Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/197

Rh the tariff debate; but this is not so, as is proved by the following true story:—

One day, when McKinley was chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and was stopping at a leading hotel in Washington, a manufacturer came to him.

"Mr. McKinley," he said, "I have been to my member of the House, who is a Democrate like myself, and also to some other Democrats, to try to get a hearing before your committee and I have failed all around. Now I have come to you, and although I have no claim on you, I want to ask the privilege of presenting my case."

"Sit down, sir, and let me hear your case," answered McKinley, and motioned the caller to a chair. The two talked over the proposed tariff on certain manufactured articles until after midnight, and McKinley brought out all his facts and figures and compared them with those the manufacturer had to present.

"Your claim is just," said McKinley, at last. "I am glad that you brought it to my notice. We should have made a mistake by leaving the schedule as drafted. I will do what I can to have it changed."