The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-12-19

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ELIJAH W. HALFoGD.
sacter. Mr.. Haford is about forty-three
years Of age. and came from England when
a child with his parents. who set
tiled in Cincinnati, Ohio. subsequently
his family removed to Hamilton,
and before the war they came 10 Indianapo
lis. Mr.. Halford began life as "a printers
apprentice, and his success has been
achieved by industry, quick intelligence
and keen observation of events. During
the war he was a reporter and afterwards
city editor on the Journal He then passed
10 the managing editorship on that paper.
but left ii TO accept the same position on
the Chicago Inter Ocean. when Jonathan y.
Scammon established that paper. He re-
turned rs managing editor OF the lndianap-
coils Journal in 1861. and has held the posi-
ton ever since. He was also for time the
private secretary of Senator Morton. He
has always held close relations TO the iniu-
eential Republicans of Indiana. and is gen
tleman whose advice Is always sought. lie
has for several years been sort OF hack
writer for the Republ cans OF the State
getting up platforms and doing similar work
that required n ready pen ana "a faculty OF
expression. He was delegate TO
the Chicago Convention in 1858. and
one of John &. News chief aids in the work
of booming Harrison. Personally Mr.. Hal
ford lacks the handsomeness which has
made Secretary Lamont such decorative
feature of the White House. His hair is
turning gray. He wears glasses, is slender.
and OF IN. dunn height. He is very pleasant
in his manner, courteous and obliginG, and
will be a popular official with those who have
TO come much in contact with him. He is
just the sort OF man To suit Gen. Harrison
His religious tendencies are as strong as
those of the President himself although
they are toward Methodism instead OF Pres
byterianism. The now Private Secretary is
married and has one child-a daughtcr-o OF
seventeen.
As general thing newspaper men, when
appointed private secretaries, rs in the case
OF Lamont. go TO the extreme OF caution
and secretiveness, and, so far rs that is con-
cerned. make excellent private secretaries,
remarks the Cincinnati Commercial
Whether they are equal TO trained politi-
clans in other respects and in dealing with
questions and people is another matter.
The newspaper men, "a a rule. view things
from the outside. 1t il only privileged
few who are taken into the confidence of
she party.
Private secretaries have. as rule. been II
sort of perfunctory set of officials. The
were Of Importance or not, as the President
made them SO. In most cases the secretary
is little more than a Presidential guard and
keeper of the anteroom, his duties being TO
open and sort the mail, make newspaper
marks and clippings. receive cards, and en-
terrain the people waiting for an audience.
1t is TO be presumed that the dignity and
Flnder President Harrison. To the thous-
.ands of men high in the counsels of the
party. and other thousands of the rank and
lille who will seek private audience with the
President. the character and disposition and
influence OF the private secretary is a mat
ter OF much importance. Especially. as we
have said, Is IL a matter OF Importance TO
newspaper men. So naturally. then, there
Is a good deal of canvassing of the matter
There was no Secretary to the President
hut
lied Clerk TO the President TO sign land
patents" and President Jackson appointed
Andrew Jackson DOnclson, his nephew, as
"signer of land patents" Later. Major
Donelson changed his name. and he appears
in the Congressional Directory for the
second session. XNIVth Congress, as An
drew Jackson, Jr.
Martin Van Buren, had for his signer OF
patents Major Van Buren, during his whole
term. Whether or not General Harrison
appointed any one TO the place is not GER
tain, but the next succeeding directory gives
the name of John Tyler, Jr. and that gentle
man took to himself the style and title of
secretary" TO sign. etc.. although there
was no warrant Of law for il.
President Polk appointed his nephew.
James Knox Walker. and that gentleman
in 1S45 became the first Private Secretary
TO the President. under n law passed mt the
second session of the XXIXth Congress.
Colonel William =. Bliss of the army was
General Taylor's secretary and Willard =.
Fillmore served his uncle in the same ca
pacity.
Sidney Webster. who afterward became
the son-in-law of the Hon. Hamilton Fish.
was the Private Secretary Of Frank lin
Pierce. and following him james Buchanan
had his nephew. James Buchanan Henry.
for Secretary. who, like Maj. Doneson.
changed his name, and in the latter part Of
his term OF office was known rs James Blu
schanan. Jr.
Col. John Hay Is another Private Secre-
itary who was never Private Secretary
Mr. Lincoln's Secretary was John G.. Nico-
Hay. and Col. Hay was given an army COM
mission in the volunteers and detailed for
special duty al the White House.
IlPror TO President Jacksons time the
clerical labor at the executive mansion was
performed by clerks detailed from the vari-
eous executive departments. but as the
country grew in population the executive
iabOrs increased and legislative aid was
given TO provide an authorized force. and
in 1865 Congress not only added an Assist
sant Private Secretary" but promoted the
"signer of patents" 10 be secretary for that
purpose
Col. Robert Johnson was secretary during
all OF his fathers incumbency Of the Presi-
'dency.
President Arthur's private secretary was
Fred Phillips. and he was tho most unpopu-
nar man with the public who ever held the
position. The trouble with Mr.. Phillips was
an abnormal cranial enlargement. conse-
.quent upon his achieving such an exalted
position.
President Hayes private secretary was
Col Rodgers, good-natured gentleman,
who filled the office satisfactorily. He was
mot pronounced character, and was chiefly
noticeable for his thrift and ready recogni-
ton of the main chance.
"
To THE thrifty housewife baking day
is an occasion replete with stirring IL.