Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-07
GEN. McKAIG DEAD.
Noted Pioneer Of Maryiand-Former
Member Of Congress.

CUMBERLAND, Nd, June 7.-Gen
William Mcmahon McKaig former member
Of Congress for two terms died today, at
the age Of sixty years.
Gen. McKaig when in his activity, was a
leading democratic politician. and he bore
the record of never having been defeated.
He brooked no dictation, and he acted on
his own impulses. For this reason he never
was in especial favor with the democratic
organization. Gen. McKaig was lawyer.
His first position was city attorney of Cum
berland in 1871 In 1878 he was elected to
the Maryland house Of delegates. and In
1887 he was elected to the senate on the
democratic ticket.
He became mayor Of Cumberland in 1880,
resigned the office in 1892 to enter the
House Of Representatives. having defeated
Louis E. McComas, republican, who was q
candidate for a fifth term. He was re-
elected in 1892, defeating George l.. Well
ington He had the distinction of defeat
Ing for Congress two men who were after
ward contemporaneous United States sena-
tors.
His greatest achievement in the House
was the securing of an appropriation for
the United States court house and post
office at Cumberland. At the recent OPEN
ing of the United States district court here
reference was made to his activity in this
regard. While in Congress he opposed the
measure allowing representatives to pay
for the employment of a secretary, and he
never availed himself of the provisions of
the law when 1t took effect. In the Mary
land state senate he introduced the first
measure providing for an Australian ballot
system when he was democratic candidate
for mayor Of Cumberland. Gen. McKaig
obtained his title from service on the staff
OF Gov. William T. Hamilton. He possessed
considerable means.
Gen. McKaig was born of scotch-Irish
parentage at Cumberland, Allegany county,
Md. July %. 1916. He was educated in the
Carroll School and the Allsgany County
Academy. He boated coal over the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal from Cumberland to
the navy yard in this city from 1860 to
1863 He later read law and was admitted
10 the Ailegany bar in April 1868. His
heaith failing in 1878. he went to Colorado
territory and lived an outdoor life.
IN the spring of 1874 he went to Manitou
ness until October, when he went to salt
Lake CITY Utah, and thence to San Fran
cisco. Los Angeles and Caton Pass, near the
ranamint Mines, California. where he fol-
he went to Acapulco. Mexico, Point Aura
nus, Costa Rica. Panama Aspinwall and
SaVanilla, in the United States of Colombia
ne later went to New York, where he was
ney Tor Ailegany county. He was appointed
city attorney for Cumberland in 1876. and
was elected in 1877 from AlIegany county
TO the lower branch of the Maryland legts-
IN 1873 ne was appointed to the personal
stan OF GOV Hamilton and in 1884 was an
pointed chief of ordnance on the general
staII Dy Gov Robert NJ. Mclean, and re-
appointed by Cows. Lloyd and Jackson. He
was elected state senator from AlIeganv
county IN 1887 and elected mayor of Cum
berland in the spring of 1890. In the fall
OF the same year he was elected to the
r Hty-second Congress as a democrat. and
rejected to the F1fty-third Congress-