News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-08-20
Secretary RuSk.
AN INTERESTING PERSONAL SKETCH OF
OUR SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.

AN INTERESTING Personal SKETCH OF
| OUR SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
On account ofthe agitation through.
out the country by the Farmers ALI.
ance people, great attention is direct
ed toward the farmer member of the
present cabinet, Gen. Rusk. Gen.
Rusk is about so years of age, but he
has the carriage and active vigor OF
a man of 45. He is tall and broad
shouldered, with a 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 A snowy white nous
| breast add to the striking features of
his vigorous personality. For nearly
40 years he has been a farmer. He
understands farm life as practical
man who has followed the plough.
In Congress he was noted for his COM
mon sense and his iron decision char
acter. In the army he was superb
soldier. To-day he is more in touch
perhaps with the general mass of peo-
pie than any one else connected with
the administration. Some of his en-
emies have tried to poke fun at him
by ascribing to him certain INGRAM
NAUTICAL forms of speech. The people
who have done this were not aware
that they were giving him a quality
of additional strength 1t was said
in the old times that the charges of
using bad grammar made against
Gen. John A. Logan did more to make
him popular in the country than any
thing else. The bad grammar is not
apparent to any of Gen. Rusk $
friends. He uses vigorous express
sions, and the current phrases of the
day often comes tripping off the end
of his tongue when he is much in ear
nest, but his English is good and
rarely lacks vigor and clearness.
There is a plainness and bluntness
about him which contribute greatly
to his popularity. He is simple and
direct. He never pretends to be any
thing 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
it's head ready to meet him in the
most direct fashion and ready to dis
pose of business with the least posi-
BILE delay.
1t is rare to find in public life clear
ness of perception in unusual and try
ing circumstances. 1t is still rarer to
find the decision of character and
fearlessness of results necessary for
the carrying out of a vigorous policy
when confronted with new conditions.
In the riots of 1886 at Milwaukee,
Wis, Gen. Rusk made a reputation
for himself second to that of no gov
ernor in the Union. Before that he
was known as an honest, upright ex-
ecutive. But no one dreamed of his
capacity to regulate such a trying
situation as was presented to him in
May of that year. When the riots
broke out there were the usual con-
fict and indecision among the NUM-
cipal authorities. The moment the
governor heard of this trouble he
went to Milwaukee upon a special
train arbitrarily took possession of
everything. 1t was his iron rule dur
ing that time, his ordering of the
merciless. 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 illustrated by Col.
King, a retired officer of the army.
who commanded the Wisconsin ma
5ional guard during the riot. Col.
King says that the guard for some
lime had been preparing for domestic
yiolence. The officers of the guard
net in convention at Madison some
ime before the riot for the purpose |
If discussing what should be done in
ase of a domestic outbreak. Col. |
ling says that he had prepared an
ddress upon the subject, in which he
aid that time and again had officers
nd men been sacrificed to blind and
'rutal mob fury by the Sinking of
mayor, marshall or sheriff on such
occasions, ana that IL was necessary,
therefore, to formulate explicit in
The colonel said when
~ hoNA hitiFoACu IcCbulIlS Ills paper he
perceived for the first time that Gov.
iusk was present. The latter rose
Up in the audience and said:
Gentlemen, that is all right. But
want you to understand right here
hat if ever mob law breaks loose in
his state while I'm its governor, I'll
ret there just as quick as you will, and
7ou won't have to worry about what
mayors or sheriffs will or won't do.
You will get your orders straight
rom me-"
This brought out cheers and roars
II applause, and as the sequel proved
he governor was as good as his
word. If it had not been for his
and his assuming COM
nand at the critical moment, thou
ands of lives might have been lost
nd millions of dollars in property
For in no city in the
ountry was the revolt SO strons or
he Anarchist leaders so vindictive.-
lew York Tribune.