New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-12


GENEVA. y. T., Sept. 9.-Nestled at the foot Of
seneca Lake, with pleasant drives and shady
walks, and amid the hum OF industry coming from
numerous manufactures. is the otherwise quiet
town OF Geneva, the seat of Hobart College and tho
home OF Charles James Folger. Nearly all these
pleasant. prosperous and well.built towns and
cities in the interior Of the State have some person
more or less distinguished whom the dwellers
therein delight to honor their neighbOr and
friend. What Seward was to Auburn, Judge
tolger is TO Geneva. He does not forget his
men and Is pleased TO call Geneva his home. and,
whenever opportunity offers. to revisit the Of
his early labors. His plain. unpretentious but COM
Portable brown frame dwelling stands amid the
trees ol the hill overlooking the lake. commanding
"A view OF its picturesque banks for many miles;
and. to use the words Of a neighbor the latch
string always hangs ont for his friends. Like the
President, Judge Folger is a widOwer. lie has a
son who is engaged in farming IN Minnesota, and
two daughters one OF whom presides over his
household and the other is attending school IN
Massachusetts,. Secretary Folger, familiarly known
here rs Judge Folger, is now at his home, suiering
from Washington malaria and oyerwOrk Since he
reached here OF Thuriay last, he has been confined
to h- bed good deal OF the time and looks quito
miserable. lie is naturally man OF strong ply
sique. but the atmosphere Of Washington does not
agree with him in summer. He IL not giving much
attention TO the canvass for Governor aud says
that he is only candidate in the sense that he is
willing TO accept he Office If nOminSted and
elected but that he will not be disappointed IL
some other person is chosen by the STATE Conven-
ton Now that his name, however. is prominently
before the people as a candidate for the highest
Office in the gift cf the electors OF this state it
may he of interest recall the principal events in
his life and TO give his views public questions 50
tar as they known.
Judge Folger was born In Nantucket Mass, April
49, 1918. His father was a native OF that place,
and his paternal ancestors settled there 700 Years
ago. His mother. how ever, was native OF Lon
don England. In 1880 the family removed to
Geneva which has ever since been the home OF tho
Judge. After leaving college Mr.. Fclger studied
law with Mark u. Sbey and Alyah Worden, OF
Canandaigua and was admitted to the bar at the
age of tnenty-One. lie took rank as a careful,
palnstaklnp LAWYER who studied his cases so
thoroughly as TO carry them IN his head. lie IS
slow and careful in his methods and does not trust
TO subordinates anything he can do himself. In
the Treasury Department he Is known as Old
Court of Appeals because he decides questions not
upon auesswork or hastily. but after caretdl con-
sderation, and this is one reason why he Is over
worked He j. less at the White House than any
other member of the Cabinet, and cares little Tor
society and nothing for display In j. II Governor
Bouck appointed him Judge of the ontario County
Court of Common Pleas and subsequently Master
aud Examiner in Chaucery. In 1871, under the
new Constitutions he elected County judge
and held the Office tour years In those DAYS he was
Sllas Wright Democrat. aud then became
Il" BarnbuIner," and with that wing Of the Democ-
racy he Joined the Republican party, then Just
forming In 1851 he was elected a State Senator,
and continued to serve in that capacity until 1859.
when he was reelected but resigned without taking
his seat to accept the office of Assistant Treasurer
IN New-York, rendered him by President Grant.
Undoubtedly this Office came to Mr. Foser through
the influence Of Senator T.. ID. Morgan, with whom
he was closely associated in political movements.
He formed a friendship with President Arthur
who was identified with the Morgan wing Of tho
uarty before Roscoe Conkhng was known N state
IolItics.
In 1867 Mr.. Folger was n member of the State
Constitutional Convention, and was a prominent
candidate for its Presidency, but was defeated Oy
William A. Wheeler. These two men, however
have always been good friends and it curious 10
note that Mr. Wheeler is to-day vigorously support-
ing the candidacy OF Mr. FOlser for Governor OF tho
state In the Constitutional Convention Mr..
Foger was made Chairman OF the Judiciary Com-
mittee. HIS legislative career was marked during
the Rebellion by uncomproml-ing loyalty 20
position to everything that savored of job and
he was always feared by lobbyists and legislative
obbers He was President pro fem. of the senate
tor many years and Chairman of the Judiciary
Committee Nearly all the work of this COMMITTEES
was lett to him, and he noted for the keen
perception and quickness with which be would
detect Job or niger" to use legislative phrase
olugy hid away in an apparently harmless measure
IN the railroad contests in the Legislature oi 1868
he champioued the bill. passed at that session,
preventing the consolidation OF competing roads.
and prohibiting director of one road from becorD-
ing director in rival company Vast interests
were at stake. and according 10 reports as high as
$4,000 were paid for vote OF Senator, Dut IN all
the scandal and investigation that followed not
whisper was ever raised against the integrity OF
Mr. Folger. He led the anti-monopoy light OF
those days on the principle that it was against
public policy for competing roads TO be controlled
by the same interest and the law to that effect then
passed has since proved wholesome one. hr.
Folger also distinguished himself by taking bold
stand against Tweed tax Nies for New York CITY,
in one instance extending the session and cohtlnu-
ing the contest three days Iather than yield
single point Ii has been sometimes asserted thas
Mr. Folger voted for the Tweed charter in ls1c.
but that is a mistake. because he was not then
member of the senate. He was asked by senator
what il was best to do regard TO the matter and
he teegraphed from New-York TO vote against the
charter The Senator did not follow the advice.
however, but atterward suffered in consequence.
Judge Folger was firm. consistent and honess
opponent of the Tweed legislation and he did not
therefore incur the hostility Of the Tweed poit-
Clans so that when he came TO he elected Judge OF
the Court of Appeals in 1870 he received unet-
pected aid in that quarter. In May, loeo.
at the death of Chief Judge Church, Go'ernor
Cornell appointed Mr.. Foiser to oil tue vacancy
and in the same year be was eiec'ed 'o 'ho
Mace for a full term Of fourteen years