Evening journal., 1911-05-11
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Messages Of Confidence
That Kept Mckinley in
Public Life
By "HoIIand.r

One Of the well-known incidents in
the career of William Mckinley was
his financial failure during his first
term as Governor Of Ohio Out Of the
difficulties Of that disaster he was
helped by his friends, and how his
friends focked 10 his assistance, and
what WAS the thing that really kept
Mckinley in public life at this time,
when he was seriously thinking of re-
firing under the burden Of his personal
misfortune. are made plain on the au-
thority Of e. Prentiss Bailey the vet
eran newspaper proprietor and editor
Of Utica. n. Y, who now holds the
record for the longest consecutive SER
vice in the office Of any one daily
newspaper in the United States For
years Mr. Bailey has enjoyed the con-
fidence Of leading men Of both great
political parties
zone day. In 1898, when ] was din
ing at my hotel In New York City,"
said Mr. Bailey. there walked into
the room and sat down at my table
my old friend, H. III. Kohlsaat, Of
Chicago, then part owner Of the In
ter-Ocean Of that city We we're In the
midst Of breakfast and the morning
newspapers when. suddenly, Mr. Kohl
saat threw down the paper over which
he had been glancing, exclaiming as
he did so:
That Is dreadful news-dreadful'
Then, though he was so excited
that he could hardly speak, Mr.. Kohl
saat told me that he had just read
a despatch from Columbus, Ohio,
which reported that Governor William
Mckinley was banlrupt-that his own
fortune was lost and that of his wife
had been greatly impaired-snd that
the Governor had decided to give up
public life and 10 turn everything that
he possessed over 10 his creditors.
No man who knows William Nc
Kinley as I do can have the slightest
doubt that If financial ruin has come
upon him he has not been himself re-
sponsible for H., declared Mr. Kohl
saat. adding, His friends must now
come TO his support
With that, Mr. Kohlsaat rose from
the table and left the room After a
while he returned and explained that
he had just telegraphed his sympathy
to Mckinley and told him that one
half of all have in the world is yours,
yours in whatever way may best serve
you in this great emergency Mr..
kohlsaat was still greatly agitated.
and without resuming his breakfast,
shortly excused himself and went
away
The next time I saw him-a few
years later he told me Of McKinley's
experience Immediately following the
publication Of the news that he lost
his fortune kilograms by the hundred
poured I'm upon the Governor Many
came from Democrats who were his
bitter political opponents; many
others were sent by persons with
whose names Mckinley was not ia
miliar; and one and all offered finan-
cial assistance, almost every one urged
him not to give up public life. and
every one Of the dispatches and the
letters that soon began TO flow in-as-
sured him that he stood high in the
estimation Of the American people. and
that his misfortune would speedily
make that fact apparent 10 him.
Several men Of financial ability.
as is well-known, undertook the man
agement Of McRinley's affairs and
financed him out Of his embarrass-
ment. Undoubtedly, many persons be-
lieve that II was the action of these
men that persuaded Mckinley to re-
main In public life. But It was not
and 7 have Mr. Kohlsaat's word for
II. II was, rather, the many messages
of confidence that came from all parts
Of the country that persuaded McKin-
ley that II was his duty to remain In
public life as long as the people wish
ed him TO continue there. After these
messages had poured IN upon him, and
he had had time TO realize what they
meant. he felt that he could not Justly
resist those touching evidences of
widespread confidence in his personal
integrity"
Copyright. 1911, by f. J Edwards All
rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell of
@The Professor Who Earned a Fortune