Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-25
knows Mr.. Bissell well and who has been in
timately associated with him in important liti-
CATION said today:

knows Mr.. Bissell well and who has been in
timately associated with him in important liti-
CATION said today:
FITNEss FOR THE PLACE sELKcrHD.
81 rejoice in Wilson's appointment and re-
joice again in the fact that he is to be appointed
Postmaster General and not Attorney General
OF all men that know think that Mr. Bissell
Is best fitted to be Postmaster General and Of
all Offices that know the postmaster general
ship is best fitted to Mr.. Bissell. In the prac-
tIce of his profession he has had entire charge
OF the affairs OF very large corporations for
which his firm was the legal adviser. He has
had charge OF making enormous railroad,
steamboat and other corporation contracts
He has advised presidents of corporations on
matters Of the greatest moment and his advice
has proved in every instance that of keen and
far-sighted business man as well rs Of level
headed LAWYER. The practice of his profession
has carried him but little into the courts 1t
has involved him but very little in the prepara-
ton OF cases or in the annoyances of the petty
details which make up the professional life Of
the average lawyer. Mr.. Bisselt is a man Of
large ideas and best fitted to cope with large
enterprises and undertakings. In all my eI-
Perience with him have mover known him to
make mistake.
AS Attorney General Mr. Bissell would have
to cope with all the details which he loathes
The position Of the Attorney General OF the
United States differs from that of a district
attorney of the state Of New York only in scope
and extent of work. As Attorney General Mr.
Bissell would have been irritated and ha-
rassed man. engaged in irritating and uncon-
genial occupation. As Postmaster General he
will be in his element He will have the making
OF enormous contracts for the railroad and
steamship services. contracts for stationery and
postage stamps and matters OF large moment
which call for the attention OF a man OF lust
his intellectual trend. Only those who imper-
fectly know Mr.. Bissell will regret that he is to
be at the head of the Post Office Department
and not the Department of Justice"
WAS NOT NEGLECTED EIGHT YEARS 400.
This will doubtless explain to many whom it
surprised at the time it was announced Mr..
Clevelands action in choosing his old law part
ner to be Postmaster General. 1t is said, too
by those who know tina. the popular impression
that Mr.. Bssell was neglected by Mr.. Cleveland
during his first admins ration is a mistake.
They believe that Mr. Bissell could have had
almost any cabinet position that he wanted
eight years ago.
From his boyhood Mr.. Bissel has trained
with big men. His associates in early life were
men Older than he and never of minor abilities.
His closest friends were such men Al Willard
Fillmore. son of the President of the United
States; John q. Millburn, lawyer of recog-
niZed power and culture; Franklin ID. Locke,
the leader OF the anti-snapper movement in
this part of the state and father of the Syracuse
convention: senator -. III. McMlllan. ana last,
but not least Grover Cleyel Most Of these
men were bachelors and more than one OF them
occupied rooms with Mr.. Bssel in the famous
Weed block in Buffalo, where he now has
offices. On the third floor of this building for
many years were Mr.. Cleveland private apart
ments.
MIR. Bssell was accounted confirmed
bachelor, but few years ago he followed the
example of Mr.. Cleveland and became Bene-
dict. lie married charming ladv-Miss
Louise Fowler Sturges of Geneya-who has
been very popular in social Buffalo since she
came to live here. The Bissell home has been
since her advent the abode OF a generous cul-
ture and perfect hospitality.
Mr.. Bissell is Il confirmed cigarette smoker.
He smokes only the imported Russian or Turk
i-h article. | visited him once in his hand
some home. fonnd him in his library sit
ting IN his shirt sleeves with one sleeve rolled
up to his shoulder, disclosing an arm of
Titanic proportions. In his chubby hand was
the inevitable cigarette.
A KINDLY MAN AND GOOD LAWYER.
John G. Milbnrn said to me this afternoon:
Wilson Bissell is one OF the kinlliest OF
men, as well one of the best lawyers it has
ever been nv privilege TO know. 1t had always
been q source of wonder to me up to a certain
time why Mr.. Bissell never tried anv cases in
court l asked him about it one day. The
reason. Milburn.' said he. is simply that do
not like the court practice of the law. l would
rather be known as Office than as a trial
lawyer; not because l am particularly modest
but for tn very good reason that much pre-
fer it. My instincts entirely against the
court part OF our profession. 1 would rather
unravel a corporation tangle for a week than 60
into court for day. and think that would
do it great deal cheaper. That is why stick
to my hole in the wall and pore over my
papers,
ut Is q strange thing" continued Mr.. Mil
burn, that in all my experience with Mr..
Bissell l never heard him speak directly i'll Of
any man. and it is perhaps equally strange, since
humanity is rule ungrateful. that never
heard any one speak ill Of Mr.. Bissell. His
nature is pure gold. without an ounce Of alloy.
He is one of the noblest men know"