The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 19, 1896, Page 12

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, © FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 1896. 11 THE AN WiD WILL BE PRESIDENT A Forceful Character of Sterling and Brilliant Qualities. HIS LIFE BEGAN IN AN dren, left Pennsylvania for Ohio, making the journey by means of horses, Mrs. Allison riding the entire distance on horse- back, holding in front of her their young- est child. | _The Allisons settled on a farm some eight miles above New Lisbon, Ohio, and there, in the year of 1809, was born their | sixth child, Nancy, who became the mother of McKinley. Later the Allisons left the farm and removed to New Lisbon, where several other children were born to them, making in alla family of .ten chil- dren—five sons and five daughters, The girlhood of K ancy Allison was passed quietly on her father’s farm and m the peaceful little town of New Lisbon. In the year 1837 she was married to Wil- liam McKinley Sr. and afterward the young couple went to Fairfield, Ohio. HUMBLE WAY. Entered the War as a Private and Came Out as a Major. The Champion of Protection to Ameri- can Labor Strong in Debate and Eloquent. As the strong, unswerving leader and champion of the cause of protection to American industries and American homes, William McKinley—ex-Congressman of the United States, ex-Governor of Ohio, and father of the celebrated tariff measure which bears his name in its title—needs no introduction to the American people. Truly has it been said of him that his life has been typical of all that is best in the self- made American, his career one thataffords stimulus and inspiration t> the youthful brain and sinew of our country. Essentially a man of the people, McKin- ley’s rise from a lad, born in an Ohio vil- Jage, to the position of one of the fore- most statesmen of the times, is full of in- terest to the American public. Still in the prime of a vigorous and developing man- hood, McKinley presents alike to young and old the possibilities of our free insti- tutions, when supvlemented by pairiot- ism, integrity, courage, persevérance and unbournded faith in the economic policies which best promote the welfare of our common country. His story, as his bio- grapher, Robert P. Porter, says, is that of a serious and earnesi life—a life of devo- tion to duty, to principle and to the pub- lic service. Aided by nothing save an honorable parentage, a good constitution, a quick perception, a courteous bearing, a brave heart and a high sense of honor, this youth in teens was mustered into the army and began the conflict of life on the Nation’s battlefields—a conflict continued in the hallsof National legislation, and closely interwoven with the last twenty- five years of National progress. No better incentive to ambition in the American youth, no matter how humble his origin, can be found in the lives of the public men of to-day than in that of Wil- liam McKinley. He is of Scotch-Irish descent. As to his ancestry, James Mc- Kinley, an emigrant ‘from the north of Ireland, who at the age of 12 years crossed the Atlantic with his relatives in a small sailing-vessel at the beginning of the last century, was the father of David McKin- ley, the great-grandfather of Wailliam Mc- Kinley. David McKinley, as shown' by records in the Pension Bureau, re-entisted seven times in the War of the Revolution; hence McKinley comes from good fighting stock. William McKinley was born January 29, 1843, in the little Ohio city of Niles, where his father, William McKinley Sr., was at the time managzing an iron furnace. The McKinleys inherited not only fighting qualities put the skill of iron mannfactur- ing from their revolutionary ancestors. The father took naturally to this :occupa- tion and followed it until 1876, when he | retired. This was his business in the | early part of the century at New Lisbon. In 1829 he established an iron foundry at Fairfield, Columbiana County, Ohio. For twenty years William McKinley Sr. was interested in iron furnaces at New Wil- mington, Ohio. From Niles he moved to Poland because of the educational ad- vantages of Poland Academy. Shortly after he was associated with 8. O. Edison, uncle of Thomas Edison, to construct iron furnaces at Black River, now Lorain. In 1869 he moved to Canton with his fam- ily, intending to retire, but he enjoyed and managed iron interests at Caseville, near Ssginaw, Mich., up to 1876, when he retired.. He kept track of bis business with exactness up to within three weeks of his death, which took place November 24, 1892, William McKinley Sr. was a man of character and of the highest integrity. His habits were frugal and regular. He was a hard and constant worker. While at times it was a struggle to provide for such a large family (nine children) he conscientiously performed what he be- lieved was his duty and made every pos- At 87 Mrs. McKinley is able to travel and take alively interest in current events. A close friend of the subject of this sketch | says: Many of McKinley’s good qualities, both of heart €nd mind, were due to his mother. Ire- call her quiet dignity of manner. She was just the same in the midst of commonplace du- ties asin a palace if she had been reigning there. Al herold friends and neighbors of Poland who speak of her agree to this. Her character, for all that 1is com- mendable in & woman’s sphere, stands pre-eminent here in church and in the hearts of her f{riends — she had that blending of sweetness and strength of will ana purpose that has been a rich inher- itance to her children. You cannot find in all Poland sny unkind criticism or even a shadow of a thought derogatory to McKinley and his family. His oldest and nearest friends in youth appreciate his characteristics and speak of him with the same unstinted praise as those who have known him of recent years, This is certainly the best testimony coming from those that had no emoluments of office or gain of place or position to influence them in those days, when there was nothing to gain or lose thereby. McKinley’s mother and his entire family seem to have made an indelible impres- sion upon the Itttle village of Poland, which is really refreshing to those who have studied the man in the larger affairs of life, Even the old Postmaster, whose name was Case, and who, appointed by Buchanan, still adheres to his Democratic principles, is willing to givd*his young as- sistant a’ good character for industry, faithfulness and conscientiousness in the discharge of his duties. McKinley worked breaking out of the Rebellion. In'fact, he enlisted in the army. Case is proud of the strong enough to' induce him to give up his Democratic fallacies. McKinley’s boyhood life really began at Poland. This quaint village has hardly changed at all since McKinley, as a boy, | clerked in ‘‘that center of politics and gossip, the rickety old postoffice,” ana attended the Poland Academy. Life at Poland until the war broke oat was far from exciting. Youths like McKinley were obliged to study hard, and not in- frequently do odd jobs to help earn money | for books and tuition. As they advanced into professions, it was often necessary to | teach school, clerk in a store, workona | farm, or take up some’ other occupation during vacation. The McKinley family never hesitated to do this, and as a result all were equipped with good | educations, two of his sisters became | excellent teachers, and he himself taught one term of winter school in what was then called the Kerr district. The school- house still stands. It isabouttwoanda half miles by road southwest of Poland, | but young McKinley usually strode mau- | fully “across lots” to shorten the distanceg| Many who live in Poland still remember seeing the young schoolmaster climbing fences and making his way over the roll- | ing surface of the country to and from his | duties, He was thus able to assist in de- | fraying the expenses of his tuition and | that of other members of the family at the academy. This sort of life, while it developed and sharpened the intellect, has a tendency to shorten the period between boyhood and | young manhood. McKinley, so those who | in the postoffice the year preceding the | was assisting Mr. Case in Poland when he | reputation his young clerk bas made for | himself, but his affection has not been ! MRS. WILLIAM McKINLEY, THE LADY WHO WILL SOON BE MISTRESS OF THE WHITE HOUSE. and a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. The first major was Ruth- erford B. Hayes, afterward a general of great ability, thrice Governor of Ohio and President of the United States. The official records indicate that Me- Kinley’s military life and advancement wefe most creditable. They. show. that ‘William McKinley Jr. enlisted as a private in Company E of the Twenty-thira 0. V. L June1l, 1861; that he was promoted to commissary sergeant April 15, 1862: that he was promoted to second lieutenant of Company D September 23, 1862; that he was promoted to first lieutenant of Com- pany E February 7, 1863; that he was pro- remember him as a boy in Poland declare, was a real boy, full of fun, loving athletic | sports, fond of horses, hunting and fishing, | and all out-door exercises, and yet at 16 we find him taking upon. himself a serious view of life. Before he was 18 he had en- listed in the ranks of war. He joined the Twenty-third Ohio Regi- | ment, which was officered by three men | whose after prominence made this com- | mand -one of the most noted in the war. The first colonel was ‘W. 8. Rosecrans, | afterward General Rosccrans, a captain | whose renown is now worldwide, and | whose services later in the War ¢f the Re- | bellion were important in its suppression. | Tte first lientenant-colonel was Stanley Matthews, afterward Senator from Ohio | moted to captain of Company G July 25, 1864; that he was detailed as acting assist- ant adjutant-general of the First Division, First Army Corps, on the staff of General Carroll; that he was brevetted major March 13, 1865; and that he was mus- tered out of service July 26, 1865, McKinley isa Knight Templar, a Knight of Pythias and also a Greek Fraterniry man. Hisentrance into Masonry was an incident of the war and rather unique. McKinley was going through a shospital with one of the regimental surgeons, He noticed that the surgeon and some of the Confederate wounded were very friendiy to each other, and in several instances the surgeon gave money to the prisoners. There was an unmistakable bond of sym- pathy between them. Young McKinley asked the surgeon if he knew these pris- onors, The surgeon told him they were brdther Masons. Young McKinley was so much impressed by the friendly feeling existing between Confederate and Union Masons that he expressed the desire