Through his reading of the newspapers and other periodicals, Carl Sandburg had concluded William Jennings Bryan was the better candidate in the presidential election of 1896. That was not a view generally shared in Galesburg or in the country as the election results demonstrated. But, there were other young men in Galesburg who were enthusiastic supporters of the Republican candidate, William McKinley.

On November 11^th, a front page article in the Evening Mail told the following story:

Send Good Luck to McKinley

“One rainy day in the closing moments of the last month, when the campaign was seeing its last days, Henry Hill and Willard Fox, employed in the Adams express company's office, were riding down the street. Suddenly they saw a horse-shoe lying in the middle of the street. 'There!' exclaimed Hill 'they say that always means good luck let's send that to McKinley.' It was so agreed, and when the office was reached the omen of good luck was tied up, just as it was found, dirty, wet and heavy, but nevertheless possessing the secret of power for which such things are noted.

“The package was sent to Mr. McKinley, with a letter from the two young men. They wrote: 'This shoe comes from the Adams express company office in Galesburg. It is covered with Illinois soil and bears with it an Illinois majority.'

“Imagine the surprise of the boys, when they received from James Boyle, Mr. McKinley's private secretary, the following message: “Major McKinley directs me to acknowledge the receipt of the joint favor of yourself and Mr. W.C. Fox. It was, as you thought it would be, comparatively as large as the majority on the third inst.”

“The letter will be framed and occupy a prominent place in the office of the company in Galesburg.”

A few years later Martin Sandburg became one of the young men working at the Adams express office. He often rode the train to Chicago for the company, taking care of its business. At that time, Carl was living in Aurora trying to perfect his writing and selling stereoscopic views to support himself. Occasionally, Martin would let his brother catch a ride in the express car from Aurora back to Galesburg.