New-York tribune., 1891-09-17
SKETCHES OF THE CANDIDATES
ROSWELL p. FLOWER.

Iaurack Flower who came from England 10 Hartford
Conn.,. In 1886. When Roswell was eight years old
his father died. leaving widow and several children
These we're compelled aferward TO work for their gen
eral support Roswell attended a county school until
he was fourteen years old. when he entered store AZ
a clerk As youth he also worked in a bhckyard
sawed wood and performed ether odd Jobs Of labor
Meanwhile he applied himself TO study during hours
wren he was not employed. and was graduated at .
high school, At the age Of eighteen he became clerk
in the postoifee at watcrtOwn. ~ Y. and at twenty.
four he started in the iewelry business which he pur
sued for several wears.
Henry Keep who twenty five years ago was con-
spcuOus In Wall Street ana in railway circles. was .
native of jefferson County where he born In 1919
in the mmblest condition Of poverty lie developed
however. remarkable faculties for the accumulation Of
property and at his death in New-iork City In 1869
he left to his widow estate valued at more than
S4.000.o00
Mr. Flower had married a sister of Mrs. Keep, and
on the death of Mr.. Keep found himself an executor ot
this vast estate Mr. Flower proved himself 10 be an
apt and ready beneficiary. In obedience TO natural
Instinct he made his way TO the speculative centre OF
the metropolis. On october o. the day OF the Chicago
fire. tie Wall Street firm Of Benedict. Flower a Co..
stock commission brokers. was organized r. G. Bene-
dict and Roswell being the principal partners
IL was understood at The time. and no authoritative
denial was offered against the statement that con-
tract existed between the firm and Mrs. Keep. under
which he former should pay the latter per cent Per
aunum iterest on a deposit Of S4OOo.OOO-belng the
bulk Of the fortune left by Mr. Keep To his wife, In
those DAYS money In speculative centres was loaned
at rates considerably above per cent. Beyond the
requirements of their own commission business. there
FORE the firm were enabled to loan large sums Of money
on wide margins of profit Mr.. Flower was admitted
10 tlh Stock Exchange on February :. 1873 The firm
continued in existence for about four wears. when 10
was dissolved The accented version Of the cause OF
dissolution was the gradually developing ease IN the
money market which rendered ii impossible Tor tho
firm TO pay per cent interest on the deposit oil hrs
Keeps money and relOan II at poht Meanwhile Mrs.
Keen had been married TO Judge Schley. Of Maryland
In a few years he also died. leaving an ddloon OF
90 600 900 to the fortune of his widow. The ham
ding OF this large accession likewise devoved on Mrs.
Flower. The firm Of Il. z. Flower a Co. succeeded
in the course OF time the old firm OF Benedict fo"er
& Co. and their activity in Wall street speculation
was conspicuous. In the winter OF 1879 Cehtrai
Pacific stock was entered the stock Exchange list.
The syndicate associated with that event Included
the names of Jay Gould Russell sage aud other
wellknown Wall street operators, and the direct
agents Of the syndicate in that transaction consisted
Of r. p Flower Co. and two other prominent broA-
erage firms
The business associations. Interests and ambitions OF
Mr. Flower enabled him, soon after coming 10 wan
Street to secure election as member OF the ooaius
of directors OF several railway tonIpdiHOS' @'H''"o
these was the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Rail-
road Company. For several years the securities Oh
ths company were identified with what were known
as the investment Glass; as opposed 10 thos'
which fuctuated widely under speculative influences
The company had pr0spered by the rapid grown Oh
the country taversed by its lines, and large surplus
was accumulated. Mr.. Flower was at that time an
active spirit in the affairs OF the company ana "G'
associated In the board of directors with David Do"S
oudo oth
1870 sold I'm the neighborhood Of 500, or nearly don
be its value of 800 share. There had been much
restrictive legislation in the s0called "rduser
statesn against railway interests and the great
amount of surplus which some Of the COMPANIES
showed and the high prices Of their securities anu
the dividends paid, were pointed to rs an eViuen0'
that the charged for Jrahsporauoh "ei0 "a
cesslve and eXtOrti0nate ,
II was AN era of geat railway prosperity, and Iule
heed was paid by the companies to the dlscoheht VI
their patrons. They met complaints with sneers ana
evasions and looked about for means by wien they
might still further improve their own eonduoh IN
entire disregard OF the dissatisfaction OF those nom
whom their immense revenues were eAacted III WAS
during this period that the system of watering or
dopbing stock developed. In the face Of the existing
agitation the Board of Directors OF the hock lsiaa
COMPANY at its meeting in june 1850 deliberately
voted on hmsy preteXt Of consolidation OF lhleHot
lines I'm the system, TO pay themselves stock dVf
the stock liabilities of the company. The incident was
surprise TO the financial world and called forth muc1
criticism The promoters Of the scheme ONLY smNd,
however, at the public response to their ac' anu
quickly pocketed their huge profits.
Mr. Flower also director in the Chlcago MIN
neapolls and omaha Railway Company, wmch was
such a disturbing element in the Northwest in ths
winter Of 1928. The road extended from ElroS'
Wis. to st Paul and Minneapolis, with a terminus on
Lake Superior. Under the lead Of H. ii. Porter an
aggressive warfare carried on against tfe Ohcas''
Milwaukee and 1T. Paul, the Rock Island ana "s
Northwestern companies. IL was the evident purpose
of the Omaha management TO compel the purchase Oh
a controlling interest i'm the company by those ass'c
ated with competing lines This object was atiaihea
early in 1888 by the control passing to the Wander
blt family and their friends, and the road mas since
been operated in injunction with the Chlcago ana
Northwestern Railway system Mr. Flower continued III
the board of directors of company after the change
OF had been effected but s0n retired In l-o1
he also director IN the Northwestern CoIIPan.,
and for some tine was n the directory Oh S ne Trdtas
his place director OF the Rock Island kod, "nu Wt
also director in the Kingston ana % teT9eS teennf9eS with
wall Street as the head Of the firm Of x. r. fioTeT
Co., recognized May l. 1890 hs partners CSeic
OF his brothers, Arson r.. John d. ana fleup'I'A D.
The potcaI career Of r. p Flower began in $751;
when on The resignation OK Levi p Morton as mem
ber of Congress Newlork ClH, 20 nVcoP' w So
office Of Minister 10 France. he defeated william Wal
Snrf AStor his Republcan competitor for the vacancy
His career in Congress was maiheo l5 d -
Incident in which ne moved an amendment 70 Ihe
Federal Constitution, and, rising 70 SPEAK on the mo
tion simpiy asked and obtained leave TO print IN
The EnroI1 as his remarks, the entire text oi te
Constitution Of the United states AZ the Democrats
state Convention held in saratosa on september G2
1855 Mr. Flower nominated for the Lleutel"&m.. ~
Goyernorship. lie declined the nomination on pe
26th i'm brief letter. His action eXcited some ih1s
nation within his own party. and for the ume-benS
seriously offended his running mate for the Governor,
shin David y. HILL In 1885 he was appointed one oi
| the subway Commissioners OF the City OF New-fork
The Democratic candidate for Governor is OF medium
stature and stout ne ~, pOWeNt'i, ~ t, -,
movements his counteDance Is cheerful ana his man,
nerS genial Mr.. Flower some years ago, contrbu'ed
$50 600 to the ST. Thomas Home IN thtN NbihIhsI' as
| a memorial TO dead son.
WILLIAM T. SHEEHAN.