The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-06
REPRESENTATIVE BAILEY
HOW HIS AMBITION WAS FIRED
WHEN A GAwKY, CARELESS BOY.
Early Career of WouId-Be Demo-
cratic Observation-Disclosures Money
in the Public Treasury.

leader in the House on the path which has
already given him national reputation,
and which promises to lead him to greater
heights. The story has never been told
and is an interesting one. Joe" was born
in Copiah county, Mississippi, and in his
boyhood days early developed an obstinate
disinclination to go to school, to the great
alarm of his parents. He simply
wouldn't study, and was growing UP into
an ignorant. unruly youngster. The yellow
fever broke out in his town one summer.
and the boy volunteered to act as nurse
in the hospital, which was established on
the outskirts of the place. This set of
heroism amazed the villagers. 1t showed
them that there was something in
the boy. After awhile the supplies at the
hospital ran short, and Bailey sent mess
ages into town asking that food be sent
them. No attention was paid to the demands
until the youth threatened to go TO the
hotel with two three of the corvalescent
patients and take their meals. This pro-
duced the desired result. But that food in-
cident however, has nothing to do with
the story of Bailey's inspiration. While
at the hospital he CHANGED to pick up and
read Mrs. E. Z. E. N. Southworths 'Ish-
maei or In the Depths" and he was great
" stirred by the character of 1shmael
Worth as portrayed by the authoress. lie
came out of the hospital filled WIN a great
resolution to create a career for himself,
and the next five or six years were given
up to the hardest kind of study. He worked
day and night at his books and forged to
the front with remarkable rapidity. His
neighbors took him up and sympathized
heartily with the young mans aspirations.
The gawky, spoiled boy was transformed
into an ambitious young man of high cour~
age and tireless energy He was presf-
Dental elector when he was twenty-one
years old, but moved to Texas very soon
after the election at which this honor was
conferred upon him. The public is familiar
with his subsequent political career.
Mrs Southworth, the authoress, who was
unconsciously responsible for young MIR.
Bailey, is still living in her cottage in
Georgetown about a mile and half from
the White House. She is very feeble, and
will not be long of this world. She lies
most of the time upon couch placed before
window overlooking the Potomac at a
point that gives her magnificent view
for miles up and down that historic river.
She will never write again. 1t is not gem
orally known, but her novel "IshmaeP' was
founded on fact, and the hero was resi-
dent of Washington for nearly forty years.
The house in which he lived is on Capitol
hill, hardly q stones throw from the Senate
wing of the Capitol building.
If persons who have money to their
credit in the treasury and other depart
ments would come to the front and claim
their own the government would be out
great many million dollars. In the Post
office Department alone unclaimed money
orders have accumulated to the amount of
nearly So 600 900: The department has used
every possible effort to discover the iden-
tity of both the remitter and the persons
to whom the money was sent in every in
stance but in spite of all their industry in
this particular the fund continues to grow
year by year. In the Treasury Depart
ment, year or two ago, over S4000,O0O had
accumulated to the credit of unclaimed
interest account" and in the same depart
ment the various refunding operations DUR
ing the last twenty years has disclosed
the fact that bonds to the amount OF
about 81 0OO,000 have been lost or misplaced.
At any rate, they have never been pre-
scented for payment, although interest upon
| them ceased long ago. Heretofore it has
been the practice Of the Treasury Depart
ment to make no especial effort to discover
the whereabouts Of persons who do not
| come forward to claim interest or to pre-
! semi bonds or allowed claims for payment,
| hut Secretary Gage announces that he IS
| going to change this practice. lie holds
| that this government is too strong and too
| rich to be dishonest, and that 1t cannot
| afford to withhold sums of money that
! belong to individuals. He proposes, there
| fore to systematically look up the address,
| es and identity of the persons to whom
money is due as described
dav by seeing the red flag of the auc-
ttoneer flying in front of the residence OF
| Senator Allison, of Iowa, on Vermont ave.
nue. near Thomas circle, and the story
started that the senator was going to break
| nm housekeeping and live in hotel. He
| has occupied the mansion for nearly a gen.
! Grafton. and something of a sensation was
| created at the thought of the contemplated
| change in his habits of life. 1t turned out,
| however. that the senator had no intention
! of taking the step suggested Inc auc-
tfoneer was merely selling the house Whlch
! belonged to an estate, and the senator Will
| continue to occupy it as heretofore Sena-
tor Allison has lately begun to show signs
| of age His step has lost considerable or
! its elasticity and his health is not as ro-
| bust as it once was. There are no lndlca-
+iore of an immediate breakdown, however,
! and the veteran Iowa statesman has
| bright promise before him of many more
| wears of usefulness. He is sixty-elght years
| old. and is entering upon his fifth consecu-
| tive term in the United States Senate
His Washington residence adjoins that or
| Senator Morrill,, the father of the Senate,
| and the two are warm personal friends
Treasury officials have to be constantly
! IN guard against the schemes Of adven-
! turers and others who are seeking to secure
| official recognition in one form or another
which may be used to advertise their pro-
| iects. 1t is the aim of these officials to
| avoid any kind IF a certifcation which may
| in any way look as though the government
was lending it's Endorsement to enterprises
or going into copartnership with individuals
| in a business way. The latest escape that
| of refusing an Endorsement of an alleged
| process OF manufacturing gold out of base
| metals, agitated the Treasury Department
| nightly, and. by the way, Ii has stimu-
| lated a great many persons into seeking to
| introduce other gold-making devices. The
| very latest is in the form of a suggestion
| for a magnet which may be dragged
| through the sea along the auriferoIs shores
of Alaska, California, Mexico. South Amer
| y;. 4