New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-27
cxErcH OF HIS CAREER.

o.,sron rose from poverty and obscurity to
s.,...n ~ wealth and great political Influence
..nn,h native shrewdness, energy and perseverance
~. ,.,,., aed when he was nine vars old-simon
,.v,nv been born 10 Lancaster eoanS'
ecnn. on March 8, 17ee-and the mo'nes
was left TO struggle aons ~ p0'' ~ 80
y, ,.,v, family Of children. II was hard even
w. - xsvv schoob books needed. When simon
o' "a N school he watched the growing pile OF
49, - eagerly because when there was dolars
80 \. was to have the book he wanted. Az
~. =. started for the country store with hgns
800 But the package was only worth 10 cen".
~. hov,s eyes filed with tears and the End-hear'ed
.sorrkeepcr told him to take the oooR along ana
- Mn, whom he could. The storekeeper lived 10
-. n.nv kndnesses trsm Cameron IN return for
svor for It was one Of his characteristics through
- ,h.t he WINS n steady friend we'll rs q good
Z r,.cr He was apprendced in q printing ofice az
Northumberland at seventeen years OF age, oeing
anxious to get at newspapers ana oooKs. L&'er'
,be working In the office OF n Harrisburg )ourn~'
4. met Mr. Ingham arerward Secretary OF the Trcany
.nder Jackson but Secretary Of state OF Penn
,v,van,a who was anxious to redeem his county AZ
the coming election. and asked Cameron TO 60 TO
nov,estown and edit his newspaper for the campaign
y. had excellent success but was not satisfied win
IN. financial outlook and in 1920 he started with
,bout 500 for Ellington, whore he was soon
,stt,ne type on the Congressional debates oy inc
ucbt Of tallow candle. He worked eleven hours
:, aav FIR $40 a week In Gales Seaton's Office ana
ne end OF the session he heard that The Harris
s,,s Republican" on which he had passed the greacr
art of his apprenticeship, for sale. He set oas
hr Harrisburg, determined to buy 1t, and d'u 80.
ne was shortly afterward elected state Prn'er, sno
vss reelected years consecutvely lie said ise
IN life that he did not sleep during that peroa hoe
than five hours on average Of tho twenty four'
and then, utterly broken in health. he retired with
foFfune-abOIt xnC 600.
He always took great deal Of pride in his trade,
ard when he was on HIS way to Russia In 1857 rs
United States Minister he recorded hlmsef In the
rtitors' book In The London Times" Office as Simon
Cameron, printers
AN EARLY ENTRY INTO POLITICS
HIS position as editor at the State Capital at once
carried him into politics He took a prominent part
In the nomination Of John Andrew shn1e TOT
Governor BY the Democrats In 1928, being then
twenty -four years Old and was In return appointed Al
ant-General by Shuhe. Here he got the title OF
General by which he called in Pennsylvania TO
the end of his life. lie promptly took strong ground
for protection in his newspaper course to when
he probably owed much Of his political strength In
1882 he reiinquShcd his newspaper, and established
the Middlctown Bank, becoming one Of lis principal
officers and holding the place for most OF his life
In all his business enterprises he showed great thrtf
and sagacity and ability to absorb new ideas lie
vas especially active in developing the railroad system
~ the State. The projection Of the Harrisburg ard
Lancaster Railroad Is claimed for him: also that OF
the Lebanon Valley Railroad, the Northern Central
from Harrisburg 10 Sunbury, the Tide-Water Canal
etc. He was at one time president OF two tmportans
railway companies, cashier Of bank and president
Of an insurance company. and he discharged oil
those duties successfully. 1t was few years
lf;er the establishment Of this bank that
he acquired the nickname Of "The Great
winnebago Chich' which chung to him through fe and
the origin Of which probably understood by very
few who used IT, He had been appointed Indian Ag,nt
By President Van Buren, to adjust the claims OF the
Wfnnebaco Indians against tho United States, and he
paid them In notes Of tho Mh4diotown bank instead
Of extraordinarily to his profit as II was charged
One OF tho Interesting incidents related Of his early
career in politics was that he persuaded Jamos Blu
chanan, who had made up his mind that there was
no future for him In Pennsylvania. and had determined
10 20 to Baltimore and practise law TO remain In the
STATE telling him that he could be made United States
Senator. Buchanan said Pennsylvania would never
sleos IAN old Federslist.' but he consented to the
attcmpt very few days after william wilkins then
Senator asked Cameron's help In getting the mission
10 Russia which Buchanan had Just resigned saying
that he was poor and too much in debt to live
the nay OF Senator, but could something out Of
Q diplomatic salary. The way was thus opened br an
exchange Of places and with interval OF six months
before tho Legislature to meet Cameron was able
10 the Senate which was undoubtedly his stepping
stone to the Presidency. During the thirteen r1s.s
following bis connection with the bank, Mr.. Cameron
declined all political honors including o unanimous
domination TO Congress.
ELECTED UNITED STATES SENATOR.
In ls45 . situation arose which resulted In his
slect.on to the United States Senate President Polk
called Mr. Buchanan from the Senate TO the State
Department, and an election was necessary TO ill
~. k.A la matt "
In the legislature but President Folks feerade views
Uere causing much uneaslness In Pennsylvania. The
Democratic caucus was stormy. majority wanted
Senator who would support the Administration. but
the minority werc determined that no one should be
,Ncted who not pledged to the defence OF the in
lustfs, interests Of the State George W. woodward
who regarded . Free Trader, was finally nom-
mated, and the whig members having obtained from
Mr. Cameron satisfactory statement of his We've on
the tariff, resolved with the Americans then represent
ing the County OF Philadelphia, to vote for him he
could get enough Democratic VOTES to elect him; He
chosen on the fifth ballot and this result while
throwing the party into confusion, did much 10
strengthen protection sentiment IN the State. This
term expired in 1910. In 1855 he was a candidate
again under cbanged conditions. The whs
party had fought its last National cam.
psen IN 1882 and the Know Nothing party had grown
10 huge proportions. Not the widest politicians
however, Of whom Cameron was certainly one seemed
TO realize the strength Of the new movement and old
politicians say that the very night preceding the
election Of 1854 Cameron made . rabid Democratic
speech, which he would have been glad to retract the
sext day, when he found the Know-Nothings VIC
torous. The sdroitness with which he repaired his
mistake described ono Of the most amusing incl.
tents IN his history. To most men tho difficulties
would have been insurmountsble. for the new party
was . secret order; but within month he q mem.
Der In good Standing with credentials sntede.ng his
hitter Democratic speech, and in another month
he caucus nominee for United States Senator. The
Democrats, though diminished In numbers, held TO-
Ssthcr, and tho<s wings who had not become Know.
Eotaings fought Cameron as herceiy as they did Will
Ian Bigger the Democratic candidate. The deadlock
continued until the close Of the session. Tho Demo
Gratis controlled ths next Legislature and BIGGER was
elected. In 1897 however, Cameron unexpectedly
successful. John W. Foiney had been nominated BY