St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-19
terday and asked him to be Secretary
NobIe's successor, and Hoke Smith said

terday and asked him to be Secretary
Mobiles successor, and Hoke Smith said
he would.
So there is newcomer in national
affairs, man of whom scarcely anybody
ever heard until the Chicago conven-
tion-a representative of the young
South and new South, of whom the dis
coverer is Grover Cleveland.
We'll, mere is Hoke Smith.
Could you have seen him as he
walked, or, rather, as he swung, into
the Mills building about noon, with his
overcoat hung over his arm; if you
could have felt the elevator car sag as
he stepped Into it, you would have said
to yourself:
Here is man who knows how to
shoulder his way through the world.
and, goodness! what match he would
make for Wilson S. BiSsell"
Tail? Six feet two. Heavy? Two
hundred and SiXty-five pounds, at least.
Built like a pugilist. set as Squareiy ON
his feet as wrestler. with clear, gray
eye: a smooth, firm face; a laugh as
hoarse and hearty as a skipper's. and a
smile as pleasant and catching as a
pretty woman's. paunch 10 speak
vi, dS 10 IllOSllJ TIC GdoO Will HCdfI
men, and movement of limb so free
as to suggest that he took and loved
much outdoor exercise. and yet with a
whiteness of skin not at all in keeping
with the general air Of high spirits and
perfect health that he wears.
He Has FOn@ht His Way
This Is Hoke Smith. And when he
came out Of Mr. Cleveland's Office yes
Cleveland has offered me the place ana
| have accepted it," the way the news
was received by those friends showed
that he has a way of maxim e people like
him.
Hoke Smith is thirty-eight years old.
He does not look it. He lives in At
lanta, Ga. He is lawyer, and an anti =
corporation lawyer at that, which may
seem strange, when 1t is known that
Henry Willard wanted him to go into the
interior department.
He has been credited with being n
journalist. He isn't, except in so far as
he owns the Atlanta Journal. He doesn't
edit it, and he only owns it as part of
the stock in trade of a successful South
erD politician.
Hoke Smith never held an Office, eX
cept that he is member of the school
board Of his town. lie was born in
Lincolnton, n. g. His father is Prof.
H. II. Smith, an educator of Atlanta.
Hoke was named Michael Hoke
Smith. Hoke was his mothers maiden
name. and her father was Judge Hoke.
When he got old enough to do SO he re-
belled. dropped the Michael and has
shouldered his way through the world
as plain Hoke Smith ever since. He
moved to Atlanta in 1880. His father
soon followed him.
He Is a Railroad Terror.
Hoke went to the bar and got to the
very front. He has been the beSt-known
lawyer in Georgia for ten years.
In that orporation-hating state lie has
won so many damage cases~against rail-
roads and got such big damages that the
Georgia roads would have gone into the
hands OF receivers even if the railroad
commissioners OF that state had let them
alone.
He is a'power before a jury in his
plain, blunt way, and they say that he
has set the pace for the lawyers of At
lanta, and tney all want to get damage
cases. 1t has become the craze of the
bar. A few days ago when woman
was hurt by street car. six lawyers
called OH her to get the case before
doctor got to see her.
Hoke Smith was leader of the Cleve-
land forces i'll Georgia wnen the Hill
men came so near getting the delegates
TO Chicago. He went to Chicago and
was a member of the famous Whitney
committee. This committee was COM
posed of one absolutely trustworthy
man from each state.
There was only one thing to dim the
luSter of his star at Chicago. When the
Georgia delegation came to vote for
member of the national committee Clark
Howell beat him by vote of % to 4.
But Hoke Smith did not mind that.
He continues to be the Cleveland leader
in Georgia, and although partisan news
papers may rake his reputation as law
yer ne will use his paper to reply and
think little about it.
He has been much in this city since
the election. He usually stays at the
st. James hotel, but he did not go there
yesterday. The realization of national
fame had made Mr.. Smith think that eX-
clusivenesS might be wise. SO he dined
at club and left for home on the mid-
night train.
EEis Wife Social Queen.
Mrs. Hoke Smith is quite as interest
ing person as her husband. She is
beauty ana laQy OF nne presence ana
equally fine accomplishments. She Will
shine In the cobinet circles at Washing
ton.
Mrs. Smith IS the daughter of Cen.
Howell Cobb, of Georgia, who was a
gallant Confederate officer, and was one
of the governors of Georgia. They have
three children living, and have lost one
child. Mrs. Smith entertains magnifi-
Gently in her home at Atlanta.
Hoke Smith is now man of wealth.
He has made most of it. His law prac-
tiee is estimated as worth more than
800 900. and possibly $4,000 wear. He