St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-21

conversation in his home life. 80 know
and to hear him give abundant evidence
| that MI. Erwin is genius and man of
| rare attainments.
In speaking of his motives for change
of residence, Mr.. Erwin in his forcible
language alluded TO Rome as being the
| center where ideas were massed that
controlled the world for ages. Paris
has directed the affairs of Europe
for centuries. New York con-
trolls this country. In UGH great
centers politics are born and shaped to
control the world. Places like Chicago
can never consolidate their power,
and other cities in this country
pay tribute to and are dictated by
New York. Great changes are going
on in this country. Patriotism is but a de-
ception set up by moparchs. Fraternity
should be placed first and patriotism
second. The ballot has heretofore been
but compliment to the greed Of the
powers, and the masses have not voted
their sentiments. That will be changed.
The time is coming when men will vote
for self and not compliment the money
powers by carrying out their behests.
He declared that he is in favor of a
tariff, but not on the lines now carried
out. The time will come when it will
be based on the scale of wages paid
The scale of most duties will be placed
on one sheet of the bill and the scale of
wages will be placed ON the other
side of the sheet. The tariff will
then be fraternal in its operation.
The money makers will moi theu be left
to settle the scale of wages on moral
grounds. They have been trusted to do
that and have been faithless. The time
is near at hand when they will have TO
deal fairly and fraternally with the
laborers. The scale of wages will
then be established. and there
will be power behind legisla-
ton that will protect and increase
the wage scale. The reforms of the
country will start from the centers of
influence. and reform is coming in
politics. Mr.. Erwin characterized
Republican party as war party, and
said he has always been Republican
on war issues. He said he was AN
Alliance man on the wheat investiga-
ton matter. but he was not Populist
OH the issues of two years ago in this
state.
He stated that lawyers in this part of
the country are often pushed out of the
practice at sixty, while in the East they
are In active life until seventy. He also
expressed desire to add to the variety
| of his practice, and deemed it wise to
make change. The enemies made ia
politics he deemed to have injured his
practice in this city.
Mr.. Erwin was born in the town os
| Erwin, Steuben county, New York, in
| 1S42. He read law with j. R. Ward,
and eradu ated from the Albany law
| school in 1864. He practiced law in
| Corning, N. Y, until 1866, when he
| went to Portsmouth, Neb., and came to
| ST. Paul In May. 1870 LII the fall of 1871
he defeated G. d. O'Brieu for county at
torney, and served two years. In the fall
of 1874 he defeated William Pitt Murray
for the state senate. With the excep.
| ton of these two elections he never
| sought office. When nineteen years old
| he entered the army, being then farm
| er boy. He was elected first lieutenant
| Of Company X, Seventy-fourth regiment
Volunteer Infantry of New York. He
served in the Fifth regiment. raised
| by Gen. Dan w. Sick les.
and was in Gen. Hooker's bril-
| gade. His army sword hangs on the
wall in his bedroom. In the same room
he keeps the first carbine taken from
the PinkertOn detectives ny the Home
stead strikers in the memorable riot
there. He has also fine revolver that
belonged 10 Pinkerton, both of which
were given Mr.. Erwin at the time he
made his noted defe Use of Homestead
| strikers.
| Mr.. Erwin said that he has but few
acquaintances in New York city, and he
has no plans made as to how he will
secure practice there, but has faith in
| perseverance. He wants absolute rest
for a time. and thinks that he will get
| two or three years'reSt by going To New
York. He is anxious that at least
that length of time shall be allotted him
to rest and recuperate. He stated that
he had declined to appear for the
| strikers during the Great Northern rail-
road trouble because ne did not wa mt to
mix up with the affair. Speaking of
his record as criminal lawyer, he said
that as part Of his work he had defend
ed about $50 men for murder
since being admitted to the bar.
That, he declared, is a record not
| equaled by any other man in the United
States. During the past year he has
| tried seventeen murder cases. He sp0ke
incidentally OF his connection with the
| famous Homestead cases. but his cOl>
versatlon was chiefly OH the topic of the
rapid changes in the social and political
conditions OF the country. He believes
| a crisis in affairs is approaching that
| Will bring about q greater liberty for