Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-12
MEN WE TALK ABOUT.
Frank a. Burr Writes Of Ex-POliti-
clans Who Are Now Seeking
A FORTUNE IN THE METROPOLIS.
How Jim Keene Dropped $11,OOO,O0O Into
the Tigers Mouth.
BIG FEES PAID NEW YoRK LAWYERS
CORRESPONDENCE or rHr DrsrArcH.1

NEW YORK, May u.-"See Naples and
die, is an old expression given to illustrate
the very limits of natural and artificial
beauty. ''See New York and live." is now
the coming proverb with most Of those mer
with big boards who have ontgrown the
primitive conditions Of their early lives in
professional and political pursuits. It i.
not unnatural that men who have made
large fortunes in the great West or South
should seek this, the financial center of the
New World, for their residence and base Of
operations. Most of them have done Sc, until
the great money mart of this continent is con.
trolled by those who began far away from
here and hard down on the ladder of life.
Some have lost, but most of them have won
in the mighty contest that is going ON here,
day in and out, year in and year out.
Very few of the old-time New Yorkers
play in the rapid game of speculation that
is constantly going on here. The penchant
Of the Vanderbilts is for railroads; that Of
the older families for real estate. The
Astors especially are given to accommodating
real property to hold, and so extensive are
their operations that, strange as it may
seem, they are frequently cramped for ready
money.
HERE IS AN ILLUSTRATION.
Only a short time ago gentleman Of
abundant means needed 100000 in ready
cash. He had frequently borrowed that
and even larger sums. Therefore, he gave
himself no concern about it until about the
time he needed it, when he walked con-
fdently into Mr.. Astor's Office on Twenty
sixth street, and asked for the loan of $780,
900 for q short time.
Mr.. Astor looked up at him with sadness
in his eyes and in his tone of voice.
"My dear friend" said he, 81 should be
delighted to accommodate you, but really
do not know where am going to get the
money to pay my taxes. :"
saw Jim Keene walking along Broad
way with Leonard Jerome, whose daughter
married Lord Randolph Churchill and is
one of the leaders Of social life In England.
Mr.. Jerome is getting old, and has long
since ceased to push in the hustle which is
constantly going on in the metropolis, where
competition in all the realms Of life is severe
and heartless. he now contents himself
with quiet club life with old time friends.
Mr.. Keene occupies different sphere. He
came here few years ago from the Pacific
coast, and although not yet an old man, as
the world counts mems ages, he is looked
upon as q back number around the old
haunts that used to know him so. well. A
friend strolllng with me who knows him
said:
TORN BIZ THE TIGER.
'Mr. Keene dropped $11, 900, 900 into the
tigers mouth" as Wall street is termed
by many people. he came here from Cali
fornia with great wealth, lots of courage
and desire to be regarded as one OF the
money kings Of the world. He was dan
gerous customer to many Of the big men on
the street, and as they could not combine
with him, they combined against him, and
eat him up. One would naturally think
that man with $11, 1,0O0,0O0 would be salts
fed with his pile, but they rarely ever
are"
SIS Mr.. Keene poor?" asked.
"Very poor for man of his ambitions. I
think his family has competency which
he gave them in the days Of plenty and can
live at his ease the balance OF his life. But
what is independence without action to q
man who started with several millions with
an ambition to be the equal Of Jay Gould,
Huntington, Russell Sage and others?"
It is not Of the Western fnanciers who
have congregated in New York that de-
sire to write just now. It is Of those profess
Sional men who take another vein Of en-.
deavor and work 1t to the limit. Perhaps 1t
is not unnatural that men who have been in
public life as lawyers and politicians should
desire to find clients where fees are very
large for minimum amount of labor.
THE PLACE FOE LAWYERS.
Wayne MacVeagh, who established an
Office here after he left Gar6eld's Cabinet as
Attorney General, once said to me:
Most all big lawsuits in this country
find their terminus or beginning in New
York, and a man who desires to enjoy the
cream Of his profession must have eonnec-
tions there"
This suggestion led me to look at the men
of distinction in the law from distant States
who have settled here within the past few
years. 1t was not difficult 70 discover them
and their places. Only day or two ago I
saw half dozen Of them on the street one
afternoon.
First ex-Secretary Bristow, Of Kentucky,
came strolling leisurely along. He has
changed considerably since he was inhu-
encing in Grants Cabinet for better or
worse some Of the most remarkable features
of our national life since the close of the
Rebellion. He was an officer in the Union
Army, and General Grant after the war
made him District Attorney of Kentucky,
his native State. He then brought him to
Washington as Secretary of the Treasury,
where he started the foodgates of scandal in
General Grants administrationsby striking
the Whisky Ring in its most vital point
The fight was a bitter one, and Bristow won;
yet not without the loss of prestige which
he could never regain. He made the fatal
error of becoming Presidential candidate
while engaged in a great public duty
Justly or unjustly, many people thought he
made this duty vehicle for his own ad-
vancement. General Grant always thought
so, and never forgave him. During this
controversy there was very dramatic scene
at the White House one morning.
A DRAMATIC SCENE.
Late one night the story was brought to
General Grants ears that Bristow was going
to have his son, Fred, arrested for compiled
ty in the whisky ring frauds to help his own
candidacy for the Presidency. Bristow
heard OF the rumor the next morning, and
Immediately went to the White House and
said to the President that IL he thought him
guilty ofany breach of faith with him in sny
particular his resignation was at his dis
posal. Grant refused to consider it, but
never again had cordial relations with the
Secretary of the Treasury.
The harsh conditions of that contest
brought Bristow to New York to practice
law, and he has made winning here SO far
as money is concerned. he does not mingie
in politics at all, and very little in any
character of public life. He lives quietly
uptown, and attends strictly to his law
practice, finding in its exactions oblivion