The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-07-16


mainder Of his term the wsynesboroueh
nign school Vas the qusetess and most or
uefiy IN heorgtA and Mr. Smith got the
sitie OF the fighting teacher. I don't think
ne likes TO tax about these incidents Of
ns YOUTH He 10 . very quiet man and
nas nothing Of the buily aoout him I
however. and I believe that he has the
right"
Secretary Smith il worth. I am told.
about 500. 600. He made the NEST OF his
money IN his Law practice. and he psac-
tees law because he likes Is. His news
Paper has bsen merely side issue in his
iafe. and he tells me that he expects 20 sell
the Atlantis Journal and 70 give ND his
connection with IL before many years.
- hiie chatting with him today asked
him when he had first decided 10 become
lawyer. He replied: II can't remem-
nsr when did not expect to study Law.
It MAS my eariiest ambition TO become
good lawyer. and l began my practice very
had about the best practice in the
state Of Georgia. and m never hap
pier than when working on legal questions
l had no idea of being . member Of Presi-
dent Cleveisnd's cabinet and when I
found Vas 70 be offered position in it I
hoped that the place given me would be
s.soe VI otSoEucy Kc0ST8s. Dub ma tO3t
the interior department has about ~ much
law connected with il - the attorney gen.
erals ONCE. Legal questions are con-
stantiy coming up and the work u much
please tell me something Of the cir
eumstances of your appointment, Mr.
Secretary" asked.
worth publishing connected with them, !"
Was the reply. II had never met Presi-
dent Cleveland until . few weeks before
his election and / had no idea Of accepting
any place or Of entering oflicial life be-
came actiys in politics in Georgia largely
through President Cleveland. have
taken part IN them to certain extent oil
my life. though never wanted nor would
have accepted Office. In 1883. however,
when President Cleveland put forth his
free trade message number Of the lead
ing newspapers Of the state advocated the
Randall views Of the party and we're for
protective tariff Some time before this
had become interested in the Atlanta
. building which had S bought 1t
for my Law Offices. II had only
about 900 circulation, and found
that the man who owned IL wanted 20 sell.
| thought there vas room for good
Newspaper which should advocate differ
ent principles than those espoused by the
The result was that bought the paper for
$4,000 and made . stock company Of il.
got good business manager. who was
at the head Of one Of the printing Offices Of
the town. and . managing editor, who
was then city editor OF tho Atlanta Con-
stkution. Each Of these men took 25 per
cent. Of the stock in the new paper and
advanced the money to the editor, keep
ing his stock as collateral.
I'm addition 70 these two TOOK several
other parties into the concern, but kept
the controlling interest myself. Well, the
paper paid from the start. The editor sold
out the other day with clear profit Of
$1,000 and Tho value Of the stock has
doubled again and again. Tho paper has
pener in Atlanta, and II has become =
power in the state. have not had much
10 do with il except in . political way. l
wrote all the editorials in favor of low
tariff, and again wrote for it when We
were making light against machine pol
tiles. and also against the third party In
Georgia. Before the convention some Of
the best papers in the state were for Hill
and against Cieveland's nomination. l
was in favor of Cleveland. for l be-
lieved he would run his admins
tration in the interest of those
who were out Of Office rather than
those who were min other words, in the
~ -
Well, vas in New York on legal business
during the campaign, and l went over by
invitation to see President Cleveland. and
/ spent the day with him. We talked
together over the situation in the South
and in Georgia, but there was nothing
said IS TO the cabinet. Shortly before the
announcement OF my name ~ secretary of
the interior was again in New York and
l went to SEQ him by arrangement. We
had halt hours chat together, and dur
ing this he offered me the position. So
there You have the story
here spoke to Secretary Smith As TO his
decision regarding the pension law of
among the soldiers of the United States.
He said: II made the decision because l
believed it tn be right, and the law will
be carried out. 1t will result In q saving
OF something like $3O.0W0 600, for am
told that nearly one-half of the pensions
granted under that act wero illegally
granted. The question 10 not matter Of
sentiment with me. 1t is . matter of
right. IL Is n matter of law. There Is no
doubt that my construction Of the law is
correct, and can only go by the law. |
have been advised by some that my action
is open to criticism because l come from
Georgia. This is ridiculous. Because |
am from the South shall | not do right
/ am merely tue agent of congress. | am
To carry out the laws which it enacts. Ii
congress should pass law to give each
man who Was I'm the late war q certain
SUN of money. no matter how large If IL
were possible il would be my duty To do it.
But congress has not passed any such Law,
aud | can only act according TO its in
st-ucfions. | think the people ara gener-
ally in favor of the decision and l don't
think that ray construction Of the Law has
yet been disputed"
''Tou are too young man 10 have been
In the Confederate army" SAID l.
Yes" was the reply. II was . years old
when the war closed. Had l been old
enough | wouid probably have been a
Confederate solder. bat that makes no
difference. | ana a. good Union man as
there is in the United States. Many peo-
pie of TIA. North have y wrong idea OF the
south As for secsioRalisin. there Is more
OF il IN the North than in the South.
Henry Grady's speech, which created
such . stir over the whole country,
was only the ut.erance OF the SEMI
ments which hal prevailed in Georgia
for wears aud which he had been hearing
about him every day. The fact that the
North VAS enthusiastic over il Vas a
surprise ia tie South. l don't mean 10
dixparage Mr.. Grady or his eloqusnce bus
he told no new story when be spoke Df the
fraternity, patriotism and non-sectiona1
feeling at the Southern people. Sec;tonsi-
ism has long been dead in the South The
people have . sentiment. il Is true. Tor
their heroes in that conasct They revere
their memory. They weep over their
graves They honor their brethren. But
they DO not mourn the lost cause nor feel
aniagonisiic toward their country nor
their brethren Of the North. We hsve as
good Union men IN the South IS yon viii
ind anywhere and We love the United
States as much IS any people ia IL. :"
"Hew about the future OF the South,
Mr. Secretary ?.