Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/196

162 that is, the duty on imported goods, whereby money is received which helps to run the government and which also helps protect such industries as need protection from outside competition which might sooner or later destroy them.

While McKinley was in Congress, Hayes, his old military commander and warm personal friend, was President. The chief magistrate of our nation was watching the career of the young Congressman with interest and one day he said to McKinley:—

"To achieve success and fame you must pursue a special line. You must not make a speech on every motion offered or bill introduced. You must confine yourself to one particular thing. Become a specialist. Take up some branch of legislation and make that your study. Why not take up the subject of tariff? Being a subject that will not be settled for years to come, it offers a great field for study and a chance for ultimate fame."

"I thank you for the advice and I shall endeavor to follow it," was McKinley's reply, and follow it he did. Many thought he was willing to look at only one side of