Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 7).djvu/227

coolness and unifonn good temper he brought the | matter to a satisfactory issue. On the proposal of Germany, each of the three powers appointed one member of a commission to visit the islands and to investigate the entire question, beginning with the return of Mutaafa and the election of 1898. Bartlett Tripp was appointed by the United States, Baron Speck von Sternberg by Germany, and C. N. E. Eliot by Great Britain.

Much favorable comment was caused by the character of the president's appointments for the delegation to represent the Lnited States at the peace conference called by the czar in 1898, which assembled at The Hague in Mav, 1899. The dele- gation consisted of Andrew D. White, ambas- sador at Berlin ; Stanford Newel, minister to Hol- land; Seth Low, president of Columbia university ; Cajit. A. T. Mahan, L'.S. navy (retired): and Capt. William Crozier, U. S. army. Frederick William Holls, of New V'ork, was appointed secretary and counsel. As a group the men were worthy repre- sentatives of the country, and as individuals each of them was widely known as a scholar or a student in his own profession. Their work at the confer- ence did not belie their reputation, one of the most important results of the conference being the scheme of international arbitration, in the pre- sentation and advtH'acy of which President White made a remarkably strong impression. The whole U. S. delegation wiu< at the very centre of the in- fluences that worked toward this result. Of home events in the latter months of the first half of 1899 one of the most important was the order of 29 May, in which the president withdrew a large number of places in the civil service of the government from the nfH-ration of the system of ap|x>intment on the result of examiiialiotis con- ducted by the civil service commission. The civil service reformers maintained that this step would withdraw at least 10.000 (usitions from the classi- fied service, but their statement was controverted by those that looked kindly upon the president's oriler, who niaintaine<l that not more than 4,(KX) places are exempted. The president found a strf>ng supporter and defender in the secretary of the treasury, who contended that the order was a beneficial step for the reform of the civil service; that only those positions had been exempted that cxperietiee had shown could be filled best without examination, and that the change had not been made in the slightest degree at the in.Htance of the s[Hiilsmen. To all of the contentions of Secretary Gage. Mr. George Mc. eny, the secretary of the Civil service reform league. ma<lc detailed replies, maintaining not only that Mr. Gage's [mints were not well taken, but that his own administration of the civil service in the treasury derwrtment was not above criticism. With this disi-ussion the president had nothing to do ; he was c(mtent to stand by his order. Even more far-reaching in the general interest it caused was the bringing ai>out of the resignation of Knssell A. Alger, secretary of war. During all the months of hostilities, and after, the secretarv was most severely critici8e<1 for the con<hict of the war. The presiilent st(X)d stoutly behind him, however, and gave him go<Kl support. But in the spring of 1899 Gen. Alger entered into an open campaign as candidate for the U. S. senate to succeed Senator McMillan in 1901, and to this end he joined political forces with Gov. I'ingree, of Michigan, who had criticised the president's policy. At once it was evident that a cabinet ofllcer identified so closely with the whole policy of the government could not possibly enter into combination with such a critic of this policy and at the same time retain his seat in the cabinet. The president had supported the secre- tary in every step he had taken hitherto ; he could not, however, countenance a campaign for political office carried on along such lines by one of his cabinet advisers, and in July his feelings on the matter were made known to Gen. Alger. The lat- ter offered his resignation on 19 July, to take effect on 1 Aug., and at that date he was succeeded by Elihu Root, a prominent lawver of New York.

The president and Mrs. Mckinley spent the sum- mers of 1897 and 1899 at a popular resort on Lake Champlain, and in August of the latter year the president made an eloquent address at Plattsburg, in the course of which, referring to the condition of affairs in the Philippine islands, he said. " Re- bellion mav delay, but il, can never defeat the American flag's bles.sed mission of liberty and hu- manity." Later, at Long Branch, McKinley re- marked: '"There has been doubt expressed in some quarters as to the purpose of the government re- specting the Philippines. I can see no harm in stating it in this presence. Peace first, then, with charity for all, the established government of law and order protecting life and property, and occu- pation for the well-being of the people who will |)articipate in it under the Stars and Stripes." And in a speech at Pittsburg, welcoming the 10th Pennsylvania volunteers upon their return from the Philii>pines on 28 Aug., he justified the con- duct of Gen. Otis in every particular, assuming for himself all responsibility for the action of the L'. S. forces liefore the outbreak of hostilities in February. With justifiable indignation toward the Filipino svmpathizers in the I'nited States, he said of the volunteers: "They had no part or pa- tience with the men. few in numljer, happily, who would have rejoiced to have seen thein lay down their arms in the presence of an enemy whom they had just emancipated from Spanish rule and who should have U>en our firmest friends." See ".SiH'eches and Addresses of William McKinley," compiled liy Joseph P. Smith (New York, 1893), and the camijaign •' Life of Major McKinley," by Robert P. Porter (Cleveland, Ohio, 1896).

Major McKinley married, 25 Jan., 1871, Miss Ma .Saxt on. daughter of James A. and Cat herine Uewalt Saxton. Her grandiiarents were among the found- ers of Canton, nearly a century ago. Her father was a banker of large means, who after giving Ida, his youngest daughter, many advantages of educa- tion and travel, Ix'gaii her busi- ness training as cashier in his bank, that she might be fit- ted for any change in for- tune that could overtake her. Two daughters were born to them, but both were lost i n ear- ly childhood. Sirs. McKin- ley's health, not rf)bust at any time, never has / rallied from

thesetwodcaths

in quick succession. Though not strong. Mrs. Mc- Kinley is a charming hostess, and has presided over their happy home with all the delights of a bride.