New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-24
GOSSIP AT THE CAPITAL.
SOME POINTS IN THE CAREER OF TILE SEC
RETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

aIrrpern wAtKER AND HIS ORGANISATIONS
AND pHEAsANTn-HARD TIMES "oUrsrDE"
THE ooREAN LADIEs--THE FIGHT
ING THIRD OF IOWA.
washington, March % --secretary Noble and secre-
tary plalae were boys together In the old town OF
Lancaster. Ohio. It was the birthplace of Mr. Noble,
and Mr. Blaine went there when quito lad to spend
some years in tho family Of tho Hon. Thomas Ewing,
formerly Secretary Of the Treasury and tho fsher OF
General shennan's wife They remember each other
distinctly although Mr. Blaine Is little the older OF
the two.
friend Of General Noble tolls me some interest
ing "reminiscences OF his early life. Alter he was
graduated he studied law in Cincinnati, and
then moved 10 ST. Louis, to enter upon
the practice OF his profession but he soon discovered
that among the old slaveh holding arisocrscy ana IN
city where they had the entire control OF everything
social political and commercial there was no room TOT
young man with radical feesoil abolition notions Ike
himself he struggled along for several years without
making any Roadway, and finally had 20 give II up.
Then he went to Reoluk, Iowa, Just ACROSS the
Missouri me- where he found different class Of people,
and different sentiments. There he formed part
nership With Henry Strong, who Is now resident OF
washington and married the sister OF bis partners
WIFE,
Soon after Noble had settled In Keollk he made the
acquaintance Of big-hearted but rugged and rough
German manufacturer by the name Of Zimmerman.
To him General Noble owes his start 10 llfe BtP
Zimmerman gave him his first fee loaned him the
money To buy Law books and furniture for his ohice,
and paid his board for the first month or two until
Noble rot fair start IN bis profession He SUCCEEDED
we'll made money well as reputation, and when me
war brol out was considered Of tho most proms-
ing young lawyers Of ths town Whom tho hrst can
for troopi was made there was meeting at keoKnK
10 raise volunteers but there was very little en-
thnslasm. The liver trade Of that city was mostly
with the South, and the merchants looked upon the
war with great apprehension. No one in the audience
as my friend tells me, seemed inclined TO particle
pate ia tho struggle that was going to bring do
struction 10 the commercial interests Of Keomk until
young Noble arose, and, making an earnest patrouo
speech marched up to the platform and put his name
down az TIE first volunteer.
He went 10 the Southwest with General Curtis, who
was also resident Of Keokuk, and remained In mat
section during nearly the whole Of the war After the
surrender he had many lucrative Offices In Iowa but
he was determined to go back to ST. Louis and mako
another trial TO gain foOhod in HIS profession there
He dh So and when he came TO Washington TO ac-
cent the portfolio Of Secretary Of the Interior no left ~
large and lucrative practice ss any attorney IN that
town
General Noble was once urged BY number OF bis
staneh friends 70 become candidate for Congress IN
vealthiest section OF tho city Of ST. Louis; but ne
could never 90 induced TO make the race. Some time
before the rlmor started that he was certainly gong
"a enter the bald and become the Republican eandl
date for Congress the railroad strike OF 1877 oe-
eurrcd which finally eliminated in mob rule ana
riots at St Louis 80 serious was tho situation tnst
the police of the ely were not able to cope with ue
mobs that ruanscd about terroriEng TIE ciuEehs ana
breaking into baknries and groceries Al that Time
tbero werc only four or Hve regularly organized mill
tary companies IN the city, and Il was necessary 70
call Tor volunteers General Noble resided In what
,ns then known a. the Eighteenth Ward, and IN tbs
ward were 10 - found more fns residences tnan IN
any other portion Of ST. LoulG Within ton honrs
tbrco companies Of 100 meu each were formed IieJ
were composed largely Of men who had either seen
services on the field Of battle during tho Rebellion or
Younger ones who had attended military schools so
that thoro were practically no raw recruits inc
sorees having been organized the name Of Elsheenth
wani nattAlions was chosen, and General Nooie was
selected 10 command the battalion. In loss hsh
twenty -fonr hours the present Secretary OK INC IN
nror had his force well drilled thas General ~ .
smith, who was commandments OF the mlhua
force Of the city, gave General MOBILES boys more
hard work % DO than any other Of the organizations
that had so suddenly been pressed into service MANY
bloodless victories we're achieved by the Eighteenth
ward Battalion undsr Noble, who was ready TO hre
unon the mob II 10 had boon necessary, but his mag
nlneent bearing his determination and the eagerness
with which hts force Of 900 Abloboded men followed
him. cleared tho mob wherever the three companies
yrsre sent One look at John W, Noble told the
leaders of tho angry crowds that the dudea,' as
,hsv ea,Iod the men under him, would do Some tall
lighting II occasion required II was this splendid
organization which reinforced the police tho day the
barhhone Of that memorable strike was broken, ana
the leaders OF tho Socialists and Communists were
captured Al their headquarters in schuler's Hall
IA vas IN the following year that tho friends OF
General NoSls seemed anxious TO nominate him for
Congress- The papers wero full OF s., and .-iooked
az Il no would DO nominated whether II wero MS WISH
or not Starting out from his Office one morning for
tho Court House, friend stopped him and said
aLhu, tho Republicans seem determined to
nomlnate YOU for Congress- but II wero IN your
place / would pot tako ths nomination understand
that the managers Of tho railroads aud other men OF
means ara opposed 70 you because You woc too enent
last year during tho big strike. They claim that u
you had been more aggressive the backbone OF tho
strife would have been bron in less than three days
instead OF lasting ten days or two weokS'
General Noble thankod his friend for the information
and vent about his business On returning from the
Court House. he mot man who had q large aoquaint-
ance among The labor organizations Of the city and who
professcd TO be quite friendly
at will never do for you 10 run for CongTeSS'
sn,d this man to the General The labor organL
xAons have Il In for you on account Of the prominent
part You took In putting down the strike last year
Already they arc organizing against you. TAKE my
advice and do not let your 60 before the Con-
ventiou"
The ncxt day General Noble was on his way TO
lunch when he was accosted by man whom he did
not know, but who proved 10 be saloonk keeper weh
acquainted with the socalstic element OF tho city
and who had heard its loadcrs talk
They arc all against you, General remarked TINS
man. SThey say that you arc in tho habit OF putting
on clean shirt every day Of your life, and they don't
intend TO support you for Congress or for any other
of1ocS
AS matter Of fact, tho present Cabinet cfhcer had
NOT tho veu,otrSt idea Of being o candidate, but In
resisting hls peculiar experiences to some Of bis friends
q few nights later, he said
@Ra.her remarkable situation for me, isn't ftf
Ono element condemns me for not shooting down
strikers another thinks oppressed the laborfng man
BIZ commanding q battalion, and st another con
dennis mo becauso wear clean shirts I am not
anxious 60 run for Congress anyway but II were'
~ Al.aa mn