The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-07-08
OLD BEN WADE.

- III
OLD BEN WADE.
a->>-~> aa
A sketch OF His Life and Homo Habits
What He Has to Say About His Kansas
Spcech-Views Of the Labor Questi0n-Fain-
lily Anecdotes. Incidents.
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial
Happenings the other day, 70 be IN Ashtaoula and
learning within miles Of the homo Of Bon
Wade determined to avail ourSef oil au nvitaton,
extended bs that gentleman more than year ago. to
visit MN at his homo dusty ride over plank road,
in a numbering old STAGE and in two hours were set
before the notel In the little village OF Jefferson,
which the homo Of Joshua II. Giddngs, and is
where Wade for than thirty years has resided
sand Inhabitants and dreary enough looking place 10
produce Nevertheless, It has furnished moro
men Of than any other place in the State OF Ohio
We found the venerable statesman Law Office
rounded By the village lawyers, With whom no
joking laughing talking and telling stories only
old back woodsnan can. Poor Mr.. Lincoln how he
loved TO tell OF the days when no was 1aboat
man, split rails in Illinois so Mr. Wade will sit Tor
hours and talk OF when he drove cattle to New
York, dug the Erie Canal with spade or chopped
cordwood in Onio. Story telling, by the way, !. de-
cedly q weakness OF Western statesmen and no.
thing delights them much as log cabin dinner or a
jog OF forty miles old fashioned four horse Stage
coach a
Alter introducing us to his friends Mr. Wade invited
us to his house. by and there introduced to tbs
family, which consists. OF wife, two sons and
daughter naw who the wife OF his eldest son, Con-
Mr. Wade lives IN plain white frame house, hid away
among the trees and surrounded by ample grounds
Everything about him is like tue man, pain but sub
stantia In tho lot the house, stands bis oce or
.dep," as the family famihary term It, ana mere tor
more than thirty years. whom not In Congress, Mr..
Wade has passed most Of his time Entering 1t with
sonator found TWO roonr the walls lined from
floor 70 ceiling with bookcases filled with books. This
library contains nothing but public documents maps and
Charts, and Is tho most complete in the country en-
from is foundation TO the present day sNlss' Re-
gister,n sMadison's Notes." "knoxs Reports" and
other books long since out OF print can be found
carpet. lounge, an old fashioned arm chair, few
common chairs. table AMI some maps on the wall
completed the furniture OF tao rooms, which seemed
dreaiy and lonely enough IN their isolated soluude
Begging be setted the Senator az once began 10
TEL, vs. atonl his late trip West and the immense country
he nai travelled The towns, cities, roads, lard,
"a mate water, timber, mncras-al he had seen was
rapidly related 20 US, and With power and perception
ci.ol his enthusiasm he cmpha,icaIly pronounced
OF the greatest enterprises OF modern lmea he
gave Us minute account OF the man CT and rapidly
with which is built The roadbcd men, the uecutters,
sapply trains Famen. the spikenen. The meGsurers,
ali appeared v,sibly ecore us aud wc were soon con-
vinced that Mr. Wade had seen more in has one TRIP
West than had in tnrec trips aud consderEbe resi-
dence there TO boo.
happening to have a New YORK fimef In pocket,
read u him tne repor. OF tue speech in tnas paper
and What the editor said OF It. Al the Conclusion
OF reading the old senator laughed heartily, and
SAID -
poseiy misun4ersiaads me. Why, sir, " you woud
make an equitable distribution Of All the properly in Ghs
Uni,cd ssales today among the people, N NE years
would again ne in the hands OF a few men Such
measure would not be just nor would u be OF any prac
ucaoie advantage TO the poor people II done. he
editors and corr sponden.s have been wrtng about
my speech know very well am not 10 favor OF such
foolsl Ihng the distribution Of property Ut OF dis
tarbng, IA any way, property RIGHTS"
roneous reports made Of his speech. He RAID
..No; l don't what they say aboat never
read my Own speeches, OF contradict anything thai
xaid imam. "
"Butn said wo "whai they saying about your
injuring your prospects Tor inc Presidency
He laughed heartily, aud repiied-''Ay dear sir, do
not seek that office never sought any Office, and
never Will have served the people only because they
wished me 10, aud not of my own choosing. IL Is thirty
years snce began proIc life. I am an old man, as
you see and need rest
Office mis- election all cases ma, ing been the volun
tary action people their representatives. We
urged venerable senator 70 give Us ns vess on tae
LABOR question and no did so At great length, saying
among othsr tnings that system of labor which de-
grades the poor and the ricn which max
very s,ui out Of the poor man for piful existence
wrong We must elevate tbs aborsr and give him .
snare in the proceeds Of his labor
We asked him that 10 be done and he said -:
az don't know; have thought mucn upon the sub
jeot but solve H. Tue man who successfully
solves thai prcblcm will do for The world any
man that has lived In 10 since the days OF Christ"
We asked MIN u he mad no ideas about the ma;erf
crea. subject believe, however, that the shadow Of
the great struggle Is upon us and We must meet 10
there n deep discomfort among the masscs aud they
will shortly demand that their condition % made moro
comfortable Both In tn country and Ia England there
a rcs,lessncss, fevcrsh excitement disseminated
ness with their among the poor classes that We can
not disregard The people want more recfeauon more
enjoy snt They casting about for relief from tneii
monotonous and half starved condision, and they wI
have 4"
we related TO Mr. Wade Horace Grccley's plan OF
operative labor, and asked What be thought OF 70 and
| what was his opinion of Mr.. Greeley.
He said mr.. Greeley ~ wise mao; he has DONE
| como very foolish tninr; but he perhaps has more
knowledge on ali subjects than any this country
thuk well OF his plan, aud the dea Of co-operAtson u
ame lorase their condition" lie then went on 70 show
how In CipctuLAt New York, Boston and other places
working men had comhned started msnufsctores ant
ware doing we'll lie showed bow, by the principe OF
eoopers,son, laborers In large factories could bulk
or rent hou ses keep little supply stores buy goods
save anoul onstn,rd Of what costs them 20 live
.'Bu, said Mr. WADE "thc principle OF cooperation
about az TAR as have GOT and though certsny good u
nself Il win not tue whole case, and ztil some
| thing more will DO required "
Me called TO the atteason OF the Senator the fact tina
| from The moment they free, tue ncsross. u
many parts OF SOUTH had refused 70 sbor for wages
| and demanded share OF the cotton they raised.
| "Ycs- SAID Wade, "thsi "a the principle, give IN
istorer an interest in the proceeds OF hs laoor Int
| neroes aot uold Of tue idea almost Immediately sn'
Il Ia most wonderful they should soon have compfs
| benied IL Why. cir, when I was . young man
worked on farm for ten dollar month"; ana ~ peve
entered nv head that should have share OF the pro
cesds Of ny labor; yet The products OF the farm wer
considerable and he PROFITS must have been large.
certainty mast havs been agcai advantsee TO work o.
the shsrss and are sbe nrst large class
| working men who thoroughly comprehend IL" \
The Senator then vent on Al great len IA 70 give
BIS Views on the abor question: aud cfrHinu tney wer