The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-09
BY THE TOSS OF A COPPER
a Story OF How Calvin Brice Came &c
be g Democrat,


F. A. Wheeler, q druggist at Mont1om-
cry and Liberty streets, comes from Lima,
o., the home Of Hon. Calvin s. Brice.
chairman Of the national democratic ex-
eeutive committee, and a candidate for
United States senator from Ohio. and Mr..
wheeler talks very entertainingly about
MS feliow-townsman, whom be knows init
mateiy and well, and calls him "Cal,n Just
as ne says everybody around Lima does.
MI Nheeler tells q rather strange story
OF how Mr. Brice became a democrat. but
ne vouches Tor its correctness, and says il is
nor called IN question where the parties are
known. Several years ago, when the bank
ruptcy law was in force, Mr. Brice and a
lawyer by the name of jas. Irwin were in
partnership, and one held the Office of
United States commissioner in bankruptcy
and the other was United States mar
shall. Lima, the county seat OF Allen
county, and Allen county arc and have
long been overwhelmingly democratic.
and both or the members of the firm of
Irwin q Brice were republicans. One day
Mr. Irwin said TO Mr.. Brics: "Cal, this
won't do; we can't afford to do business
With both Of us republicans in a demo-
cratic county. One of US has got to turn
democrat, and, as my conscience won't per-
init me to do it, you will have tor
Lets loss a "copper" said Mr.. Brice,
and whoever loses must be a democrat"
The copper was tossed, and Brice lost
twice out of three times As he had mar
ried in family Of decided democratic pro-
cllvlties, with democratic antecedents rum
ming way back, the loss OF the penny did
not affect him. He surprised the democracy
OF Allen county by coming over to their
side. and proved a valuable acquisition.
By and by Charles Foster, great repub-
llcan politician of Fostoria, and Gen. Thomas
OF Columbus, found there was something in
brlce, and they gave him legal business
connected with railway affairs. and he did
his work so well that he was paid princely
fees. But Mr.. Brice, in his researches in
railroad matters, with a comprehensive
grasp Of the situation, saw that there was
more money than fee in prospective, and
he conceived the idea of building what is
known as the Nickel Plate road, from New
ork TO Chicago, as rival of Vanderbilt's
pet, the Lake Shore road, and, it is said,
with the view more of selling than of oper-
ating 1t, and the events proved his wisdom,
for the old Commodore had to buy the
Nickel Plate to be we'll rid of it, and by the
deal it put 81 100000 or SIS, 000, 900 to Mr..
Brice's bank account.
Mr.. Wheeler says that Mr.. Brice is a
most liberal man, and one of his first acts
was to put his relations, and the relations
OF MS wife In easy circumstances, and to
extend helping hand to all of his deserv-
ing friends, many of whom, Mr.. Wheeler
says, are now sustained by Mr.. Brice
II don't think" says Mr.. Wheeler, shat
Mr.. Brice ever made political speech in
his life, nor do l think he is comparable
with such men as Thurman, Peudleton and
sherman, whom Ohio has sent to the SEN
ate during the last quarter of a century,
but If ne wants to go to the Senate he will
go, for everybody likes him, and he is ex-
ceedingly liberal and popular"
What became of his law partnerm
well, Irwin was not such a man as
Brice. Cal helped him in a number of
moneY-making schemes. but Irwin didn't
appear to be able to get on with them. He
moved to Toledo and never had the faculty
of money making, and never became
dominant factor in his party. When Mr..
Brice was making his millions Irwin cou-
tented himself with few hundreds. The
friendship between the two men was never
broken by party differences, but the toss of
the penny is always alluded to when they