for our party\
than we have ever had before This mis-
understanding will yet contribute To over
whelming Republican success The general
conditions such. however. that the
party's reverse could not be attributed en-
tirely to the Mckinley bill. There were
other factors in the landslide OF '92.
REAL AUTHOR OF GOLD PLANK.
During the early part of the campaign OF
1896, the charge was made that Mckinley
voted for the free coinage of silver. And
with his usual candor he admitted that, in
the earlier stages of the agitation OF the
money question, il was 10 him then a prop
osition he had not fully investigated: he
did not pretend to be a doctor OF finance
and had followed the popular trend Of that
time. After fuller discussion and practical
demonstration Of facts; observing after the
changing conditions Of the country, and
weighing the question in it's various rels-
tions to the fundamental laws of practical
finance and the true policy best for the
country-his conclusions were voiced in the
st. Louis platform of 1886.
THE last discussion that had with him
upon the money question before he was
nominated was few days before left for
st. Louis, at my office I'm Cleveland. lie
turned 10 my desk, sat down and wrote in
lead pencil an article which ne handed me
when finished, saying: There. Mark, are
my ideas of what our platform should be on
the money question i carried the paper In
my pocket TO St Louis some days before
the convention, and that declaration of Will
frala
was afterward drafted into the plank IN the
platform on that question. L mention this
because in subsequent discussion a great
deal has been said about the construction OF
that plank in the St Louis platform on
the tarin and money question. This absO-
lutte declaration was given me hy Major
Mckinley as embracing his ideas. and while
the language may have been changed some-
what, the meaning of the article he wrote
weeks before the convention was absolutely
/ followed in the platform OF 1896
''As 10 the quality OF his courage-I never
knew a man more fearless. In the dark
days OF the Ohio gerrymander, when as
author Of the Mckinley bill. he lost his
seat In Congress- he was cheerful in a de-
feat that had cut a Democratic majority OF
1000 down 10 300. He had fought an uphill
fight, and although defeated, was elated
over the confidence which his home people
expressed in the principles which he repre-
Sented- The defeat had no depressing effect
on his mind and energies, but spurred him
10 greater effort. And I'm every serious
emergency. that confronted him, ne was
courageous. Even amidst the onslaughts OF
campaign abuse he never uttered IN my
presence one retaliatory word, but always
referred 10 the enemy as our opponents
while l must confess / used stronger ad-
jectives at times.
ENJOYED A GOOD JOKE.
There was nothing that he enjoyed more
than a social time with friends at dinner.
He always entered into the spirit OF the oc-
casion and contributed his full share OF
merriment. And once aroused ne showed a
side of his character that few were ac-
quainted with. He enjoyed Jokes 20 the fun
measure. and was a pleasant tease When
he once had a joke on me he rung ali the
changes. and no one enjoyed joke on him
self more thoroughly than he did
In 1897, when was "A tenderfoot. recently
arrived in Washington, he asked me 10 give
up a d.uner engagement with some gentle
men. 10 MI ~ the table. an emergency
man. al a dinner 10 be given at the White
House that night. ] declined. saying I had
"A better thing-not knowing that an invita-
tion 10 the White House was equivalent 10
"a social demand. This joke on me was a
delight 10 him.
When he was a guest at my house for
several days. or "A member OF house party,
his flow OF genial spirits began al the
breakfast table and continued uninterrupted
all day. He seemed 10 T. 4 as II ne were on
a vacation. and had the Joyous spirit OF a
big boy home from school always looking
after the comfort OF others with never
aDDarentlv. a thought FOR himself An ideal
home body was William Mckinley. and the
American firesde was a shrine OF worship
with him.
AT one OF our house parties We had .
fashlight photograph taken OF the dinner
guests. He was particularly fond OF this
dinner picture because il contained splen-
did likeness Of Mrs. Mckinley.
When Mckinley laughed. he laughed
heartily all over. and was a perfect boy
in his enjoyment, In all the social visits
10 my home, IL WAS inspiration 20 me
10 see the way he could throw OF the cares