Robert Walker Tayler served illustriously in William McKinley's shadow

The man who was congressman in "McKinley's District" while President William McKinley was in the White House was making a name for himself 125 years ago.

Robert Walker Tayler, U.S. representative from the 18th District in 1898, was his own man and served all of his constituents, regardless of their party.

"Young Tayler is one of the brightest men in the House," said House Speaker Thomas B. Reed of Maine, the Republican who had defeated McKinley for that congressional speakership post in 1889. "If he were not such a judicious and talented man, he would not be chairman of one of our most important committees."

Tayler, only 46 at the time Reed's assessment of him was published in the Sunday Repository on March 13, 1898, was chairman of the House Committee on Elections during the 55th through 57th Congress, from 1896 through 1899.

"We can use a hundred of his kind here in Congress," continued Reed, in what was termed "one of the longest interviews ever given by the popular 'Czar'" of the U.S. House of Representatives, an interview corresponding with Tayler's announcement he would run for re-election.

"I understand he is a candidate for renomination and his constituents can do no better than send him back for another term."

Perhaps, the article said, this renomination bid was why "Speaker Reed was so loquacious on this occasion." Still, Reed's admiration seemed sincere.

"Many a man would have rattled around in Mr. McKinley's shoes like a pea in a sun-dried pod," Reed noted. "Tayler has filled the position with rare ability and should be sent back."

Robert Walker Tayler was teacher and lawyer

Tayler was born in Youngstown in Mahoning County in November 1852. He was the son of Robert Walker Tayler Sr. who served as prosecuting attorney for Trumbull County, mayor of Youngstown, a state senator, state auditor, and first comptroller of the U.S. Treasury under President Abraham Lincoln.

According to an article in the Repository in 1899, the spelling of Tayler's last name went back at least two generations — those of his father and grandfather. But the exact reason for spelling it "Tayler" instead of "Taylor" had been lost to history.

"Why they did not use an 'o' he does not know any more than Shakespeare knew why one time he wrote it Shaksper, another time Shakspere, and still another time he rendered it Shakespeare," the newspaper reported.

After attending public schools in Youngstown, Tayler then attended Georgetown College in Washington, D.C. Tayler continued his education at what was then Case Western Reserve College in Ohio. He taught for a time in Lisbon, before serving as superintendent of schools there early in the 1870s.

Then, according to online historical accounts, Tayler's attention turned to the law, starting a private practice in East Liverpool and then serving as prosecutor in Columbiana County early in the 1880s. By the time he was elected to Congress in the 1890s, Tayler had returned to the private practice of law, practicing in both Ohio and New York.

Serving in Congress

According to the website history.house.gov, Tayler was elected as a Republican from Ohio to the 54th Congress, and re-elected to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1903).

It didn't take Tayler long to gain respect.

"Big Tayler," a headline in the Repository said on Dec. 15, 1899. "Not Physically But Congressionally."

A contested elections case in 1895 while he was serving as a relatively new member of the Elections Committee gained him a reputation for bipartisanship.

"Speaker Reed had put Tayler on Elections Committee No. 2 simply because he had to make up that committee," the 1899 article noted. "He didn't know anything about him and if his name had been John Smith his assignment would have been the same. Taylor is not under any obligations to the big Maine man for a favorable assignment where he could show himself. What was done to bring him to the front he did himself."

Taylor, a Republican, presented a minority report in favor of a Democratic candidate whose victory had been challenged by his Republican opponent.

"Taylor went at the case as a lawyer, regardless of politics," the article explained. "He satisfied himself that the Democrat had been elected. What is more, he satisfied a majority of the House that the Democrat had been elected. Taylor did it in such a way, too, that he did not offend his party associates, which is a big achievement, especially for a young man. Under such circumstances young congressmen are apt to become bitter champions and go out of the way to irritate their associates who do not agree with them."

The Democrat kept his seat. And Tayler earned a reputation of being above party politics.

"Several days afterward Reed met with Tayler. Without even an exchange of the time of day, the speaker stuck out his hand and gave Tayler a warm grasp.

"I like you Tayler," the speaker said.

Reed moved Tayler to the head of the Elections Committee during his second term.

Watched out for constituents

Tayler was known to watch out for the well-being of his constituents at home, as well, regardless of whether they voted for Democrats or Republicans.

"Never a letter has been received (by Tayler) that has not been answered and no veteran has sought an original or increase in pension but his claim has been laid before the commissioner and that right speedily, too," the 1898 profile of Tayler noted.

In speaking with a Stark County man, the commissioner of pensions in Washington verified the diligence with which Tayler went about the job to which voters in his district — many from the Canton area — elected him.

"That young man, Tayler, of yours causes me more trouble than any dozen other congressmen," the commissioner admitted good-naturedly. "He brings in hundreds of claims and just stays until they are looked after and settled one way or the other. Others bring their claims and let their constituents await our convenience. Of course we are compelled to hustle Tayler's claim through and his constituents are the winners. It's lots of trouble for us and Tayler, but good for the old veterans back in Ohio."

Tayler also earned a national reputation while serving as a congressional prosecutor in a polygamy case in 1900 in which the House of Representatives — by a vote of 268-50 — refused to seat Brigham Henry Roberts, the congressman-elect from the newly-admitted state of Utah.

Tayler gained additional national exposure when he was engaged in 1904 and 1905 in the prosecution of the Reed Smoot case in Washington, which was a series of congressional hearings that proved unsuccessful in expelling U.S. Senator Reed Smoot of Utah.

During the Smoot hearings Tayler was serving as a private attorney, having declined to run for re-election in 1902.

Following his congressional career, Tayler returned to Ohio to work in a private practice in Youngstown until President Theodore Roosevelt nominated him to a seat on the U.S. District Court in January 1905. He was confirmed within days and served on the bench until his death about five years later.

"Judge R.W. Tayler Dies In Cleveland After Brief Illness," said the banner headline in The Evening Repository on Nov. 26, 1910.

His death was "due to apoplexy," an autopsy determined. He had collapsed during an attack while attending an entertainment event in Cleveland, although the obituary in the Repository noted that he had been in bad health for some time.

"Members of the Stark County bar and other Cantonians were shocked upon learning of his death," the obituary reported. "Although he was a member of the Columbiana County bar, Judge Tayler appeared in cases here several times before being elected to Congress."

Stark County Common Pleas Court Judge Henry W. Harter at the time mourned the loss of Tayler.

"The federal judiciary has lost an honest, active and capable jurist," said Judge Harter. "Judge Tayler was indeed an able man. As Congressman he was known not only throughout Ohio but throughout the nation. His death is a great loss and will cause much sorrow to those who knew him both as a public official and personally."

The day after he died, Judge Tayler was to have celebrated his 58th birthday.

Reach Gary at gary.brown.rep@gmail.com.

On Twitter: @gbrownREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Robert Walker Tayler served illustriously in William McKinley's shadow