Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-02-09
INV i: i NEWS OF yEsTERDA,
Mckinley in Hour of Great Per.
~. sonaI Misfortune.
william 8. Hawks Story OF the FoFt''
;. tvts With Which the ohioan Net
Financial Disaster That Seem.
InaIy Ended His Career.
By e, J. EDWARDS.

BY B.. y. ED"HNSS.
William s. Hawk, president OF the
Ohio Society of New York city, one
Of the largest Of the state organiza-
tons Of the metropolis, was for many
years as intimate a personal FRIEND
az William Mckinley had. The init
macy began in Canton, Ohio, which
was the boyhood and early MANHOOD
home OF Mr.. Hawk. How close tna'
intimacy was may be judged from the
fact that Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley IN
vited Mr.. Hawk and his family to be-
come their personal guests at the
White House at the time OF Mchln'
ley's Inauguration as president. Froo
ably no one nov living had better
opportunities for observing MCKINNEY
in the privacy and the charm OF ME-
domestic life, or OF learning "na'
NcKinley's real personal character
was, than had Mr.. Hawk.
~ always knew that Mckinley hao
strength enough OF character 10 mee'
courageously, without fiinchins, any
Emergency, however serious: was
perfectly prepared for the forutuae
sod the beautiful resignation WHICH
be displayed after be was LAID 10"
br the assassin's bullet. His conduct
az That time was exactly what would
nave predicted" said Mr.. Hawk re-
Gently.
But think. after looking back
over my years OF close intimacy |ith
him. that possibly the finest example
Of his courage. Of his ability TO stand
Up against most grieyous emersenc.
and embarrassm emf, occurred Al
time when lie was guest at my home
in New York city.
"Mckinley was then governor OF
Ohio. He looked forward 10 the III
ture with confidence; he felt assured
that the setback he had received
through his defeat for congress was
only temporary He was in the best Of
health and spirits. He was never
more buoyant. And then. suddenly
there came a dispatch from Ohio IN
forming him of the disastrous failure
OF a business associate.
-! was with him when the message
came. he did not finch when he reaG
IL. Yet ! knew from his attitude the
thought that was dominating MS
mind: this failure would make it nee
essary for him to give up bis cher
ished public career-he would have IL
begiu life all over asain-he would
lave 10 make determined efforts to
meet the obligations which his asso
cate had assumed. ior. whatever the
Law might say about some OF them.
nevertheless there was moral re
sponsibility attached to all Of them.
1T was at this moment that NrF
Mckinley. 10 whom Mckinley had
shown the dispatch. declared that h.
must lake all Of her personal for
tune. or so much OF it as was neces
sary. in order 10 meet these obliSa
lions in mediately. Mckinley's onl!
reply was that il was incumbent or
them 10 pack up their things immedi
ately and lake the first train fo
Ohio. And he said ii smilinsly and a.
calmly. outwardly. as though no grea'
shadow had settled down upon him,
as though his cherished political am
billions had been realized instead Of
shattered.
An hour or two later he babe me
.oodby. ] knew that he was going
back 10 Ohio confident that his public
career was ended and with the full
knowledge that he must begin all
over asain-tbat he had actually to go
10 work 10 earn an income sufficient
20 support Mrs. Mckinley and him
self. Yet in his countenance | could
not detect the slightest hint Of resent.
ment, the slightest trace OF sorrow, Or
any indication whatsoever or the
crushing sense Of disappointment thai
he must inwardly have felt in his be
liei that all his high hopes Of pub
lie career had been shattered.
Fortunately. as is well known,
there were friends who were able to
finance Mckinley out OF his Difficult
ty: and how great was Mckinley's
happiness when he found that il was
not necessary for him 10 give up his
public career no one need 10 be told"
downright 1911. by Z. j. Edwards AL
D;-I. .oI