Evening journal., 1912-12-18
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Senator Sherman'S 0pti-
miStiC View Of Party
Defeat
BY Holland.

In the spring OF 1895 William Nc
Kinley. who at that time was COVER
nor OF Ohio. visited New York city
for a brief vacation. II has been
Mchinley's custom for some years to
spend a week or two in New York in
April or early in May He was some
times the guest Of William Hawk,
who was born and brought up in
Canton, Ohio, and who has been for
some years president OF the Ohio,
Society OF New York. Sometimes
Mckinley was the guest OF his old
friend, William l.. Strong On his
visit he divided his time between Mr..
Hawk and Colonel Strong who had
Just begun his term as mayor OF
New York city.
A few weeks after Mckinley re-
turned to Ohio Colonel Strong said
to me: II think it is going to turn
out exactly as John Sherman told
me it would turn out just after the
fall election in 1890 You re-
member that at that election the
Democrats were successful McKin-
ley was defeated for reelection for
Congress and II looked for a time as
though his political career had ended.
John Sherman, who was then a
United States Sepator from Ohio,
came to New York shortly after the
November elections to spend a few
days. ! had an hour or two of con-
yorsation with him. ] spoke rather
gloomily Of the political situation
and especially of the misfortune, as
believed it to be, which the defeat
of Mckinley would cause him.
Colonel Strong said Senator
sherman. don't you worry. Don't
allow yourself to be disturbed by the
defeat Of the Republican party this
fall These changes in party control
occur periodically We have had a
number of them since the election OF
1874, when the Democratic party for
the first time since James Buchan-
ans administration secured a major
ty in the lower house of Congress.
These changes are not so bad as they
seem. This reverse will do the Re-
publican party good and I predict
that it will be returned to power not
later than four years hence.
But how about Mckinley" /
asked.
Mtlls I uOil hlOW huA II ~ dh
equally good thing for Mckinley that
he was beaten. Everybody in Ohio
knows how he was beaten. His own
district was legislated out and a new
dstr ct carved out by the Legislature
which contained normal Demo-
cratic majority That was done for
the purpose of defeating Mckinley.
but I am inclined to think that it will
prove to have been the greatest pos
sible service 10 him
81 confessed that ! was unable to
sec how Mcllinleys defeat in Con-
gress could help him politically and
/ asked Senator Sherman to explain.
"He said 'McKinley's defeat for
Congress and tho knowledge that it
was due TO tho gerrymandering of his
own district will am certain, in
evitably lead to his nomination for
Governor Of Ohio. He will be tri-
umphantly elected and he will be re-
elected by a great plurality
t. That, in my opinion, Will indi-
cate him as pre-eminently the choice
of the West for the Republican presi-
Dental nomination IN 1896. I am moi
much given to political predictions.
but feel confident that Mckinley
will be nominated for Governor next
year. will be elected. and that he will
be reelected and these victories will
make him a very strong candidate
for the presidential nomination in
1896.
Since that time" Colonel Strong
continued. Il have many times
thought of Senator Shermans predic-
fiou Mckinley has twice been elect
cd Governor Of Ohio since Senator
Sherman predicted that he would be
and in my opinion will be nominated
next year as the Republican candi-
date for President"
Copyright. 1912. by r. j. Edwards
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell
Of An Unrecorded Speech by Gen
eral Grant"