EFFECT OF THE MCKINLEY TARIFF BILL ON BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES The Congressional elections of 1890 resulted in a crushing defeat for the Republicans.

This was due, no doubt, to the McKinley Tariff Bill which became a law only about a month before the elections of that year.
Congress convened the first Monday in December, 1889, and that session did not come to a close until the following October.

The Democrats in Congress made a bitter fight against the McKinley Tariff Bill, and, since it was a very complete and comprehensive measure, a great deal of time was necessarily consumed in its consideration and discussion.

When it finally became a law the time between its passage and the elections was so short that the friends of the measure did not have time to explain and defend it before the elections took place.

This placed the Republicans at a great disadvantage.