The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-12

~ "S 8AcoS Icauins nuu MS bte"e
powers of observation. HIS equipment
IS unusually good. Few Presidents
hare been SO well prepared to administer
any part of the government His mill
ltarY experience was very thorough
one. so that be has the technical knowl-
edge required for the administration of
the army and the navy. In his six years
In the Senate he made such n special
study OF the financial question that ne
soon mastered the details of the Treasury
department following Mr.. NindonIs sud-
den death. Mr.. Foster. when he was APP
pointed secretary, went 10 the PRECEDENT
Tor his instructions and for his preliminary
training. Mr.. Harrison has the legal re-
quirements for filing any of the other
cabinet offices, and this same legal kDowl-
edge. combined with his powers OF obser-
walton. his logical mind and his enormous
industry. would make him good Chief
justice. These requirements OF the Preei-
denc are plain and patent TO every one who
KNOWS him In Washington.
lie has very decided literary tastes; he Is q
wide reader of light literature as n means
OF relaxation. lie is very precise in bis
habits and 10 always on time. He regu-
Iates MS duties with the accuracy of a ma
chine. lie 10 fond of eating. sleeping and
working at mathematically regular inter
vaIs lie has order and system TO great
degree In his methods. He is constant
student. and IL Is this widc reading and
facuity OF observation which give him
such readiness when called upen 10 under
take unexpected duties. When he made
DIS trip to the Southwest and
west his speeches were not pre-
pared In advance. he did not
know the exact route of his journey
Until o'clock the night before he started.
He took with him. rs a basis of his speeches,
cens3s reports of the localities which he
visited. This readiness and versatility of
the Presidents skill TO rapidly master
case and 10 prepare himself In short time
for an unusual intellectual effort. was
shown in his argument before the Indiana
Supreme Court IN the case of the cele-
braUed Republican Acknowledgements of
that State. whose election was contested
by his opponents Mr.. HARRISON had only
one day on that case. His argument was
said 10 have been the best that was ever
made before that court Although the
court was Democratic in it's makeup, It
gave Mr. Harrison the verdict of Its opin-
ion.
SOME WAR STORIES.
know that 1t is fatiguing In these latter
DAYS TO talk about any body's war record.
1t is universally conceded that ply steal
courage Is common quality, and to speak
merely of a mans bravery vino served dur
ing the war Is to pay him no special COM
pliment. l have heard just two points of
view concerning the Presidents military
service which were enough out of the COM
mon to merit a passing notice. / asked an
officer who served with him in the Seventh
eth Indiana regiment to give me an idea of
Mr.. HARRISON as soldier. His reply was
at first what | did not expect He said
that he was perhaps the most unpopular
colonel who over went out OF Indiana. he
know nothing about military affairs, but
devoted his entire time to studying
them, so at the end of two months
he was as competent to drill the
regiment as any officer In 1T. He was too
strict dIsciplinarian to be popular.
There vas Northumberland in the regl-
ment who had the love of the men. He was
q good politician ana was fond of sitting
down with his soldier boys as one of them.
He was very careless in his observation of
military etiquette. and so for time he was
the most popular officer in the regiment.
The soldiers. 10 affirm his popularity and
emphasize their dislike for their colonel,
presented beautiful sword to the lieuten-
ant-coIonel and asked the colonel to make
the speech of presentation. This he did
with great cheerfulness and showed
no sign of feeling injured on ac-
count OF the intentional reflection
upon his unpOpularity: When the regi-
ment entered into actual service all this
was speedily changed. The regiment soon
found that tho colonel never asked them
to go any here whore he did not lead. and
his personal devotion to the fortunes of his
regimeht-which through his care and drill
one of the most effective in the service
made for him a warm place in his mems
hearts. The full tide of his popularity,
however, was not reached until the day
that he charged the battery at the battle
of Resaca. There he went In at the head of
SIX hundred odd men, and ont of that
charge less than three hundred returned.
The President led from the first and was
one of the first to enter the battle.
His love of lighting and his absence of
fear was illustrated in q story given me by
q gentleman in London. Democrat who,
when the news of the Presidents first
nomination was pub lished there. said: The
Republicans have nominated q good fight
err" In explanation or this remark he said
that he saw Mr. Harrison once during the
war, hut under such circumstances as TO
give him an unusual idea of his pugnaoity
and courage. The story teller was a con-
tractor Oh his way North with COTTON. The
boat chartered by him. upon reaching
certain point upon the Ohio river. was
stopped TO take on a number of Union Off
GERS on their way home 70 the North. Col.
Harrison. who was going home on q short
leave, was with them. The journey of this
steamer down the river was not wholly
without danger. Every now and then an
ambush of Ruerrillas would fire at the
boat The pilot kept the boat as far away
from the Kentucky shore as possible and
every now AID then the channel would
Kentucky. and the result was generally an
attack. For several hours during the first
day peace and quietness reigned. The
most serious attack came during the mid
day dinner. The officers were seated at
the captains table, when. without any
warning, volley of bullets came
whistling through the thin partitions
OF the saloon. This gentleman said tho of
iicers, as far as he could see went do wn
upon the floor and craw led in to their state
rooms. where they piled mp their mat
tresses for protection. The panic Was very
great. The story-teiler recovered himself
after few moments, and crawled along to
protected place where he could look ont
oil deck. Greatly TO MS surprise. he said,
he saw Colonel Harrison standing alone
out on the deck in full range of every body
with n revolver in each hand, returning
tho shots as we'll as he could. until the
boat passed around the bend and out OF
range.
Public mon esteem him to be q much
ADLER man than his grandfather. His worst
enemies charge him with being cold and
with not being good politician.
4. e. CRAWFORD.
copyright, 1921