The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-07-24
PAYING OFF OLD DEBTS.
MR.. HARRlsoNs PECULIAR METHODS.
Fat Ofices For Certain Backwoods States
men who Advanced Money to the Presi-
dents SOn-Judge Woods Likely TO BE
Elevated to the Supreme Bench.
TCbicsro Herald.l


Matthews. Congress is to meet again in lit
tie more than three months, and this is of
the first nominations that should go to the
senate, as the presence OF the new justice is
needed at the fall term of court. A remark
able phase OF this matter is the substantially
unanimous agreement of leading republicans
all over the country that certain man is best
fit by character and training for the place, and
that there is no likelihood of this mans receiv-
ing the appointment. Nine republicans of ten
who are asked for an expression of their views
concerning the filling of the supreme court
vacancy promptly reply: "Of course, Judge
Gresham is the best man for the place, but 1
am afraid the president won't appoint him."
Among the present members of the court
itself, Gresham is looked upon as the
strongest and most logical appointment
that could be made, and Justice Harlan
has voiced the sentiment of several of
his confreres in asking the question:: as Har-
rison big and broad enough to place Gresham
on the benchy" 1t is the general opinion
among public men, republicans and democrats
alike. that the appointment OF Gresham 10
seat on the supreme bench would be the most
popular act of his administration, and the one
which would reflect the greatest credit upon
him as a man and TIE official leader of his
party. Yet nobody expects Gresham's ap-
pointment, and those persons who are closest
To the president-nobody is really close to
him-say Gresham's name has not been even
considered al the white house, and is not
likely to be considered in this connection.
This appointment is likely 10 go to Judge
Woods of indianapolis, though the president
has given evidence of some desire to make
supreme Justice of his former law partner and
q v-upOprql Harrison has DlpufV
of stubbOrnness and no little disregard of public
opinion, but it is not likely he will dare appoint
Miller to the bench. That would be little too
much even for Harrison. The fact is, the ele-
walton Of that plain country lawyer to the at
torney-generalship has all along been regarded
rs weak and almost disgraceful by the presi-
dents party fTiends-weak because Miller was
a nobody who knew nothing of politics and
little OF business being merely an office
lawyer. 1t has been matter of current gossip
in republican circles here that it was not alone
Miller's law partnership with Harrison that
secured him this great honor. Indeed, it is
openly asserted that Miller would never have
been made cabinet officer had he not loaned
Russell Harrison a large sum of money-be-
tween fifteen and twenty thousand dollars
which Russell failed to pay. 1t was as COM
pensation for this loss that Harrison astounded
the working forces of the party by bringing
his law partner to Washington as a member OF
his cabinet.
III one Keeps ms ears open IN republican cir
Giles here he will hear good deal of condem-
nation of this method of paying of a sons
debts. and will, moreover. learn that Miller is
not the only creditor of Russell Harrison who
has been hOnored with a presidential appoint
ment The enterprising prince sought to in.
duce large number OF prominent republicans
TO invest in his Montana schemes. Among
those who refused 10 invest were Tom Platt,
William Walter Phelps and Gen. Alger.
Among those who did invest were: Wanna
maker now postmaster-geueral; Hazen, now
third assistant acknowledgement; Miller, now
Encouragement; Col. Elliott Shepard. OF New
York, and Wharton Barker, the Philadelphia
banker. who was so confident of becoming sec
rotary of the treasury. 1t is not thought the
president viii dare make the creditor of his
son justice of the supreme court of the United
States. and hence Woods, the partisan Judge
and friend of Dudley, is thought to be the COM
ing man.
Harrison has shown one trait which meets
with general commendation. He has stood by
his Hooser friends who helphed him hold In
diana away from Gresham. Already fully one
half of the Indiana delegates to the national re-
publican convention have been rewarded in
person or by the appointment OF some relative
to Office. Yet few OF them are satisfied. John c.
News disappointment over his failure 10 get the
treasury portfolio was something great, and it
is one of the interesting stories of the last cam
paign that New made possible the nomination
of Harrison. and prevented Gresham's success.
Early in the spring of 1856 certified check
for 10000 lay in the safe of an indianapolis
lawyer, ready to be paid over to John New for
a controlling interest in the journal. His price
had been previously ascertained, and though
his mark was set away above the value of the
property the check for 100000 filed the bill.
The parties who wished to make the purchase
carried on their negotiations as secretly pos
sible, and at one time thought they had the
paper in their grasp. But at the last ment
New declined to sell He had shrewdly
pected that the purchasers were friends
of Gresham, and on ascertaining this to be
the fact he refused to sell the paper
at any price. The Journal is a good property,
but does not make a great deal of money.
About all New gets out of it is his 5000 year
salary for doing nothing and three-thousand-
dollar salary for his son Harry. OF course, it
was a great temptation TO him TO sell, but his
hatred of Gresham stronger than his love
for money, and the paper was set to work
booming Harrison as industriOusly as it ignored
the movement in favor OF Gresham. In the
opinion of many Indiana politicians of both the
Gresham and Harrison following the sale of
the Journal at that time would have carried
the state for the Judge, and in all probability
have made him the nominee at Chicago.
The enmity between Harrison and Gresham
began about ten years ago. Gresham was dis
tTict Judge, trying some distlllers charged with
revenue frauds. Harrison was attorney for the
defendants, and accused Gresham of being too
anxious 10 cOnFlcl MS Clients. lnere mas never
been any reconciliation between them.
Gresham sent Harrison mis- congratulations on
his nomination. but the friends of the nominee
complained because the judge did not write or
say something during the campaign, as if Judge
had any right 10 get down from his bench and
go into politics. There was a ruIaor, which
found wide publication and credence in the
East 10 the effect that Gresham had called on
Harrison at indianapolis shortly before or just
after the election, and that they talked over
their differences and agreed to be friends.
There Is no truth in the story. Gresham did
intend going to a reception given in HarrisOn's
honor at the New-Denison hotel just before
election, but when the indianapolis journal
came out prematurely with the boast that
Gresham was seeking to make peace with the
man of the hour the proud judge decided to
remain away. He and Harrison have had no
meeting, and Gresham will not be chosen TO sit
on the supreme bench, which he would surely
honor by his presence.
Gresham was so popular in Indiana that if
he had been willing TO let his friends contest
for delegates, district by district, the state
could have been divided about equally between
the two men. Harrison's cruel prescription
Of Gresham's Indiana friends, nearly all of
whom worked as hard for the success of the
ticket as they could have worked had their
favorite been the nominee is sure to make
trouble in Hoosierdom when the next state
campaign approaches and the president begins
20 yearn for home Endorsement.