noble stand. An Ohio banker named Walker, for whom Mr. McKinley had indorsed notes, suddenly failed. From boyhood the two men had been the closest personal friends. When Mr. Walker requested Mr. McKinley to indorse for him, Mr. McKinley gave his signature without making any investigation. Mr. McKinley continued placing his signature on notes until the crash came.

It was found after the failure that Mr. McKinley's liabilities were about $100,000, a sum nearly five times as large as he had saved during the forty-nine years of his life. Mrs. McKinley had property which was worth probably $75,000 if sold under the hammer. She at once turned this over to her husband's trustees. Her fortune came to her as a legacy from her father. Her friends protested against allowing her means to go to cancel debts incurred by another man, but she insisted, and Mr. McKinley and his wife together became quite penniless..

The result, however, was not quite so bad, for the trustees, chief of whom was Mr. H. H. Kohlsaat, of Chicago, when they received the trust, decided, without consulting the Governor, to raise the money necessary to meet his obligations. This was fully done by private subscriptions from generous people, and in February, 1894, a year after the assignment, the property was restored to them again in full.

HON. GARRET A. HOBART:

Republican Nominee for the Vice-Presidency.

GARRET AUGUSTUS HOBART, the distin

guished son of New Jersey, who has been selected as the Republican candidate for VicePresident, is a big, rosy-cheeked gentleman known to most every Jerseyman as "Gus" Hobart. His face is as open as a book, and his clear eyes, dark hair and brown mustache, create the impression on first sight that he is a man of 40 or 45 years. His age is 52.

He is a man of much magnetism and amiability. He has displayed locomotive energy in all of his undertakings, and is both powerful and fearless. His career as a citizen, lawyer, business man and statesman justifies all of the claims for brilliancy his friends make for him.

Jerseymen speak of him as a "true blue native of the State, and tell of it with pride that he was born on a Monmouth County farm in 1844, and was reared amid the breezes that blow off the shores of Long Branch.

He received a common school education, was

sent to Rutgers College at 15, and at 19 was given the degree of A. M. He is now a LL. D. The degree was given him on Tuesday, June 16, 1896, by his alma mater. His friend and associate, Governor Griggs, was honored at the same time with the same degree.

Mr. Hobart began the study of law with Socrates Tuttle, of Paterson, who was then the leading practitioner of East Jersey. He was admitted as an attorney in 1864 and as a counselor in 1869.

Mr. Hobart's entrance into politics was made in May, 1871, when the Board of Aldermen of the city of Paterson selected him as City Counsel. The next year he was made counsel for the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Passaic County. These two offices brought him in direct contact with all the prominent men of Passaic County and gave him almost daily opportunity to show his ability as a lawyer and politician.

These associations were directly beneficial, resulting in his selection in 1872 to the House of Assembly. He made a good record during his first year, taking an active part in all debates, and at once acquired a State reputation. Without scarcely turning a hand he was re-elected in 1873 and was made the caucus nominee for Speaker of the House, being unanimously elected.

He took the gavel untrammeled by promises or

pledges, and was enabled to select his committees and direct the work of the House as his judgment suggested.

In 1875 he declined a re-election. His clientage had become extensive, and he needed all his time and energy for his profession. In 1877 he was induced to accept the Senatorial nomination, and was elected. His success as Senator was even greater than that in the lower house.

Prominent in the Senate.

He served his three years with distinction, and was promptly re-elected by the largest majority Passaic County had ever given to any candidate. His extended experience, and the fact that he was a second-term man, returned by such a complimentary vote, made him a formidable candidate for the President of the Senate, and in 1881 he was accorded that honor. In 1882 he was again called to preside over the upper house.

His legislative career was a brilliant one. He made himself popular with all the prominent men of the State because of his ability, amiability and fairness. In 1884 he was the Republican caucus nominee for United States Senator.

He was also a candidate for United States Senator in 1882. The Senate was Republican, but the House was Democratic. Congressman John J. Gardner, of Atlantic City, was President of the

Senate. A successor to United States Senator McPherson was to be chosen. Mr. McPherson sought to succeed himself. Ex-Senator H. S. Lit

tle was leading a vigorous opposition against him.

An effort was made to get a strong candidate, and among those selected was the late Chancellor, Theodore Runyon, the present Attorney General, John P. Stockton, and Leon Abbett. The Democrats were very much mixed, and the Republicans selected Garret A. Hobart as their candidate,