Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/217

Rh proved that he was the governor for all and not for one class or one political party. And it was this bearing that made him the wonderfully popular man he afterward became.

It was during his first term as governor of Ohio that McKinley suffered a blow that was like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky—a blow which he probably never forgot and one which left its mark upon him to the day of his death.

At Youngstown lived a banker, capitalist, and manufacturer named Robert L. Walker. It is said that he was a schoolmate of McKinley in his younger days, and that the friendship continued when the young major came back from the war.

As a banker Mr. Walker had considerable ready money, and when he started as a lawyer McKinley took from him a small loan, to tide him over until he should obtain sufficient clients to pay his own way. Another loan was made when the young lawyer first ran for Congress, and a further loan of about $2000, with which to pay off a mortgage on some of his wife's property. As soon as he was obtaining his salary of