to join the Masons. - He was made a Mason in Hiram Lodge, Winchester, Va., May 1, 1865, receiving his degree at the hands of a Confederate master of the loage. Fifteen years after the Twenty-third Ohio marched to war Hayes was elected President and McKinley Member of Con- |'gress in the same year, 1876. In the war Hayes had risen from colonel to general and McKinley from private to mafor. Hayes was afterward elected Governor as McKinley has been. During his campaigns he frequently visited Canton, always being the guest of the McKinley house. The affectionate regard of these men for eacn other was very marked. It was particularly fslicitous for Major McKinley that his first four years in Con- gress were coincident with the administra- tion of President Hayes. The youngest member of Congress, he had the intimate and near friendship of the ruler of the Na- tion. Of course no direct political advance- ment could or did grow out of this friend- ship. Those were questions that had to be adjudged by the jury that composed his Congressional district. That he was chosen as their standard-bearer for seven successive campaigns was due and could be dune to himself aione. Nevertheless the friendship of the Presi- dent toward the young Congressman was an aid to his quick prestige with the prominent leaders in Congress such as rarely falls to the lot of a new man. Gar- field and Blaine, Hamlin and Logan, Gen- eral and Senator Sherman, Windom and Burrows, and many others of equal note visited Canton, Ohio, time and 2gain as the guests of McKinley. They took no pains to disguise their partiality for him, expressed in terms that indicated a strong belief in his future as 2 powerful exponent and defender of the civic methods which | he and they had espoused. Asa matter of fact he bad lost no opportunity fo impress Congress and the country with the econ- omic views with which his youth had been imbued, and which his later studies had precipitated in the form of absolute conviction. McKinley was married to Miss Ida Sax- ton, daughter of John Saxton, an Qhio journalist of note, on January 25, 1871. Two children were born to them, both girls, but they died early in life. For years Mrs. McKinley has been an invalid. In her gentle heroism she never allows her health to interfere with her husband’s career. In regard to Governor McKinley’s do- sible sacrifice to educate and make useful men and women of his children. In all this he was more than seconded by his noble wife, McKinley’'s mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Campbell Alli- son. Mrs. McKinley was one of those rare women who are destined to shine in all sorts of good and useful work, whether m pioneer life or amid the comforts of our modern homes. McKinley owes much to this good mother. All the children were instilled with sound Christian ideas of life and with a patriotism and love for their country which made no sacrifice for it too much. Moreover, the mother was an in- tellectual force, and encouraged boys and girls alike in their studies, and was ever ready to surrender her own personal com- fort that they might equip themselves as thoronghly as possible for the battle of life. \ Here we have a strong forcein the devel- opment of the young man’s character. Many of the twholesome traits which in after years endeared the soldier and states. man to comredes and fellow-countrymen may be traced to the early teachings of the mother, who lives to feel proud and happy over her son’s achievements. That her son should have won fame is undoubt- edly a source of gratification and pride to ihe mother, but her real happiness comes from the fact that he is & man of honor and integrity, To this plain, sweet, simple pioneer mother, who has experi- enced much of the hardships and struggles of early Western life, with a large family and limited means, the fact remains that her son Williem is a man of high prin- ciples and patriotic instincts, and has never ceased to love and cherish her, and is a greater comfort than the fact that he may some day occupy the White House. The Allisons originally came from Eng- land and settled in Virginia, but that branch of the family from which McKin- ley 1s descended emigrated from Virginia to Green County, Pennsylvania, and there was horn Abner Allison, the grandfather of McKinley. Abner Allison married in 1798 Ann Campbell, who came of a Scotch- German family. Early in the present cen- tury this couple, then having several chil- MAJOR WILLIAM McKINLEY AT HOME IN HIS STUDY.‘ \ Wy ! Bty LTI A i) mestic life, perhaps the most pathetic thing to be said is that there has been so little of it. On January 25, 1896, Governor McKinley and his wife celebrated their silver wedding in the same modest house in Canton in which a quarter of a‘tentury before they began life together. The part played by McKinley in the Chicago convention of 1884, which nomi- nated James G. Blaine for President, is most notable. He was pledged to the Plumed Knight. M cKinley bore himselt modestly at that convention, but his great quality of leader- ship came to the front by force of circum- stances. He only spoke two or three times from the floor of the convention, but every time he arose he attracted at- tention, and the influence he exerted was most remarkable. At the critical time during the convention his was the voice that rallied the Blaine forces. Three ballots had