 On his front porch , McKinley urged sound money , though he never ceased to promote protectionism to support American industry . Horner noted , " the campaign effectively linked both gold and protectionism with patriotism . " McKinley felt that he could not campaign entirely on the money issue , as many midwestern Republicans who supported silver considered protection the major issue of the campaign , and would stay with the party if it promoted tariffs . These issues were given different emphases sectionally : in the East and South , the money issue was stressed most strongly , while tariffs were given more attention in the Midwest . McKinley had little support in the mining @-@ dominated Rocky Mountain states , where even most Republicans were for silver and Bryan . On the Pacific coast , where there was strong silver sentiment , but where McKinley had some hope of winning , the tariff was made the major issue . 
