Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/64

 40 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS fourth term, and was elected in October by the nar row margin of eight votes over his democratic com petitor, Jonathan H. Wallace. At the short ses sion an exhaustive report by the tariff commission was submitted, and from this the ways and means committee framed and promptly introduced a bill reducing existing duties, on an average, about 20 per cent. McKinley supported this measure in an explanatory and argumentative speech of some length January 27, 1883, but it was evident from the start that it could not become a law, and the senate substitute was enacted instead. Although his seat in the 48th congress was contested, he con tinued to serve in the house until well toward the close of the long session. In this interval he deliv ered his speech on the Morrison tariff bill, April 30, 1884, which was everywhere accepted as the strongest and most effective argument made against it. At the conclusion of the general debate, May 6, 41 democrats, under the leadership of Mr. Randall, voted with the republicans to defeat the bill. At the Ohio republican state convention of that year, 1884, McKinley presided, and he was unani mously elected a delegate at large to the national convention. He was an avowed and well-known supporter of Mr. Elaine for the presidency, and did much to further his nomination. Several dele gates gave him their votes in the balloting for the