 Large sums had to be spent quickly , and Hanna energetically built a businesslike campaign . Bryan 's surge contributed to a sense of crisis that enabled Hanna to make peace in his party , eventually uniting all behind McKinley with the exception of some Silver Republicans . But as the campaign began operations , and began them on a huge scale , money was short . Hanna initially spent much of his time in New York , where many financiers were based . He faced resistance at first , both because he was not yet widely known on the national scene , and because some moneymen , although appalled at the Democratic position on the currency issue , felt Bryan was so extreme that McKinley was sure to win . Others were disappointed New York Governor Morton was not the presidential nominee , but their support became warmer as they came to know McKinley and Hanna . Reports of Bryan support in the crucial Midwest , and intervention by Hanna 's old schoolmate , John D. Rockefeller ( his Standard Oil gave $ 250 @,@ 000 ) , made executives more willing to listen . After a gloomy August for the campaign 's fundraising , in September , corporate moguls " opened their purse strings to Hanna " . J.P. Morgan gave $ 250 @,@ 000 . Dawes recorded an official figure for fundraising of $ 3 @,@ 570 @,@ 397 @.@ 13 , twice what the Republicans had raised in 1892 , and as much as ten times what Bryan may have had to spend . Dawes ' figure did not include fundraising by state and local committees , nor in @-@ kind donations such as railroad fare discounts , which were heavily subsidized for Republican political travelers . Estimates of what Republicans may have raised in total have ranged as high as $ 16 @.@ 5 million . 
