The Portland daily press., 1889-03-06
THE MEN OF the CABINET.
Sketches OF The Men Who Will Ad-
wise the New President.

New York Pressl
James Gillespie Blaine has been before the
public for quarter of a century. He was
born at Brownsville, Washington County,
Pa, January 30. 1880. In his 18th year he
was at school at Lancaster, Ohio, and six
wears later entered Washington College in
his native county lin Pennsylvania. After
graduating he became teacher in the Mill
tary Institute at Blue Lick Springs, KY,
then returned TO Pennsylvania and studied
law. He became actively identified in the
formation OF the Republican party, and in
1856 was elected delegate to the first Re-
publican National Convention. year later
he had entered journalism, and was editor
of the Portland Advertiser, and had taken
up his residence In Maine. He abandoned
journalism after an experience of twelve
months to enter the Legislature, to which he
was elected In 1858 and afterward reelected
Tor second term. In 1862 he was elected TO
congress and remained there eighteen years.
he was balloted on for the Presidency at the
convention of 1876 and received 35l votes out
Of total of 754. He was then appointed
United States Senator to fill an unexpired
term and four years later was again a candi-
date for the Presidency. The late President
Garfield appointed him Secretary of State,
which otfice he held until after the death of
the President. He resigned from the Cabi-
net November 20, 1881. In 1884 he received
the Republican nomination for President.
WILLIAM WINDOW.
Ex-United States Senator William Win
dom, President Harrison's selection for the
Treasury portfolio, will be 63 years old on
the 10th of next May. He was born in Bel
mont County, Ohio, in 1927, although many
were of the belief that Mr. WINDOWS birth
place was in Minnesota. The place which
he will occupy in the new Presidents Cabi-
net cannot be said to be entirely new to him,
as he filed the same position in President
Garfeld's Cabinet, which he held until Vice
President Arthur assumed the functions of
Chief Executive of the nation, after Garfield's
death. For many years Secretary Window
resided in Minnesota, and represented that
State in the United States Senate with
marked ability for three terms, or a period
of eighteen years. He graduated with high
h0nors in 1S48, and two years later, after be-
ing admitted to the Bar, he practiced law in
Mount Vernon, Ohio.
His marked aptitude as a pleader in the
courts soon brought him into prominence
and In 1877 he was made prosecuting at
torney for Knox County, Ohio He held this
position for three years, when he removed
to Minnesota. From the time Mr.. Window
cast his first vote he took an active interest
in politics, and his advice was frequently
sought by leading Republicans in his adopted
State on matters pertaining to the advance
He was sent to Congress in 1859 and was
reelected to serve four successive terms, a
period of ten years, ending his career in the
House in 1869. He was appointed to the
United States Senate in 1870 to fill the un-
expired term Of Daniel S. Norton, deceased.
BE was also chosen for the terms ending
1878 and 1888. He resigned, however, in 1881
20 accept the Treasury portfolio In President
Garneld's Cabinet, and upon his retirement
from the Cabinet after Garfeld's death he
was returned to the Senate, where he served
the remainder OF his term. During his career
in the Senate he served on many important
committees Secretary Window is man of
wide experience in financial affairs.
REDFIELD PROCTOR.
Redfeld Proctor is leader In Vermont
politics, and was Governor of the Green
Mountain State in 1878, 1879 and 1880. He
was chairman of the Vermont delegation TO
the Chicago Convention last year, the only
one in the whole BODY which voted solidly
for Harrison first last and all the time. He
was Endorsed lately by joint resolution of
the Vermont Legislature and by the State
delegation in Congress.
Ex-Governor Proctor is a farmer on a large
scale, living at Proctor, town founded by
him and situated few miles from Rutland.
be has been in practical control of the whole
output OF the Vermont marble quarries, and
one OF the largest dealers 10 that commodity
In the United States, but within a month has
given up all active business, and resigned
the presidency of the marble company.
GENERAL TRACY.
Gen. Tracy was born In Oswego on April
26, 1880, and was educated in the public school
OF the town and was graduated from the
Oswego Academy. He studied law with |
Nathaniel W. Davis in bis native town and |
was admitted to the Bar in 1851. He made |
rapid strides in his profession and soon be- |
came the recognized leader of the Bar In that |
portion of the State. He was elected Dis |
triet Attorney Of Tioga County as Wing |
in 1853. being elected by large majority. |
de was reelected to second term and in
1861 was elected to tine Assembly, his name
being on both the Wing and Democratic
tickets.
At the outbreak of the war Mr. Tracy |
threw up bis large law practice and person. |
ally organized two regiments, being elected |
colonel Of the l09th volunteers. He reported |
with his command to General Woods at Bal |
timore. In the spring of 1864, after three |
years OF service, he was ordered to join the |
Ninth Army Corps, and his command did |
gallant service in the advance ordered By |
General Grant General Tracy took part in |
numerous battles, including the Wilderness |
and Sp0ttsylvania. At the latter engage
ment he broke down in health and surrend- |
cred his command to his lieutenant colonel.
In September, 1864 he was appointed colonel |
OF the l21th Regiment, composed Of colored |
soldiers, and was subsequently ordered to the |
command u the military post at Elmira, in |
Guiding the prison, camp and draft rendez-
vous for Western New York. At the close
OF the war, having been honored with the
brevet of general, he moved to New York
and became member of the law firm of
Benedict, Burr q Benedict, of which he was
o member when President Grant appointed
him United States District Attorney for the
Eastern District OF New York. In 1881 he
was appointed an Associate Justice of the
Court OF Appeals, and since then has not
held any Official position.
GEN. NOBLE.
General John w. Noble, who is slated as
Secretary of the Interior, divides honors
with the President-elect on the war record. |
There was no drawer soldier on the field, and |
there is today no warmer hearted man in the |
country than John w. Noble. Neither, for |
that matter is there one with manners more |
graceful or more refined. For the past de- |
cade Of years he has been travelling almost |
learning all that was to be |
learned Of foreign countries and people who |
have made history. His home at st. Louis |
is veritable treasure house of art, to which |
many pleasant pilgri mage has been made |
by those who have enjoyed the pleasure of |
his acquaintance. His wife, who was Miss |
Halsted, was born in ochester, New York, |
and charming hostess she has been. Her
receptions have always been considered |
among the events of society, while every
thing about the house denoted that both in
literary and in artistic tastes she was a
worthy helpmeet of her husband. Indeed,
it might be considered little strange If she
were not, for she is a sister of "Beuah," who
has made her home with her. Though the
silver wedding of the couple was celebr ted
on the 9th of February last neither onea of
them looks the age and both are as act i've
almost as they were when they went to the
altar together. They have no children living
General Noble has had splendid training as
a lawyer and is universally recognized as
man of safe and conservative views. He
talks quently, but with dignity and an in
dicatlon of a reserve power that makes him
scarcely less formidable as debater than he
is as a counselor. He is a Missourian and
has practiced law at st. Louis.
WILLIAM H. II. MILLER.
William henry Harrison Miller is man of
most fixed and positive principles. Given
cause and convinced either of its worth o
Its business, there is no cessation Of effort