Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
HON. J. STERLING MORTON.
| An Incident That Brought Editor Yose
and the Secretary Together.

and the Secretary Together.
Editor s. NJ. Yost, in the issue Of Yoses
Weekly of February 23d. recalls meeting
with j. Sterling Morton, Mr.. Cleveland's
Secretary of Agriculture. in Nebraska
City as long ago as the fall OF 1856. Dir.
Yost and Others had inst escaped from q
snagged steamer. and he was wandering
about the town endeavoring to procure q
conveyance to.St. 10. Mo. He met several
yirginians, from one of whom he succeed
ed in getting the desired vehicle for him.
=" After this,n continues Mr.. Yost. 1--WE
passed along the street and noticed the
sign Of printing Office. Stopping there,
where young man was standing near, We
entered into conversation with him. de-
tailed the conditions OF the steamboat
accident in reply TO his questions, &C..
and found that he was the owner OF the
newspaper plant, but that tho Office was
in state of "innocuous desuetude," by
reason of a raid Of General Jim Lane and a
band of his Jayhawkers, who had chased
the editor and his force from the promises,
the editor making his escape out of
o back window and remaining away until
the procession had passed on. The young
man was j. Sterling Morton. now the ap-
pointed Secretary OF Agricultqre In Mr..
Cleyeland's administration. He SAID he
would like for us TO write out an account
of the steamboat accident, Is some of the
messengers on the boat were anxious
TO Get 1t printed so as to send it to
their friends, but he bad no print
ers. UNDERSTANDING the art preserva-
tive," We went into the Office. took
IN hand stick. and then set up about
half column descriptive of the ooa. dIsas-
small Washington press, and worked of
about fifty copies to supply the demands
Of the occasion. We asked Mr.. Morton
something about his paper and its pros
poets. His reply was oh there IS no
money. in it now. oaly publish IL 20 help
my fri a ds and punish nv enemies tho
result of this last pastime, We presume,
causing tho deserted condition OF MS OF
fee when we saw 1t.
FIRST AND LAST TIifY.
THAT was the first and last time that
we ever saw the prospective Secretary of
Agriculture, Hon. ]. Sterling Morton. He
was then quite q young man--thlrty-seven
years ago-bright. full of life. self-relant.
and aggressive We were impressed with
his appearance and his intelligence, and
have watched the politics OF Nebraska
from that time to tins TO see whether
or not he would take q prominent
part in public affairs. We have no.
ticed his name IN connection with
Democratic national conventions, "a
the Democratic nominee for Governor
several times. as the protector OF ArboT-
Dav ceremony. his position IN tho recent
political squabble in the Legislature Of
that State over the election of United
States senator. whore his name appeared
as a Democratic favorlte. when Ia de-
cIared against fusion with the Popuists,
favorng square Republican, If he coud
not get square Democrat, over Popu-
list.
Mr.. Morton has maintained his Demo-
cratic consistency from 1856 to the pres
ent. He is represented "a gentleman or
superior talents, as we are prepared 10 be-
leve from the impression made upon IA
when We first saw him; rs o dno speaker
and GENIAL companion, largely Interested
in business affairs. and very popular
throughout tho State, as the Manifesto
tions OF public approval on the announce
ment of his selection az the chief OF the
Agricultural Department attest"