The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-06-01

W0ukeo when ne was ~ years OH. ~
1858 At first he clerked In dry
goods store and then he owned. one
He was interested in ward ane city
politics from the day he landed In the
Wisconsin city. when the Grant Gree
ley campaign came on IN 1872. after
payne had Deen in Milwaukee for
min years he was far enough advanc-
ed % organize the Young Mems Re-
pu lcan club That cluD became The
nucleus OF the Republican central
committee of Milwaukee county Ma
turally, Payne. as organizer and pres
ident. went TO the county central com
mittee with the club Before the
Grant Greeley campaign was over he
was in the thick of machine politics,
and he has remained there ever since.
Show His ce4'us in Working Politics
The young Cry goods merchant dis
played a positive genius for the detail
of city and county politics. He has an
active mind, and he could see how TO
do things. and do them better than
anybody in Milwaukee. He was not
overburdened with conscience. and ne
thought then as he thinks now, that
the end--i. e.. Republican success
justified the means. Further. he was
never indignant at the most preposter-
Gus demands He was never ruffled
over the worries Of the game, and he
never was too busy to shake hands and
joke with all comers
He mixed.
It wasn't long until he was drafted
to the state committee, AMI. soon after
that. he was made chairman. He con
Quoted several campaigns and won
most of them Then, 20 years ago, he
went to the Republican national com
mittee. In every national committee
there are a few men who supply the
power The others sit around and look
wise or ornamental, as the hard Of
Providence may have dictated when
they were fashioned.
Payne soon found his place with the
power producers. He was a worker,
and he had brains
His recreation was politics. He was
an enthusiast at It He never stopped.
There was not a day when Payne did
not have a finger in some scheme,
either in the city or the state. Some.
times he was whipped, but that did not
bother him. He went along just the
same, and, ten to one, he did the whip
ping himself next time
Backed Mckinley and Was Turn
ed Down.
When Hanna began The campaign
for the nomination Of Mckinley in 1896
Payne had a secure place in The ma
tional committee. His talents were
appreciated.
Mckinley was nominated. Hanna
was made chairman of the Republican
national committee Hanna knew
about him and respected his political
skill and knowledge. Payne went on
the executive committee and has been
There ever since. In both the McISin-
LEY campaigns the operations were the
same
Hanna stood outside. beat the bass
drum and shouted Come one, come
all, and vote for Mckinley" Payne
stayed inside and pulled the strings.
Hanna collected the money. Payne
spent it. Hanna supplied the front
Payne contributed the strategy
1t was great combination. Hanna
and Payne agreed with Mckinley and
the world was theirs.
Hanna had made pledges right and
left He had promised original Nc
Kinley men everything he had Nc
Kinley stood bravely by him. although
1T cost him some unhappy hours, fol
remorseless Perry S. Heath was pick
ed up from the postoffice department
10 be first assistant postmaster gener
al.
Nt ~ NiNlA up AhOoN VI wv ANAAHWe
through YOU" said Hanna to Heath.
Meantime Payne was happy. H'
thought his crowning ambition was t
be realized. Ever since he came int
prominence he had lusted for a sea
in the cabinet He wanted to be post
IT aster general Hanna was entl,us
iastic, but Mckinley would not have
him. Hanna asked him why. He sai'
he wanted no politicians like Payn'
in his cabinet
What's the matter with him?"
Mckinley Puts Foot on Him.
t Mckinley stormed out that Payn
: was known to the country at larg
simply as politician. The fact tina
) he had been president Of the America
J Street Railway association and he'll
r other similar positions. in addition I
D his business successes, had made n
finnnraceiou pavna WAS known ag