Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-20
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star
Neither of the presidential candidates
will do much in the speech-making line
this year. Yet the two most noteworthy
campaign speaking records were made by
William Mckinley and William Jennings
Bryan.
Bryan's was made in 1895 on his own
behalf as presidential candidate, and ex-
ceeded McKinley's in number of speeches
and miles travelled. McKfnley's was made
two years earlier, in 1894. when he was
governor of Ohio, on behalf Of the repub-
ican congressional candidates. Down to
that time it was the most sustained effort
Of the sort ever made; he visited pract-
cally every congressional district In the
country in which he could presumably be
Of value, and largely because of his speech
as. as everybody agreed, the country that
year returned an unprecedented republic
can ma jority to the lower house.
r. The strain of that trip was terrific, but
Mckinley bore it admirably. A newspaper
man who covered the entire trip with the
eampafgner declared the other day that
he never once became fretful and rarely
seemed tired. no matter how long the day,
how many speeches he had to make or
how rough the railroads over which he
had to travel. Some OF these were pretty
bad. especially in the west and in the
small portion of the south. which he WIS.,
tied
His care for the comfort OF the news
paper correspondents who accompanied him
was renarka Bile, and sometimes even en-
barra ssing TO them. This was csDe' tally
the case in certain western city. There
the local committee got UP aii elaborate
but exclusive luncheon for him. Tie elect
IN local republican circles were invited. to-
gethcr with two or three of the touring
statesmen who were with Mckinley On the
lii .ln.t n
invitations were sen: to reporters; for the
samc reason, the correspondents on the
camp igner's train were left out.
Unfailing Courtesy.
This didn't bother them bit; in fact be-
ing pretty we'll tired out and having had q
surfeit of local luncheons at divers places.
they were highly delighted at the oppor-
tunity of loaing by themselves in the car
for an hour or two; and they promptly put
themselves in state Of neglige so that the
relaxation they desired might be complete.
Mckinley noted the absence of the cor
respondents just before the luncheon party
was ready to sit down at the table, and
suggested that the repast be delayed till
they should arrive. His hosts demurred.
saying the correspondents would probably
be there soon, but didn't tell Mckinley they
hadn't been invited. He persisted, how
ever, and the attempted snub to the gen
tleraen of the press finally came out.
He said there should be no luncheon with
out them, and was SO insistent that car
rfage was sent for them. The driver bore
a formal invitation from the committee and
also note, written by Mckinley him
self, asking them to overlook the oversight
and come to the luncheon as soon as pos
sible. Both would have declined peremptor-
fly but for McKinley's note, but they had
received too many courtesies at MS hands
not to go. AS they had to dress up, the
luncheon was delayed in all about an hour.
greatly to the committees chagrin. After
that Mckinley saw to 1t that when local
committees extended hospitalities TO MN
the correspondents were properly Included
in the invitations to the doings, though
they often begged Off
Mckinley had to deal with very few OBJ
streperous auditors Somehow the man
seemed to disarm all those who went to his
meetings prepared to make annoying in
terruptions. About the worst reception ne
encountered anywhere were merely colo
and silent The audience didn't always ap-
plaud. but they rarely showed open dis
respect.
Pretty Bad Taste.
He exhibited the greatest displeasure In
all that trip, perhaps, at certain eastern
city There, while he was addressing an
open-air meeting of thousands. some mem
bers of the state committee who remained
with the car sent for champagne and pro-
ceeded the enjoy 1t and play friendly
game of poker in the car. 1t stood on
siding near the city's main street AS
they sat by a window their game was in
full view of every one who passed BY
They intended to finish their game and
their fizz-water before Mckinley should
return. but they didn't. They were Just
opening a fresh bottle when he entered the
car, and one of them. in voice that might
be heard two blocks :way, was gayly
caroling verse that would~neVer De ap-
plauded for its good taste
The governors face was a study. but he
paused to give the card players chance
for explanation Their confusinn was COM
plete and their attempts at explanation
were pitiful. The most they could say was
that they hadn't expected him SO soon.
Mckinley said little. merely asking them
whether they thought 1t would help the
congressional fight that fall if the papers
told the truth and said the men on NC
kinley's car were In the hanlt OF piay y,ii
poker and drinking champagne in public.
His words were temperate. but they made
the offenders against good taste vince like
whipped school boys.
Moments Of Rest.
McKinley's methods Of avoiding undue
fatigue were interesting. Between stations
and speeches 1t was his practice to reduce
his personal effort to the lowest possible
point Often he would lie back In his
chair and close his eyes. Occasionally he
would lose consciousness In an instant al
most ana steep Sounoiy liiI tne HcAt SeotAon
was reached.
Yet it sometimes happened that admirers
and local political leaders would board the
train at one station to ride to the next,
with the avowed desire of making his &C
ouaintance and having a friendly chat with
him In such cases he would generally
forego, with no show of annoyance, the rest
that would have been SO valuable to him.
Bryan relaxed even more. perhaps. In
the brief between station periods, when
campaigning, than did the man who twice
defeated him. 1t was Bryans custom be-
tween speeches and stations to loosen his
collar and clothing and lie back most COM
fortably Like Mckinley, he could gen.
orally fall asleep readily; when he couldn't
he strove to think of nothing at all as long
as he could. Sometimes he even took off
his shoes. Like Mckinley, though. he was
often obliged to give up the time he should
have been resting to the many old and new
friends who liked to crowd into his car
and travel one stage Of the days journey
with him.
Mrs. Bryan. 1t will be remembered trav-
eled good deal with her husband in his
campaigning days. and was his constant
companion on his long record-breaking
trip. Her place in the history of American
campaigning is unique, for no other candi-
date ever was accompanied by his wife
on an extended stamping tour.
It's After Effect.
Undoubtedly McKinley's campaigning