The Elbert County tribune., 1909-01-28
HEART DISEASE SUDDENLY CAR
RIEs OFF FORMER DEMO-
CRATIC LEADER.
FOUNDED DENVER POST
AT TIME OF HIS DEATH WAS EN-.
GAGGED IN GREAT IRRIGA-
TioN ENTERPRISE.

Denver.--Alexandcr Bradford Me
Kinley, aged forty-eight, attorney, for;
mer state senator, one-time leader of
the Colorado Democracy, and one of
the most generally liked men in the
state, died suddenly in his room in a
hotel at Eighteenth and Larimer
streets yesterday afternoon. says the
Denver News Monday morning. Death
was due TO neuralgia of the heart
The death of Brad Mckinley, as he
was popularity known, came on the eve
of the successful carrying out of the
greatest project OF his life-the high
line canal system by which water is to
be brought from the western slope TO
irrigate thousands OF acres of arid
lands in the immediate vicinity of Den
yer. Mckinley had been working on
this project for months.
McKlnley's career was remarkable
in many respects. His achievements
were many and at one time his politi-
cal supremacy was undisputed. AS
state senator he was known as the
Beau Brummel of the Legislature, and
was also considered one of the most
brilliant men in the state. His friends
were legion. and last night Hugh But
ler McKinley's preceptor in the study
of law, stated that Mckinley could
have been the first Democratic United
States Senator from Colorado.
Mckinley came here from Pitts
burg. Pa. in 1879, and took a position
MS stenographer in the law firm of But
ler Wright and King, with offices on
Lawrence street, near Fourteenth. He
had known King in Pittsburg and the
latter brought him to Denver. When
the firm was dissolved by the retire
ment of Butler In 1880. Mckinley re-
NAMED with Wright & King for some
time
and high intellectual ideals of the
young man. Butler took quite a liking
to him, and when Mckinley applied for
position with Butler in 1884 he was
employed at once as a stenographer.
1t was while in Buffers office that Nc
Kinley became lawyer and in 1880
WAS taken into partnership.
This partnership continued until
1892. when the firm was dissolved. BY
that time Mckinley was very promi-
ncnt professionally and politically, He
was also possessed of one of the larg-
est and most lucrative practices in the
state.
After his election to the Senate in
1890, Mckinley gave Colorado the Aus
trnlian ballot system and also fathered
other Legislation of great Importance
He was. a dominating figure in the
Legislature, and at his election ran
ahead of the balance of his ticket.
During the presidential campaign OF
1892 Mckinley did a great deal toward
electing Grover Cleveland. and during
the latter's term in the White House
Mckinley practically controlled the
federal patronage in this state. While
he never ran for any elective office
after being chosen to the Senate, Nc
Kinley once served as county attor
ney.
When the split came in the Demo
cratic party Mckinley joined the fac
lion known as the white wing" Dem
ocrats. and continued his activity
Mckinley founded the Denver Post
and sold 1t TO the present owners.
Recently Mckinley had been giving
his entire attention to the irrigation
project. His offices were in the Ex
change building, and he expected thai
all arrangements for the carrying ou
of the scheme would be perfected with
in the next few weeks.