The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-17
OUR GIFT-TAkING PRESIDENT.
The Political History of Ecnjamin Harri-
son-Kis Greed for Office for Him.
self and Family.
New York SUM


most every general election that has
occurred within the past forty years,
when he did not already hold an office:
and he has not been satisfied with hold
ing office himself, he has been most
persistent in securing offices for his
own and his wile's relatives. He was
one Of those pure-minded patriots that
criticised Gen. Grant because he ap-
pointed relatives to Office or accepted
presents; but no sooner did he acquire
political power than he adopted all the
methods Of the machine, ard let Moth
ing escape that he could capture for
himself or . relative. He permitted
his wife to accept cottage at Cape
May from persons he has bestowed
favors upon, and who will doubtless
continue to receive them during his
official term
In 1860 he became L candidate for
Reporter Of the Decisions Of the Su-
preme Court OF Indiana: and was
elected.
In 1862 lie became Colonel of the
Seventicth Indiana Volunteers, and
retained his office, which was filed by
proxy, for two years, while drawing
his salary as Colonel.
After the close of the war he was
again elected Reporter, and served
until 1868.
In 1872 he was 4 candidate for the
Republican nomination for Governor
Of Indiana WAS defeated by Gen. 7. VI.
Browne.
In 1876 he was the Republican can
didate for Governor Of Indiana, but
was defeated by Blue Jeans Williams,
while his Republican associates on the
ticket were elected, and Grant carried
the State by . handsome majority.
After bis defeat for Governor he was
an applicant for i place in Hayes
Cabinet.
He was appointed by Hayes one Of
the Mississippi River Commissioners,
and received 5000 per annum for four
years, but did not devote one week per
year to the duties.
In 1850 he was elected to the United
States Senate and served six years.
In 1854 he was candidate for the
nomination for President, and resigned
his place as Delegate-at-Large from
Indiana in the National Convention
while the Convention was in session at
Chicago and returned to Indianapolis,
expecting to be nominated, but his
uame never was mentioned in the Con-
vention.
In 1886 he was a candidate for re-
election to the Senate, but was de-
feated; whereupon he Immediately
went into training for the nomination
for the President in 1855. He received
the same and WAS elected. BY the end
of his term he will have held Office
thirty-four out of his forty years in
public life.
III addition to the offices he has held
himself, he obtained places in the Gov
ernment service for the following rela-
tives:
Garter Harrison, his brother, who
was Revenue Supervisor under the
Garfield-Arthur Administration, and
is now United States Marshal for Ten
nessee.
Russell Harrison, his son, was ap-
pointed assayer at the mint at Helena,
Montana, as soon as he left college.
Glenn Morris, who married his sister,
was appointed to an important place
in the revenue service at Indianapolis
as soon as Harrison became Senator,
and remained in said place until re-
tired by a Democrat after Cleveland be-
came President. Since Harrison be-
came President he has been appointed
to a life office in the pay department
Of the United States Army, and is now
stationed at st. Paul, Mimi.
DR.. !. w. Scott, his father-in-law,
was appointed u clerk in the Pension
Office in 1850, as soon as he became
Senator, and remained in office until
after Mr.. Harrison became President.
Henry Scott, his brother-in-law, was
in the Revenue Service on the Pacific
coast and died in that service.
Mrs. Scott Lord, his sister-in-law
was for years a clerk in the office of the
Fifth Auditor of the Treasury. She was
specially favored by being permitted
to do her work at her home.
Major Scott, another brother-in-law.
was paymaster in the army, and is
now superintendent Of q public build
ing that is erecting somewhere on the
Pacific coast. He is small lawyer,
and no one ever pretended that he pos
scsses qualifications for the post.
He appointed Frank Mckee, Baby
Mckee's uncle, to an important place
in the customs service in the West. He
was scarcely Of age, and WAS wholly
untitled for the place.
During the early days Of the Admin
istration he detailed Lieut.. Parker,
who is the husband of Mrs. Harrson's
niece, to a nice berth with the Samoan
Commission that went to Berlin to
settle the Samoan difficulty.
This list embraces every known rela-
tive of Harrison or his wife, except
John Scott Harrison, Of Kansas City,
who is Il Democrat. He has for some
reason never been OH very good terms
with the President or his family, or he
would doubtless have been in the EN-
iOyment of a lucrative office.