Republican presidential candidate william mckinley: question 5 options: was a stage actor of some renown. ran for president in 1896 on the free silver platform. argued in favor of the gold standard. lost to bryan in 1896. was especially popular in the south.

The correct answer is "was especially popular in the south.

William McKinley was the 25th President of the United States between 1897 and 1901. He won twice the elections against Bryan, in 1986 and 1900. Hence, this discards the option "lost to bryan in 1986".  His career was fully related to politics within the Republican party, after participating as soldier in the Civil War. He was never an actor.

There were two confronted positions in American politics in the end of the 19th century: on one side the advocates of the gold standard such as McKinley, and those who defended free silver instead, such as Bryan. In the end, McKinley changed his mind as supported of the gold standard.

Finally, even tough McKingley has been a Northern soldier he was specially popular in the South and tried to take advantage of this position to work towards the reconciliation of North and South during his political career.