The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-14
HoKE SMITH.
His Reforms Of the small Potato Variety,
Extracts From His AutobIography-A
Wonderful "PrOdigy."

His Reforms Of the small Potato Variety,
Extracts From His AutObIOgraphy-A
Wonderful "PrOdiGy."
WASHINGTON, d, O., July l2,-Proba-
bly, no member of the cabinet is more
talked about than the mau from GeOr-
gia, Hoke Smith, OF the interior depart
ment Probably no member of the
Cabinet has, since March 4, furnished
more cause for talk than has Smith,
His administration Of his department
is calling forth criticism from all over
the country.
He has taken the management of the
pension bureau out OF the hands Of the
commissioner OF pensions, just as his
chief, Mr., Cleveland, has taken the
management of some Of the other de-
partInents out of the hands OF men he
placed at their head. His recent order
%suspending old soldiers on the pension
roll for sixty days in order to find out
whether they are really entitled to the
pittance they are receiving from the
government is looked on here US one
OF the most unjust and unjustitlable acts
in the already eventful history of the
present administration OF the interior
department. His injustice is more APP
parent in that no notice is given OF sus'
pension until the %pensioner appears to
get his quarterly stipend.
This is all being done in the name OF
Economy" aud REFORM, two humbug
sentiments that have been pleaded
with nauseating persistenCy aud gIar-
ing hypocrisy ever since the obscure
lawyer from Atlanta was planted in
the cabinet The evident object OF his
administration Of the pension Office is
to aunul the act OF 1890. That the acts
Of Hoke Smith are tacitly approved by
Mr.. Cleveland would lead to the infer
enge that the administration is afraid
toopenly declare its feelings with re-
gard TO this law but by underhand
methods is seeking to make it OF no ef-
feet. 1t is q notorious fact that not n
OF the so.called leaders OF the Demo
cratic party in the house has had the
courage Of his convictions aud dared to
propose the repeal OF the present law,
Mr.. Cleveland's pet came from Geor-
gia with so little reputation that his So
lection has been the cause Of ridicule
and wonder. To enlighten the public
Us to hia personality his autobiography
has been printedin thelast edition Of the
congressional directory.
According to the account given there
he has been u sort OF prodigy ever
since he was born in Newton, North
Carolina, in 1855. He states that at
the age Of II he was admitted to the
bar and began the practice OF law.
Usually the aspirant for such honors
begins the study before no gains admit.
lance to the bar, but in the instance Of
Hoke Smith it was different. In the
published account it is said: after
being admitted to the bar he
devoted himself to the study OF
law, carefully reading all the decisions
OF the supreme court OF the United
States, the decisions OF the supreme
court OF Georgia and the leading text
books" The autobiography further
relates that he did not wait for a case
to study the law applicable to it, "but
studied law to be ready for any case in
which he might be employed" This is
the prodigy which is s~uspeRding vet
Grams OF the Union army until their
cases passed upon by a Republican I'D.
ministration can BIO gone over with the
idea Of detecting some technical flaw in
them,