Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/62

 38 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS In 1877 Ohio went strongly democratic, and the legislature gerrymandered the state, so that Mc- Kinley found himself confronted by 2,580 adverse majority in a new district. His opponent was Gen. Aquila Wiley, who had lost a leg in the national army, and was competent and worthy. Not de terred, McKinley entered the canvass with great energy, and after a thorough discussion of the is sues in every part of the district, was re-elected to the 46th congress by 1,234 majority. At the extra session, April 18, 1879, he opposed the repeal of the federal election laws in a speech that was is sued as a campaign document by the republican na tional committee of that and the following year. As chairman of the republican state convention of Ohio, of 1880, he made another address devoted principally to the same issue. Speaker Randall gave him a place on the judiciary committee, and in December, 1880, appointed him to succeed Presi dent Garfield as a member of the ways and means committee. The same congress made him one of the house committee of visitors to West Point mili tary academy,* and he was also chairman of the com- they were members of the Board of Visitors in June, 1880, the writer mentioned that Gen. Winfield Scott was six feet four inches, just Lincoln s height, but almost a hundred pounds heavier, and Mc Kinley remarked: &quot;Lincoln, Washington, Jefferson and Jackson, all over six feet, were, I believe, in the order named, our four tallest Presidents, while I think Madison and Van Buren were the two shortest,&quot; adding, &quot;John Adams lived the longest of any of our chief magistrates, having died in his ninety-first year.&quot; EDITOR.
 * Conversing with Congressman McKinley at West Point when