The morning call., 1893-07-16

lawyer. He replied: 81 can't remember r
when | did not expect to study law. Il
was my earliest ambition to be a goOd
LAWYER, and | began my practice very
young. At the age of twenty-five think
| Lad about the best practice in Georgia,
and am never happier than when work
ing on legal questions. l had nG idea Of
being a mem ber of President Cleveland's
CaU7lisi, aLG-- l61l l fouud was 10 be
offered a position in it hoped that the
place gwen ms would be that Of Attornev-
General. But | find that the lnterIcr De-
partment has about as much law Con-
nected with it as the Attorney Generals
Office. Legal questions are constantly
coming up and the work is much the
same"
please tell me something of the circum-
stances of your appointment. Mr.. Secre-
tary," | asked.
Il don't know that there is a story worth
publishing connected with them," was the
reply. 81 bad never met President Cleve-
land until few weeks before his election
and | hal no idea of accepting any place
or of eniering official life. l became active
in politics in Georgia largely through Pres
ident Cleveland. | have taken part in
them to certain extent all my life. though
| never wanted nor would have accepted
office. In 1888, however, when President
Cleveland put forth his free-trade message
number of the leading newspapers of the
State advocated the Randall views of
the party and were for protective
tariff. Some time before this l had
become interested in the Atlanta
journal. 1t was being published in a
building which | had bought for my law
Offices. 1t had only about 1000 circulation.
and | found that the man who owned il
wanted to sell. thought there was room
for good newspaper which should advo-
cate different principles than those
espoused by the other papers and be run
on different lines. The result was that
bought the paper for $4,000 and l made
stock company Of il. got good bu'i-
ness manager. who was at the head Of one
OF the printing offices Of the town, and
managing editor, who was then city editor
OF the Atlanta Constitution. Each of these
men took % per cent Of the stock In the
new paper and | advanced the money to
the editor, keeping his stock AS collateral.
In addition to these two | took several
other parties into the concern, but kept
the controlling interest myself. Well. the
| paper paid from the start. The editor
! soid ont the other day with clear profit
OF $1,000 and the value of the stocB has
! doubled again and again. The paper has
now 5oOo moro circulation than any other
! paper Ia atlanta, and it has become
/ power ID the State. have not had much
! 10 90 VIII IL except in a political way. l
! wrote all tne editorials in favor OF a low
tarlh, ana again wrote for it when we
were making the fight against machine
politics and also against the third party in
! Georgia. Before the convention some of
| the best pa pers in the State were for Hill
and against Cleveland's nomination.
was in favor of Cleveland. for I heIieved
that he would run his administration in
the interest OF 'hose VINO were out of Office
rather than those who were in-in nther
words, in the interest of the peonle raihsr
! than Of rings. Well. l was in New York
! on legal business during the CAMPAIGN and
went over by invitation to see Preside,,t
Cleveland, and | spent the day with him
We talked together over the situation in
the South aud in Georgia, but there was
nothing said as to the Cabinet. Shortly
before the announcement of my name az
Secretary Of the Interior [ was again in
| New York. and went to see Cleveland by
arrangement. We had a haf-hour's chat
together, and during 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 or 1890
which is creating so much dlscusslon
/ among the soldiers Of the United States:
He said: II made the decision. because
/ believed il to be right, and the law Will oe
carried out. II will result in saving ol
something like $4,000, 900, for l am told
| that nearly one half OF the pensions
| granted under that act were llegally
! Bidu'eu. lue questlOL 10 NV '"
sentiment with me. 1t is matter Oh
right. 1t is matter of law. There is nc
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 IRON
! Georgia. This is ridiculous. Because
am from the South Shall not do right?
am merely the agent of Congress. am
to carry out the laws which it enacts. II
Congress should pass a law to give eact
man who was in the late war a certain sum
OF money, no matter how large. Ii 1t were
possible it would be my duty to do it. Bul
! Congress has not passed any such law. and