Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-29
TREASURY GUARD
Will Be Lyman J. Gage. of the
Western Metropolis.
OFFERED AND ACCEPTED THE POST

OFFERED AND ACCEPTED THE POST
Announcement Made at Canton by the
Bankruptcies in the Presence Of the
Prssident-Elect, Thus Filling the Tive
Greatest Positions in the Mckinley Cab
inet-Populist Farmer Beats Dubois for
Senator in Idaho.
Canton, O., Jan. 29.-At 7:30 O'Clock
last evening Lyman ]. Gage, president
of the First National bank, of Chicago.
emerged from the dining room Of the
Mckinley home to fill an appointment
with the Associated Press and special
correspondents. to tell them the result
Of his conference with Major McKin-
ley.
"Mr. Mckinley offered me the treas
ury portfolio. I told him I would &C
cept the high honor and fill the posi-
ton to h best of my ability"
This was the first utterance of the
incoming secretary of the treasury on
being presented to the party. Gage
reached Canton about 2:30 o'clock yes
terday afternoon, his train being be-
lated by cold and snow. With him was
National Committeeman Cyrus Leland.
of Kansas. The Mckinley conveyance
was in waiting and the visitors We're
hurried over the snow-covered streets
to h Mckinley home, from which no
hint of what was Transporting within
came until dinner had been served and
Gage stepped into the o~ffice-library, and
addressed himself as quoted above. Be-
yond his he had little to say.
Was Not q Gold Democrat Last Year.
He declined to discuss any feature
of the policy of the incoming admins
t%ration, Or to discuss any matter other
than that relating to himself. He said
there was no ground for the publica-
ton that he was a gold Democrat dur
ing the campaign, and added that his
only utilization with the Democratic
party was in 1884, when he voted for
Cleveland. He also said that he and
Major Mckinley substantially agreed
on the tariff questions. Among the
days arrivals was Ex-Governor Cornell,
of New York, and it was a happy social
after-dinner conference that the presi-
dent-elect, Gage and Colonel McCook
held in the Mckinley sitting room last
night. 1t is evident that the public an
nouncement of the settlement Of the
treasury portfolio was regarded as the
conclusion of a good days work. Colo
mel McCook spoke last night most high
ly OF the estimate of Gage in the east,
and of his recognized ability in BUSH
ness and commercial circles all over the
country.
It Was h Expected That Happened.
One of the considerations of c~ongratu-
lation here is Cages genial nature and
of speech. 1t was expected
yesterday morning that the announce
ment of the rendering and acceptance
of the treasury portfolio would be made
last night. Gage was met at the rail-
way station by the reporters, to whom
he politely declined to talk. Afterwards
at the Mckinley home he said at dusk
that there was nothing to announce,
but he would talk to the Associated
Press at z o'clock. He made the first
announcement in the few wordseabove
in the presence Of Mckinley, In the Sit
ting-room. He then stepped across the
hall. where a score of special corre-
~spondents awaited him, and repeated
his terse statement and was a second
time warmly congratulated on the an
nouncement. Gage left for Chicago on
the 1927 o'clock Pennsylvania train.
CAREER OF THE SECRETARY.ELECr.
Worked His Way Up from Bookkeeper to
President Of q Bank.
Chicago, Jan. 29.-Lyman j. Gage
was born at De Ruyter, Madison coun-
ty. New York, June %, 1886. His par
ents. who both were born in the state
OF New York, were Of English stock.
In 1855 he came to Chicago and was
engaged as bookkeeper by a lumber
firm. While he was thus engaged he
was offered the position of bookkeeper
to the Merchants Savings, Loan
and Trust company, and his was the
actual beginning Of his career as q
banker. In the spring of 1860 he had
worked his way up to the position of
assistant cashier. and later to tina of
cashier. which he held until 1868, when
he left the Merchants Savings, Loan
and r company to accept a similar
position with the First National bank,
with which institution he has been
identified until the present time.
The old charter OF the bank expired
In 1882. Upon its reorganization he was
chosen vice president and general man.
ager. About this time his financial
ability was paid a high compliment by
SSStioH 10 tue OF the
american Bankers association. On
Jan. "A. 1891, he was elected president
OF the First National bank, and still
noios that position. He was prominent
m all the work that made the Worlds
1air q great success. and one Of four
men,. J. P. Odell, Writ Dexter and
Nv: Doane being the others-who prac-
ticaily guaranteed that Chicago would
carry out its pledge of raising $40, 600, 900
for building the fair.
Gage has been twice Carried, his first
VIE being Miss Sarah Etheridee. of
Little Falls. n. Y. whom he married
IN 1864. She died in 1874, and in 1887
ne married Cornelia Gage, Of Denver,
Colo. He is a member of he CONNER.
ciaI ana Union League clubs here, and
personally is a very popular man. He
Is democratic in his nleasant
and afable. and is easy Of approach At
all times.
fopulist Succeeds Senator Dubois.
Boise. Ida, Jan. 2s.-Henry Heitfie,t-
Fopuiist was yesterday elected United
State 0anoN4. g.