WILLIAM McKINLEY 37 money and the resumption of specie payments. Stewart L. Woodford, of New York, spoke at Canton that autumn, and on his return to Colum bus Mr. Woodford made it a point to see the state committee and urge them to put McKinley upon their list of speakers. They had not heard of him before, but they put him on the list, and he was never taken off it after. The next year, 1876, Mc Kinley was nominated for congress over several older competitors, on the first ballot, and was elected in October over Leslie L. Lanborn by 3,300 majority. During the progress of the canvass, while visiting the centennial exposition in Phila delphia, he was introduced by James G. Elaine to a great audience which Blaine had been addressing at the Union league club, and scored so signal a suc cess that he was at once in demand throughout the country. Entering congress on the day when his old colo nel assumed the presidency, and in high favor with him, McKinley was not without influence even dur ing his first term. On April 15, 1878, he made a speech in opposition to what was known as "the Wood tariff bill," from its author, Fernando Wood, of New York. His speech was published and widely circulated by the republican congres sional committee, and otherwise attracted much at tention.