been taken. Blaine gained on each ballot. The final and des- perate effort was made by the other candidates under the leadership of the dashing Foraker in Sherman's behalf for an adjournment. Curtis, the great editor of Harper's Weekly, and Theodore Roosevelt were on chairs, frantically yell- ing. Stewart of Pennsylvania and Carr of California, in their zeal for Blaine, were trying to outdo Curtis and Roosevelt in voice. The massive and phlegmatic Dutcher of New York, one of Arthur's generals, was thundering away in the effort to catch the ear and eye of the chair- man of the convention, General Hender- son of Missours. There was pandemonium and there threatened to be a panic. In the midst of the storm McKinley arose. -Although of medium stature his form seemed to tower above those around him, His face was pale and looked like a piece of marble statuary, except that his eyes fairly blazed. Before he had uttered two words his voice could be heard. He waved his hand and the tumult ceased. No mistake about it—he was the master- spirit of that convention. Calm and like granite he stood. His short speech was carried in clarion tones ail over the im- mense hall. As a friend of Blaine, he who had interrupted wish he had let Mo~ Kinley alone. A remarkable episode in his Congres- sional career was the following: Samuel J. Randall of Pennsylvania was Speaker when McKinley entered Congress and they became warm friends. There | was one memorable scene in the Fiftieth Congress, in which both figured. It oc- curred on May 18, 1888, theday on which the general debate closed on the Mills bill. Randall opposed this measure and incurred the displeasure of the rampant free-trade element heided by Mills of Texas. He took the floor to speak against the bill. In feeble health, his voice at times almost inaudible, the great leader labored under serious disadvantages ip this, his first fight for - pro- testion. Before he was through his time expired amid cries of “Go on!” Mr. Randall asked for an extension, but Mills, with & discourtesy almost incred- ible, walked to the front and said: *‘I ob- ject!” The cry was repeated by nearly fifty Democratic members. It was a sad sight to witness this great Democratic leader thus silenced upon a momentous question by his own party iriends. There was an exciting scene. Members and spectators, for the galleries were crowded, joined in making the tu- mult. Amia it all the chairman. an- nounced that McKinley of Obio had the floor. The latter was to close the debate on the Republican side. His desk was piled with memoranda and statistics. “Mr. Speaker,” he cried, and his voice stilled the din about him, “Iyield to the gentleman from - Pennsylvania, out of my time, all that he may need 1n which to fin- ish his speech on this bill.” Cheer after cheer arose from the House and galleries, and by the courtesy of the Republican leader the once leader of the Democracy was enabled to finish his speech in a body over which he had thrice pre- sided as Speaker. As a public speaker McKinley stands in the front rank. Even those who say that he can make only one speech must admit that he can make that one well. But such a criticism is not fairly taken. The truth is that few men in political life have de- livered speeches upon such a variety of subjects as has McKinley. It his specialty, the tariff, he stands the undisputed masier. His attractiveness in the presentation of this question is only equaled by the consistency and tenacity of his views thereon. McKinley’s strength as a speaker upon the tariff seems to be—first, his evident sincerity, and secondly, his simplicity in the presentation of his argunment. There is very little of the ornate jn his style, but still it is graceful. It is'eminently epi- grammatic, yet not mosaic; for the sen- tences are not only well rounded, but are well connected and forcefully arranged, so that the climax stands upon a broad and firm foundation of argument and fact. Not only has he a splendid voice, but his pronunciation is charming. McKinley’s tariff speeches in Congress began with his speech on the Wood tariff bill, delivered in the House of Representa- tives April 15, 1878, and closed with his speech in favor of the tariff bill of 1890, which, as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, McKinley reported to the House, and which was subsequently passed, and is known throughout the world as the McKinley tariff cf 1890. He fought nobly against the Morrison hori- zontal bill in 1884, and led the opposition to the Mills attack on our industries in 1888. Some people contend that McKin- ley’s speech od the Mills tariff bill, May 18, 1888, was one of the ablest, if not the ablest, ever made in defense of the policy of protection. Here is an extract: What 1s a protective tariff ? It {s & tariff upon foreign imports so adjusted as to secure the necessary revenue, and judiciously im- posed upon those foreign products the like of which are produced at home, or the like of which we are capable of producing at home. It imposes the duty upon the competing foreign product; it makes it bear the burden or duty, and, as far as possible—luxuries only excepted—permits the non-competing foreign product to come in free of duty. Articles of common use, comfort and necessity, which we cannot produce here, it sends to the people un- taxed and free from Custom-house exactions, Tea, coffee, spices