JAMES A. GARY - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 08/21/1896 - HFSID 266234

JAMES A. GARY. Typed Letter signed: "James A Gary", with initialed postscript: "JAG", 1p, 8x10. On personal letterhead. Baltimore, Maryland, 1896 August 21. To William F. Stone, Chairman Republican City Committee, Baltimore. In full: "Your very kind letter of 20th received and I appreciate your pleasant expressions of regard. It will give me great pleasure to confer with you, and I would suggest that we have a chat some time on Monday, if you will kindly come around to my office. Perhaps we can fix up a general Finance Committee that will be satisfactory. In the meantime I will give the matter some considerable thought and be able perhaps to give you some advice. I will do all in my power to aid you in the very important work we are now embarking upon, and beg to sign myself, Your friend," and "P.S. I received this morning from Philadelphia a letter which I enclose and which explains itself. I do not know its object but conclude as it is a McKinley & Hobart Club that they are working in the same interests as ourselves. Doubtless you can give them the information desired. I have written them that the matter has been referred to you." Accompanied by unsigned book photo (b/w, 4½x6¼) with ink caption on verso: "James A Gary & family". Gary (1833-1920) was U.S. Postmaster General (1897-1898) under President McKinley, whom this letter shows him working to elect. A member of the Maryland Republican State Committee (1880-1896), Gary was his party's (unsuccessful) candidate for Governor in 1879. The efforts of Gary and party chairman Stone paid off. William McKinley carried Maryland on his way to victory over Democrat William Jennings Bryan in what is considered one of the watershed elections of American history. Horizontal and vertical folds, one of the latter crossing "Ga" in signature and initial "A". Light 1½x¼-inch stain in lower margin. Pinhead sized spot at blank top margin. Overall fine condition.