Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/189

Rh Once having accepted the nomination, McKinley did as was his usual habit,—put his shoulder to the wheel with all the force at his command. There were several candidates in the field against him, and toward election time the battle waxed more than usually warm. All sorts of stories were circulated about him and about what he proposed to do if elected,—generally stories calculated to turn the votes of the poorer class from him. But these people knew the rising young lawyer well and were not to be fooled, and late on election day night it was learned that McKinley had been elected as a representative to Congress by a handsome plurality.

It was his entrance into National affairs,—one of the mile-stones of his life,—and if the election to such a high and honorable office filled him with pride, I am certain that no right-thinking person will blame him. Yet when, amid the music of a brass band, the crackling of a huge bonfire, and the huzzas of a crowd, he received the congratulation of his fellow-citizens and political friends, he was not puffed up in the least, but thanked them simply and heartily