The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-06-26
The Beginning Of Hi. Career.

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began his career in Indiana. lie
Looked then. the record says, like a
shoolboy. Beardless, with bic
balging head, covered with tow-like
hair, and set upon short thick neck
slender Of figure, immature OF voice.
and alone among strangers, there
seemed little promise of the brilliant
career TO follow, Yet be had wife
and was pocr. For long time he
lived in three rooms in little old
house, which still stands. on Vermont
street, near Alabama, in indianapolis.
But though so younga and unknown,
his big head held brain that soon
brought him into notice. He was sue
cessful from the start. One of his earli-
est cases concerned a legislative invest.
cation, in which he was employed by
the Deomcratic governor. Joseph A.
Wright. The ability he displayed soon
brought him other cases. In one of
the earliest of these he Was fortunate
enough to be elected assistant prose
cutpr against a woman charged with
poisoning man at the Ray house--an
old hosteirie--a case which excited
great public interest A flood of cii-
ents followed and he has always been
pressed with business. if is worth
while saying just here that, aside from
his prominence in public life, he has
for nearly two decades been one of the
foremost lawyers in the state. Now
tina. the Hendricks iiEn is broken up,
it may lie said that General Harrison
shares with one. or possibly two others,
the honor OF standing at the head OF
the Indiana bar. In this connection
lawyers viii be interested in the care
ftllly expressed estimate of General
Harrison former partner, Hoa. w.
L. Fishback, who says: He possesses
all the qualities OF a great iawyer in
rare combination. He prepares ease
with eoDsamnfs;e skill; his written
pleaiings are models of c!earness and
brevity he IS peerless in Indiana as
an examiner of witnesses; he discusses
legal question in a written brief or in
oral argument with convincing logic,
and as an aiveeate II may be said of
him that when he has finished an ad
dress to the jury nothing remains TO be
be said on that side OF the ease. / have
often heard able lawyers III Indiana
and elsewhere say that he xas the
hardest man 10 follow they had ever
met No lawyer who ever mel General
Harrison in legal encounter has
aflerward placed small estimate en-
his ability
twas inevitable that the yonng law
yer, though poor aud dependent upon
his daily exertion for bresa, should
drift into politics. Remember that the
Republican party WAS just forming.
Harrison,s manhood was almost coeyai
with its birth, ard as il attracted Young
men Of generous impulses aud coed
principles il was but natura. that in
stinct and education should lead him
into its ranks. lie Was good talker.
and he soon becsme known rs one of
the best young Republican speakers in
the state. In the memorable Lincoln
campaign OF 1880 he and the late Mr..
Hendricks happened to have appoint
ments to speak in the same town on
the same day. II was arranged that
they should divide time, aud Mr.. Hem
dricks expected To amuse himself by
desouring the white-haired young
man who thus Unexpectedly became
his prey. lie did not do il. The re-
suit OF the meeting was a surprise TO
both sides. Democrats admitted that
Mr.. Hendricks had met his match and
Republicans thought he was badly
worsted. The chairman of the meet-
ing afterwards said: Il have heard a
good many political debates in my day
but never heard a man skin an oppo-
nent as quickly as Ben Harrison did
Hendricks that day"
A story il told OF this encounter that
Is worth repeating. Hendricks friends
challenged young Harrison to the
national combat. and 10 their surprise
the challenge was accepted. What a
headlone foet he must he. thought
Hendricks friends. -'l'ii give the
youug man a chance" said Hend-
ricks. stIie shall have the opening
and closing speech After the worsiy
battle. Hcndri Ks Is reported as saying:
We'll, that taught me lesson. III
never give away any advantage
again"
Mr.. Harrison was himself candi-
date for Office during this year. having
been nominated for reporter OF the
supreme Court. Ii was position that
he needed for It's salary rs well as
desired for its horror He shared the
success OF his great eiiieftain. Lincoln,
and while one vent To Washington,
the other was elected to the humber
Office TO which his fellow members Of
the bar consideresi him amply entitled.
His Services In the War.
Then came the war. Harrison Was
siiIl poor and he needed all the dollars
he could earn to support his family.
But he was active in the cause. and