 By early in August , the McKinley campaign had decided upon a strategy : appeal to labor and established farmers . McKinley , on the urgent advice of his advisers , by the middle of that month had decided that the currency question must be addressed immediately , and the campaign machine began the process of generating millions of publications and sending hundreds of speakers into the field . The pamphlets contained quotes or articles from McKinley , members of Congress , and financial experts on why a bimetallic standard would be ruinous to the country . Theodore Roosevelt , then a member of the New York City Police Commission , recalled seeing boxcars full of paper being dispatched when he visited the Chicago headquarters in August . For the benefit of those who did not read English , there were pamphlets in French , Spanish , Portuguese , Yiddish , German , Polish , Norwegian , Italian , Danish , and Dutch . Pre @-@ written articles were sent to periodicals , and the campaign paid for friendly newspapers to be sent to thousands of citizens across the country for the duration . Five million families received McKinley campaign materials on a weekly basis . Among the surrogates sent out on McKinley 's behalf was newspaper editor Warren G. Harding , paid to make speeches across Ohio . The future president made a positive impression and three years later was elected to the Ohio State Senate , beginning his political rise . 