and drugs are such articles, and under our system are upon the free list. It says to our foreign-corpetitor: If youwantto bring your merchandise here, your farm pro- ducts here, your coal and iron ore, your wool, your salt, your pottery, your glass, your cottons and woolens, and sell alongside of our producers in our markets, we will make your product bear a duty—in effect, vay for the privilege of doing it. Our kind of tariff makes the competing foreign article carry the burden, draw the load, supply tho revenue; and in performing this essential office it encourages at the same time our own industries and protects our own people in their chosen employments. That is the mission and purpose of a protective tariff. That is what we mean to maintain, and any measure which will destroy it we shall firmly resist; and if beaten on this floor, we will appeal from your decision to the people, before whom parties and policies must at last be tried. We have free trade among ourselves throughout thirty-eight States and the Terri- tories, and among sixty millions of people. Absolute freedom of éxchange within our own borders and among our own Citizens, is the law of the Republic. Reasonable taxation and restraint upon those without is a dictate of enlightened patriotism and the doctrine of the Republican party. Free foreign trade admits the foreigner to equal privileges with our own citizens. Itin. vites the product of foreign cheap labor to this market 1n competition with the domestic * product, representing higher and better paid labor. It results in giving our money, our manufactures and our markets to other na. tions, to the injury of our labor, our trades- people and our farmers. Protection keeps money, markets and manufactures at home for said, he recognized and respected the rights ot friends of other candidates to se- cure an adjournment, and then he said: “Let the motion be put and let everybody favorable to the nomination of Blaine vote against it.” That settled it. Under McKinley’s leadership, assumed spontaneously and boldly, the Blaine men accepted the chal- lenge, the motion for an adjournment was voted down and the victory was won. It was not defeat that McKinley turned aside —the situation was not so serious as that— but in a crisis where the Blaine men were getting demoralized and the convention was turning itself into a mob, McKinley, leaping to the front, by one command marshaled the Blaina men into line and pressed them forward to their already sighted victory. J McKinley is an adroit debater. The Congressional Record does not show that he was ever worsted in a passage of arms with the most brilliant of his colleagues. In the earlier years in the House of Rep- resentatives he was cautious, and only undertook debate on questions with which he was thoroughly familiar. Unlike most new members, McKinley did not rush madly into the wordy arena. He listened, weighed well the strength of his antagohists and said little until his time and opportunity came. For this rea- son, when McKinley arose to speak, he invariably commanded the attention of the House. He was generally regarded as one of the members who had something to say, who said it well, and when he bad said it stopped. It was also discovered that McKinley was quick in debate, and that, though his speech upen such occa- sions might be termed the essence of courtesy, it usually made the gentleman the benefit of our own people. Taxation upon aforeign competing product is more easily paid and less burdensome than taxation upon the non-competing product. In the latter it is always added to the foreign cost, and therefore paid by the consumer; while in tne former, where the duty is upon the competing product, it is largely paid in the form of diminished- profits to the foreign producer. It would be burdensome bpeyond endurance to collect our taxes from the prod- | uets, professions and labor of our own people. McKinley’s closing speech on the pro- tective tariff of 1890 reads almost likea prophesy in the light of the disastrous events that followed the Democratic vic- tory of 1892. Listen to these words: To retein our own market under the Demo- cratic system of raising revenue, by removing all protection, weuld require our producers 1o sellat aslowa price and upon as favorable terms as our foreign competitors. How could that be done? In one way only—by producing as cheaply as those who would seek our markets, What would that entail? An entire revolu- tion in the methods and conduct of business here, a leveling down through every chan- nel to the lowest lineiof our competi. tors, our habitsof living would have to be changed, our wages cut down 50 per cent or more, our comfortable homes exchanged for hovels, our independence ylelded up, our citi- zenship demorslized. These are conditions inseparable to free trade; these would be necessary it we would command our own mar- ket among our own people; and if we would .invade the world’s markets harsher conai- tions end greater sacrifices would be de- manded of the masses. Talk about depres- sion — we would then have it in its fullness. We would revel in unrestrained trade. Everything would indeed be cheap, but how costly when measured by the degra dation which would ensue! When merchan. dise isthe cheapest men are the poorest, and the most distressing experiences in the hise tory of our country—aye, in all human his