Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-08-07
THE SECRETARY or 1GRE-
CULTURE.
An Interesting Personal sketch of
Gen. Rusk,


Gen. RusIS.
IT, c. Crawford in the New York Tnbune.l
On account of the agitation throughout
the country by the Farmers alliance peo-
pie, great attention is directed toward the
farmer member of the present cabinet, Gen.
Rusk. Gen. Rusk is about 80 years of age,
hut he has the carriage and active vigor of
man Of 10. He is tall and broad-shouldcred,
with deep, full chest. His hair is snowy
white and falls in a curling name about his
large, rugged face His eyes are blue and
deeply set. His complexion is well tanned
from exposure to the weather His nose is
large. \ snowy white mustache and beard
descending to his breast add to the striking
features of his vigorous personality. For
nearly 10 years he has been farmer. lie
understands farm life as a practical man
who has followed the plough. In Congress
he was noted for his common sense and
his iron decision of character. In the army
he was a superb soldier. Today he is more
in touch perhaps with the general mass of
the people than any one else connected
with the administration. Some of his en-
emies have tried to poke fun at him by as
cribing to him certain ungrammatical forms
of speech. The people who have done this
a quality of additional strength 1t was
said in the old times that the charges of
using bal grammar made against Gen.
John a. Logan did more to make him
popular in the country than anything else.
The bad grammar is not apparent to any
of Gen. Rusk's friends He uses vigorous
expressions. and the current phrases of the
day often come tripping off the end of his
tongue when he is much in earnest, but his
English is good and rarely lacks vgor and
clearness. There is plainness and blunt
ness about him which contribute greatly to
his popularity. He is simple and direct.
He never pretends to be anything more
than what he is. He has no patience with
red tape ANY one who wishes to transact
business with the agricultural department
will find its head ready to meet him in the
most direct fashion and ready to dispose OF
business with the least possible delay.
1t is rare to fine in public life clearness
of perception in unusual and trying circum-
stances. 1t is still rarer to find the decls-
ion of character and fearessneSs OF results
necessary for the carrying out of vigorous
policy when confronted with new condl-
tons. In the riots of 1856 at Milwaukee,
Wis. Gen. Rusk made reputation Tor
himself second to that of no governor IN
the Union. Before that he was known as
an honest, upright executive. But no one
dreamed of his capacity 10 regulate such a
/ trying situation as was presented to him IN
May of that year. When the riots broke
out there were the usual conflict and indie
/ cisiun among the municipal authorities.
/ The moment the governor heard OF tins
/ trouble. he went to Milwaukee upon a
/ special train and arbitrarily took posses
/ sion of everything. 1t was his iron rule
during that time. his ordering of the mer-
! ciless volley which killed seven people and
/ stopped the mob in their first rush, that
| broke the back of the riot The practical
! character of this gentleman is well illus
trated by Col. King rcurel officer OF tn,
army. who commanded the Wisconsin
national guard during the riot. Col. King
says that the guard for some time had beel
preparing for domestic violence. The Of
ticers of the guard met in convention al
Madison some time before the riot for the
purpose of discussing what should be don'
in the case of a domestic outbreak. Col
King says that he had prepared an address
upon the subject, in which he said tina
time and again had officers and men beer
sacrificed to blind and brutal mob fury b,
the Sinking of mayor. marshal or Sherit
Oh SUCH OttdShllN. anu tlldt IL was ll'N'No''
nv. therefore, to formulate explicit inStruc
tionS The colonel said when he had fin
ished reading his paper he perceived for tn
first time that GOV. Rusk was present. TIL
latter rose up in the audience and said:
"Gentcmrn, that is all right. But
want you to understand right here that
ever mob law breaks loose in this stat
while I'm its governor, I'll get there jus
as quick as you will, and you won't have
worry about what mayors or sheritfs wi
or wont do. You will get your order
straight from me.
This brought out cheers and roars of al
plause. and as the sequel proved, the go'
ernor was as good as his word. If it Ina
not been for his promptness and his assun
ing command at the critical moment, thol
sands of lives might have been lost an
millions of dollars in property destroyed
! For in no city in the country was the revo
l so strong or the Anarchist leaders so vii
dctive.