. He was unanimously nominated
at the Republican Convention, at Philadelphia, for a second term.

The campaign of 1900 was fought out on the issue of Imperialism;
the tariff was almost forgotten, and the silver question was only
discussed incidentally.

Mr. McKinley's popular vote was not much greater than it was in
1896. He received 7,207,000 as against 6,358,000 votes cast for
Mr. Bryan.

During the short session which convened after his election, the
Platt amendment concerning our future relations with Cuba was
passed. The War Revenue Act was reduced. It was an uneventful
session, and Mr. McKinley was again inaugurated March 4, 1901.

On September 6, 1901, the President attended the Buffalo Exposition,
accompanied by Mrs. McKinley and the members of his cabinet, and
during the reception which he held at the Temple of Music on that
day, he was shot and wounded by an assassin, one Leon F. Czolgosz.
After lingering along until Saturday, September 14, he passed away,
and Theodore Roosevelt, Vice-President, was sworn in as President
of the United States. On taking the oath of office, he uttered
but one sentence:

"I wish to say that it shall be my aim to continue absolutely
unbroken the policy of President McKinley for the peace, prosperity,
and the honor of our beloved country."

CHAPTER XX
ROOSEVELT'S PRESIDENCY
1901 to 1909

Colonel Roosevelt served as President of the United States from
September 13, 1901, to March 4, 1909. What he accomplished during
those years is still too fresh in the minds of the people of the
United States to justify its recital by me here; suffice it to say
that he gave one of the best Administrations ever known in the
history of the United States. He accomplished more in that term
than any of his predecessors; more laws were enacted, laws of more
general benefit to the people; but above all, his Administration
enforced all laws on the statute books as they had never been
enforced before.

The Sherman Anti-Trust Law was a dead letter until Mr. Roosevelt
instructed the Attorney-General to prosecute its violators, both
great and small. No fear or favor was shown in the enforcement of
the laws against the rich and poor alike. There were many other
notable features of his administration, but that, to my mind, stands
out conspicuously before all the others. By his speeches, by his
public messages, he awakened the slumbering conscience of the
Nation, and he made the violator