WILLIAM MCKINLEY'S BIRTHPLACE AT NILES, O., TORN DOWN IN 1895.

At the left is the grocery-store, into which the parlor was converted.

employers and employes. It was due to his initiative. that the state board of arbitration was established in Ohio, and to its successful operation he gave for nearly four years his close personal attention.

Many times during his administration the peace of the state was disturbed by unseemly outbreaks requiring the application of the restraining power of the government. This power Mr. McKinley exercised with signal firmness and discretion. Fifteen times it was necessary to call out the state troops for the maintenance or restoration of order, but on no occasion was the use of them in any respect oppressive. During the summer of 1894 strikes and other disturbances prevailed, especially on the chief railroad lines, and for three weeks the regiments were on duty, acquitting themselves most creditably for the protection of property and enforcement of the law, without any unnecessary harshness toward either party to the disputes. On two noteworthy occasions desperate efforts were made by ill-advised mobs to commit the crime of lynching. Governor McKinley promptly used the military forces of the state to prevent such violence of law and dishonor to the commonwealth, and showed himself a thorough master of the trying situation.

A distinctive feature of the McKinley administration was the absence of red tape and needless formality. In his method of transacting business the governor was concise and direct, and in his intercourse with the people, though dignified, he was always approachable and genial. Access was readily had to him at all reasonable times, and a matter of actual interest never failed to receive his courteous, prompt and painstaking attention.

CHAPTER VII

ENDORSES A FRIEND'S NOTES

It was in 1893, while Governor of Ohio, that Major McKinley's modest fortune was swept away by the failure of his old friend and schoolmate, Robert L. Walker, capitalist, banker and manufacturer, of Youngstown, O. McKinley had saved about $20,000 during his ten years in Congress, which he had invested in stock in various coal mines and undeveloped coal fields. The chief real estate item was the modest home in Canton. Early in 1893 Mr. Walker told Major McKinley that he was hard pressed for ready money. He asked the Governor to indorse his notes, which he proposed to have discounted. Without hesitation or inquiry into the matter Major McKinley instantly consented. He only knew that his old friend, the man who stood by him in early years, wanted assistance, and anything he could do to help him he cheerfully did. The notes were made payable in 30, 60 and 90 days, and Major McKinley indorsed as he supposed about $15,000 worth. They were discounted as Walker planned, and Major McKinley thought no more of the matter until February 17th, 1893.

THE WALKER FAILURE.-On that date Youngstown and Mahoning Valley were startled by the assignment of Robert L. Walker. A judgment of $12,000 against the Youngstown Stamping Company caused the fail

ure.

The stove company, the coal mines and the other enterprises went down the next day. Then the banks which held the Walker paper began to figure. Major McKinley was leaving his home to go to the banquet of the Ohio society in New York when he was informed of the disaster. He canceled his New York engagement and took the first train to Youngstown. He learned that instead of being on the Walker paper for $15,000, his liabilities in that direction were nearly $100,000. He could not understand it. Banks all over the State telegraphed him they had some of the paper. He was under the impression the paper had been discounted in but three banks. He held a conference with his friends. He told them he had indorsed a number of notes, but he understood that fully half of them were made out to take up notes which he had first indorsed and which had fallen due.

A little investigation showed that the old notes were still unpaid and the new notes had doubled, trebled, quintupled the debt. The Walker liabilities were about $200,000 and the assets not half that sum.

After the conference with his Youngstown friends, Major McKinley said: "I can hardly believe this, but it appears to be true. I don't know what my liabilities are, but whatever I owe shall be paid dollar for dollar."

THE MCKINLEYS SACRIFICE ALL.-McKinley was not interested in any of Walker's business enterprises. The connection was simply one of friendship. Mrs. McKinley owned property valued at $75,000, left her by her father. On February 22d the Governor and his wife made an absolute and unqualified assignment of