The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-02

son-Native of Scotiand-Farmed on a
Farm i'm His Youth-Sent to the Iowa
Legislature on a Farmers Issue-Mem'
Der of Congress Three Terms-Professor
I'm the Iowa Agricultural College ard
Writer on Agricultural Topics-About
other Cabinet Men.
Des Moines, Ia, Feb. 1-Ex-Congress-
man James Wilson Of Iowa announced
tonight his acceptance of the cabinet
portfolio recently rendered him by Presi-
teut-elect Mckinley. To a representa-
tive of the Associated Press. Mr.. Wilson
said:
ct is true that 1 have been invited
into President McKinley's cabinet.
have accepted. That is all there is to
say about the matter.
1t is generally known that Mr.. Wilson
will be secretary of agriculture, he haV-
ing wired to Senator Allison today that
that portfolio had been offered and ac-
cepted.
James Wilson was porn august TO-
1885,. in AYRSHIRE. Scotland, of parents be-
longing 10 the farming class Of the pop
ulation. His parents emigrated TO Con-
necticut in the spring of 1852, and be-
gan farming in the vicinity of Norwich
They came to Iowa in the fall of 1885,
buying government land in Tana coun-
IL. James is the Oldest of a family OF
fourteen children, seven boys and seven
girls His father, John Wilson, was a
stock farmer, and began at an early day
to fatten stock for the eastern market
The family pursued diversified farming,
having made the dairy feature promi-
r?ent from the beginning, as we'll as that
of matchmaking.
lanes was sent to the Twelfth Iowa
general assembly to get stock acts enact
ed. changing the custom of permitting
stock 10 run al large. He was reelected
10 the Thirteenth and Fourteenth gen
cral assemblies. being speaker OF the
house in the last assembly IN Whlcn ne
sey-sd. The code of 1873 was enacted
while he presided. He was elected to
the Forty-third congress and was re-
elected to the Forty-fourth congress
He retired AZ the end of his second term
% his farm, where ne was appointed by
Governor Sherman as a member of the
railway commission. After serving one
year ne resigned to take his seat in the
Forty-eighth congress. At the end OF
this congress he again retired TO his
farm where several editors of county pa
pers arranged with him 10 write weekly
letters for their papers. which he has
continued t. 90 until the present time.
In 1891 he was elected director OF the
Iowa station and professor of agriculture
by the trustees of the Iowa Agricultural
colleges. positions he has held up 10 the
present time.
M'KENNA'S GOOD SHOW.
San Francisco, Cal, Feb. lin local
political circles there is now little doubt
that Judge Joseph McKenna of the
United States circuit court win he the
Pacific coast representative in McKin-
iey's cabinet. Judge McKenna was
asked today if he had formally accepted
6 cabinet position.
That information must first come
from Mr. McKinleH" replied Mr.. Nc
Eenra THE positions of Senator Sher-
man and Mr. Gage differ materially
from my own and until the president
elect has first authorized the statement l
will make neither admissions or denials."
1t is known amonk McKenna'S person
al friends that the judge has recently
Jeen closing up somewhat hurriedly his
private business interests, alleging as a
reason that he would be absent from the
state for runber of years.