The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-10
SENATOR BECK,s MONEY.
All Made While Only q Lawyer-His Finan-
cial Investments.
Louisville Commercial.


Upon Senator Beck's recent visit to this city
he said to reporter that he came here on bust
ness with Major w. FL. Thomas "He shouldn't
have said that remarked friend of the Sena-
tors the next day, ''or he should have told you
what that business was. They claim that he's
in partnership with Thomas in whisky. hap
pen to know better. A few years ago W. W.
Corcoran offered some lot property for sale out
toward the Potomac. Everybody was running
in those days towards Capitol Hill. Major
Thomas and Senator Beck thought the price
asked for the lots very low. and asked me to go
in with them and buy the entire half-block as
an investment. 1t was measurably sure the
ground would not be cheaper and there was a
chance of good profit by the natural increase
in value with the growth of the city. | declined
however. and they bought the half block with
out me. They paid $40 foot and now they are
selling out at $50 foot That's the private
business that brought the Senator to the city. v
This, together with illusions in the papers as
to Senator Becks wealth. led reporter to call
on Gen. John B. Castleman, who was a boy in
Lexington when James Beck came TO that town.
forty-three years ago. as a young law student
Mr.. Beck cast his first presidential vote there,
for Henry Clay. against James K. Polk.
s'You knew Senator Beck, in Lexington, Gen
eralg"
"Oh, yes he was we'll known lawyer as I
grew to be a young man, and had my fathers
business, along with that OF scores of the best
citizens of Lexington and the surrounding coun-
ties. have watched his rise to his present posi-
ton, too, with the interest of fellow towns
man. have known him all my life
"How did he make his moneys"
IA friend of mine told me recently of a talk
he had with the Senator not long ago. He met
him at the Gait House. one day, he said. He
had only known Mr.. Beck since his coming into
national prominence, but had formed somewhat
intimate acquaintance. He casually asked just
that question, as they were lounging about the
lobby after dinner.
That's the worst of it. >" Mr.. Beck answered,
looking down at the floor meditatively and FUN
bling the key of his room, which he happened to
have in his hand. Il haven't made much. All
talk about my being millionaire is nonsense.
am neither rich nor poor. I'm just in easy cir
cumstances. l can live as please, but that isn't
extravagantly. Then, what money 1 have
made before went into politics [ was lawyer
for twenty years before and good one, with a
fine practice. No, no. haven't made cent while
in Congress-lost $50000 and looked up with
the candor on his broad Scotch face that would
have won his bitterest opponent
and" he continued, settling leisurely back
in his chair and slipping the key in his pocket
81 saved my money in those days and invested
it, the investments have proved fortunate, and
so I'm in comfortable circumstances. haven't
a large family, you know; myself and wife, and
two children
"What of your lands in the Northwest
" i don't own foot of property in the North
west that didn't own when I went into Con-
gress. l have frequently refused to make good
investment simply because | was afraid some
point regarding the property might come before
Congress My is a ranch out in Wyo-
ming, but what he owns he has made himself.
He is great big fellow, six foot two. and weighs
hundred and eighty pounds He's abundantly
able to take care of himself And touch of Pa
ternal prize filed the words with gentle music "
with whom Senator Beck associated in
his practice at Lexington, Generalp
"Well. the first recall was General John G.
Breckenridge. They were together for seven
years, from 1852 to 1853 After that Mr.. Beck
was with the late Frank Hunt Both firms had
extensive practice and made a great deal of
money. Mr.. Beck was well off when he went
into Congress-worth say $50 900 to $50 900 If
he hasn't accumulated a handsome fortune-by
natural increase from such a start-then he
must be very poor business man, that's all I've
got to say. He ought easily to be worth $780,
600 at the least. People are ali wrong in think
ing about these things After a man has made
$40, 600 it isn't much trouble to make money.
Indeed, any man of experience knows that it's
the frss thousand that's really hard to make"
And the General Strengthened up with courtly
dignity, squarlng his shoulders to the upper cor
ners of his deep-cushioned chair with military
precision.
''And want to say, too" he continued this
thing of attacking public men unstintedly and
recklessly has danger men ought to consider.
1t causes many capable and valuable man to
shrink from public service, because he breads
the malignity of personal invective SO readily at
the command of the selfish and designing SEN
ator Beck's early associations ara the highest
| tribute to his probity. General Breckenridge
was man who stood among the foremost in all
the land for integrity and chivalrous sense of
honor That he should have trusted and hon
oreG Mr.. Beck through seven years of the init
| mate relation that exists between partners is a
full guaranty of the latter's high character
That Mr.. Beck should have been associated in
the same way, with the same result, with Mr..
Hunt merely adds similar testimony"
DR.. Dujardin Beaumetz has read before the
French Hygenic Society paper on what he re-
CARDS as well-established case of spontaneous
hydrophobiaD in a man aged twenty-nine Not
only did the symptoms which characterize that
nalady declare themselves but the matter taken