Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. IV.djvu/71

WILLIAM McKINLEY 47 house committee. The bill, having received the ap proval of the president, became a law October 6, 1890. The passage of the bill was hardly effected be fore the general election occurred, and in this the republicans were, as anticipated, badly defeated. His own district had been gerrymandered again, so that he had 3,000 majority to overcome. Never was a congressional campaign more fiercely fought, the contest attracting attention everywhere. His competitor was John G. Warwick, recently lieuten ant-governor, a wealthy merchant and coal operator of his own county. McKinley ran largely ahead of his ticket, but was defeated by 300 votes. No re publican had ever received nearly so many votes in the counties composing the district, his vote exceed ing by 1,250 that of Harrison in the previous presi dential campaign. Immediately after the election a popular movement began in Ohio for his nomina tion for governor, and the state convention in June, 1891, made him its candidate by acclamation. Meanwhile in congress he spoke and voted for the eight-hour law; he advocated efficient antitrust and antioption laws ; he supported the direct-tax refund ing law in an argument that abounds with perti nent information; and he presented and advised the adoption of a resolution declaring that nothing in the new tariff law should be held to invalidate our treaty with Hawaii. On the occasion of the seven-