Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-08

ognized as one of the foremost lawyers in New England, he had taken little or no part in party politics, and was not widely known among public men.
 The president soon began to trust At torney-General Olney's advice on im- portant questions. While the great strike was on at Chicago MT. Oneys services were particularly notable He developed each step that the government authorities took, and President Cleveland was so fully convinced of the wisdom of his policy that he gave 1t thorough sup port and execution. The recent decision of the United States supreme court has given judicial approval to the course pursued by the government, and has shown that while MT. Olney sought new and untried means to meet grave emer- gency, he moved strictly within the con Stitution and the laws.
 On the other hand, when the Phila- delphia and Reading Railroad company sought to compel an employe either to sever his connection with a railway ben eficial organization or leave the con- pany's service, MT. Olney obtained the permission of the court to present brief in behalf of the employe, in which he held that the proposed action of the company was against justice and right.
 MT. Olney comes from the Puritan stock. His ancestor, Thomas Olney came from England and settled at Salem, Mass, in 1735 He was one of thA close companions of Roger Williams and was one of the thirteen who joined Will Hams in founding the town of Provi- dence. The successive generations took high rank in New England affairs, one of them being attorney-genera of Mas sachusetts. The father of Richard Ol- ney owned and managed the cotton mills at Oxford and also engaged in banking. His mother was a Sigourney. descended from French Huguenots, who fled from France to this country. Richard O,ney was one of three sons. One of them is prominent lawyer in New York, having been district attorney for the county of New York Another brother is a sue cessful wooden manufacturer.
 Richard Olney was graduated from Brown university in 1856 and from the Harvard law school in 185S He married Agnes. daughter of Judge Benjamin F. Thomas, with whom he studied law. They have lived of late years at Boston. with summer homes near Buzzard's Bay, the summer residence of the pres ident.
 MT. Olney has fine literary attainments and tastes. Although he is close stu dent he is lover of outdoor sports and is a good horseman, an enthusiastic ten his player and skillful angler He is a man of medium height and robust form and in general appearance he conveys the impression of intense vitality and physical endurance beyond that Of any man who has occupied the position of secretary of state of recent years. His face Is Istrong, keen and intellectual. Though his manner is somewhat severe and austere, he unbends. readily to the approaches of intimate friends.
 MT. Olney has served one term in the state legislature of Massachusetts and was an unsuccessful candidate for the attorney-generalship of that state. Some years ago a position upon the supreme bench of the state was offered to him. but he declined it. He was prominently men tioned as a candidate for the chief jus ticeship of the United States supreme court to succeed Morrison R. Waite. In politics he is an old time democrat.
 As lawyer MT. Olney's success has been that of a counselor rather than that of an advocate. His mind is essentially of judicial cast He has represented some of the most influential interests of New England at the bar of his native state, as well as before the supreme court of the United States
 Antecedents of Attorney-General Harmon