This campaign cane or walking stick has been painted in the colors of the United States, with a print of President McKinley and Vice President Roosevelt a third of the way down the cane.

Weight (Lbs): 0.25
Height (In.): 34"
Width (In.): 1"
Depth (In.): 1"
Size: 413.5 x 4.0 x 4.0"
Maker: Unknown
Material: Beech
Date: C. 1901
Provenance:
Condition: Moderate wear to the original paint and print. Heavy loss of paint from use on grip. Minor splitting along the shaft.
History: Republicans were generally successful in state and local elections around the country in 1899, and McKinley was optimistic about his chances at re-election in 1900. McKinley's popularity in his first term assured him of renomination for a second. The only question about the Republican ticket concerned the vice presidential nomination; McKinley needed a new running mate as Hobart had died in late 1899. McKinley initially favored Elihu Root, who had succeeded Alger as Secretary of War, but McKinley decided that Root was doing too good a job at the War Department to move him. He considered other prominent candidates, including Allison and Cornelius N. Bliss, but none were as popular as the Republican party's rising star, Theodore Roosevelt. After a stint as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Roosevelt had resigned and raised a cavalry regiment; they fought bravely in Cuba, and Roosevelt returned home covered in glory. Elected governor of New York on a reform platform in 1898, Roosevelt had his eye on the presidency.