Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/188

156 for many years one of the best-known public men of our country.

In our Centennial year, 1876, a surprise came to Major McKinley. While he was attending a private political meeting, one of the committeemen called him aside.

"Major, how would you like to go to Congress?" was the question put to him.

"To Congress?" repeated McKinley. "I hadn't thought of it."

"Well, we have thought it over, and we can slate you for the position if you will accept."

At first the rising young lawyer demurred. He himself said later: "I was not anxious to be a candidate at that time. I thought I was too young to go into politics. I had a good business, which I had worked hard to obtain, and I hated to run any chance of neglecting it."

But the others would not listen to his protestations. They felt that he was a strong, safe man and would make a worthy representative of the Stark-Columbiana counties district. Consequently he was placed on the ticket and told to go ahead and make the best run he could.