Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-14

AZf
supreme duty to administer the affairs of
the government intrusted to his keeping so
as best to subserve their welfare and in
terests.
Mr.. Harmon was born in Hamilton
county, Ohio, February g. 1916; was edu-
Gated in the public schools and graduated
from Dennison University. Granville. Ohio.
In 1857; graduated from the law school Of
Cincinnati College in 1869 and entered upon
the practice of the daw; in 1876 he was
elected judge of the common pleas court,
but was unseated four months later after
contest; two years later he was elected
judge of the superior court of Cincinnati ii
and was reelected In 1883; in 1887 he re-
signed to again practice law; was appoint
ed Attorney General by President Cleve-
land and entered upon the duties of his
office June s, 1895
The story of how he came to be made
Attorney General has never been told. The
President had met him several times in the
course OF business, but had never had any
special acquaintance with him. When At
torney General Olney was transferred to
prominent jurists in all parts of the coun-
try We're suggested for the office of At
torney General. But the list did not con-
tain the name of Mr.. Harmon. He was
not even regarded as possibility, and, it
his friends urged his appointment, he
was not aware of 1t. The frs. notice he
had on the subject was a personal note
from the President rendering him the ap-
po.ntment. He was totally unprepared for
such an honor, and it so happened that the
Presidents letter was at the bottom of a
batch of letters he had ue;ved on the
same day, and the last to receive his at
tention. The offer was tempting, and he
accepted it. There is no case on record
where lawyer has declined the honor of
being the highest legal representative of
his government. and Mr.. Harmon had no
ambition to make a precedent in that re-
spect.
Important Duties.
According to the Official register. the At
torney General is the head of the Depart
ment of Justice and the chief law officer .rf
the government. He represents the United
States in matters involving legal questions:
he gives his advice and opinion, when they
are required by the President or by the
heads of the other executive departments,
on questions of law arising in the admins
tration of their respective departments; he
exercises a general superintendent end
L
marshals in all judicial districts III the
states and territories; and he provides spe-
ctal counsel for the United States when
ever required by any department of the
government
Attorney General Harmon is q most con-
scientiCus official, and never neglects any
of his duties, no matter how trifiing they
may appear. He is an early riser, and is
always ut his desk in the department at
the opening of business, at 8 o'clock. Social
obligations sometimes keep him up late
at night, but do not make him tardy in the
morning. He usually devotes the morn
ing hour to the perusal of his personal ami
official correspondence, and at intervals
has time to listen to such matters in the
daily newspapers as his private secretary
thinks will interest him. He is more es-
pecially interested in the record of events
in Cincinnati and vicinity, but also en-
deavors 20 keep thoroughly informed as to
the progress of events in the world at large
Mr.. j. Chauncey Hoffman, his private Sec
rotary, came with him frcm Cincinnati and
knows exactly what to read to him from
the papers.
The time between 10 and 80 o'clock
is usually occupied by visitors, Senators
and Representatives in Congress, and
marshais and United States district attor-
neys i'll the city on pressing business On
Mondays the Attorney General spends most
of his time at the United States Supreme
Court and on Tuesdays and Fridays his
working hours at the department are cur
tailed by the meetings of the cabinet. He
takes luncheon at home with his family
at 80 o'clock, unless detained at the White
House beyond that hour, in which event
he lunches with the President and Mrs
Cleveland. Under ordinary circumstances
he is back at his desk at 2:3O o'clock. and
Is occupied steadily with public business
up to $50 o'clock, and sometimes later
He makes n rule of dspcsing of his official
mail about 3 o'clock He has a quick con-
ception and a remarkable capacity for
work. He has all the faculties of an ex-
pert proofreader, and detects errors of
punctuation or grammar at glance. AL
though he tries to dispose of all official
day. he often finds it necessary to carry
most Of bis important cases home with him
for careful stpdyaitn the quiet hours of the
night.
ocHe Plays Base Bail.
If possible, Attbrrey General Harmon is
a greater lover qf open air exercise than
his predecessor, Vho now has charge of
the foreign affairs Of the government. His
tastes in that direction are Of a more ro-
bust character, however, than are those
of Secretary Olney. Tennis and golf are
too tame for him. and, to his view, are
not comparable as a pastime to the great
rational game of base ball. He is an en-
thusiast on that subject, and never misses
seeing good game il he can possibly SPA re
the time. Strong local pride has made hin,
club in the contest for the championship
pennant, and, in the slang Of the bleachars.
he always 'squeezes' for that club Next
to the Cincinnati nine he favors the SEN
ators. and cheers them on to victory when
ever he has the chance
His interest In the game is by no means
confined to looking at it from the grand
stand. He Is a good player himself, and
does not even now think it beneath his
dignity to get out in the field and play ball
with the boys. Although he hasn't done
anything Of that sort in Washington, he
has frequently INDUCED his propensity for
club ut Cincinnati, and not SO very long
ago. either. He is also very fond of biz
lizards and bowling He usually plays these
games with his brother. Mr.. Eugene Har-
office. They both belong to the Columbia
Athletic Club, and usually 90 there after
! Office hours to roll the balls or to have a
game or two Of billiards. Like Secretary
olney, he is great pedestrian. and the