Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-07

maps and one large photograph in an oak
frame. The photograph hangs right over
his desk and the face within it is that of
President-elect Mckinley. 1 pointed to it
and said:,
"Yes," said he, "I am thing he is safe
man, and will make a good president, My
attention was first called to him when he
beat Campbell for governor. Campbell had
gone in with a majority. Mckinley was
elected over him the next term. He was
in for one term, and was then reelected
by majority of more than $1,000. AT that
time 1 saw, thought, that he was man
of the future, and l told my friends that
he would be the candidate OF the Republic-
an party for president
How Russell Sage Made n President.
The conversation here drifted to politics,
and Mr.. Sage told me some interesting
stories about his career as politician, and
how 1t was through him that Millard Fill
more became president of the United
States. In his younger days Mr.. Sage was
a prominent man in New York state. lie
was great admirer of Zach Taylor, but
was, above everything, a strong Henry
Clay man. He was at the head of the New
York delegation at the convention which
nominated Taylor, and held the votes of
the delegates from his state solid for Clay.
New York had then, L think. twenty
eight votes, and the throwing of these TO
Taylor would mean that he would surely
get the nomination. After the convention
met 1t was evident that Clay could not
be nominated, whereupon the Taylor men
asked Mr.. Sage to come to them for a
conference as to whether New York could
not go for Taylor. Mr.. Sage did so and
eventually threw the vote of the state for
Taylor, bringing about his nomination. In
speaking of this he said: Il was asked
TO so to see Colonel Taylor, the brother
of the future president, who was manag-
ing his canvass. 1 saw that it was i'm
possible 20 nominate Clay, but l wanted
TO know whether General Taylor. a South
ern man, would treat the Northern Wings
fairly. Colonel Taylor told me that his
brother was a Whig through and through,
and as l left him l said that while we
expected to stick to Clay as long as there
was the least hope for him, we would
come to Taylor whenever it became evil
dent that he could not be nominated. I
Ihen presented the case to our delegation.
Ihey agreed, and when the crisis came in
the convention. and it was evident that
Clays chances were gone, 1 threw our
vote to Taylor, and thus brought about
his nomination. Well, the friends of Tay-
lor We're SO pleased that they came to
me and said:
Now, Mr.. Sage, you have helped us
nominate the president and we will let
you nominate the vice president.
had not thought of that at all, and
men thought of Fillmore, who was then
a young lawyer of Buffalo. 1 knew him
well, and thought he would make a good
wee president. | suggested his name, and
1t was brought before the convention. He
was was nominated without trouble. 1 then
notified him that he had been chosen as our
vice presidential candidate.
He accepted the nomination. and the
ticket was elected. Zach TAYLOR died before
his term was half out, and Fillmore became
president. So you see upon what little
things great regulations turn
Why Russell Sage Got Out of Congress
You were quite young when you were
in congress, Mr.. Sage. You might have
made made a great success there. Why did you
81 did not think politics would pay," re.
pied Mr.. Sage. Il was only four years in
or
canvass for the speakership, in which,
after five weeks of balloting, we elected N.
P. Banks. I was one of Mr.. Banks chief
supporters, and after he was elected he
came to me and told me that could have
any Craftsmanship in the house except that
OF the ways and means, which, according
TO custom, had to be given to the leader of
the defeated element of the party, and con-
sequently went to John Sherman. 1 re-
pied that l wanted nothing, and that l
did not intend to stay in congress. l told
Speaker Banks that my life was to be
business one, and added: Now, 1 want
to learn all 1 can about the government
that will be of benefit to me in my busi-
ness. The ways and means committee has
more to do with managing the government
of the United States than anything else,
and a position upon it will teach me much.
1 don't care for any of the chairmanships,
but if at the close of your appointments
you find you have place left for me en-
the ways and means committee 1 will take
General Banks replied that he would
give me the second place on that commit
tee and did so. 1 learned there all about
our financial methods and got information
which has been of incalculable value to
me ever since. l know now just how things
ought to go. / know what will be the effect
of certain legislation upon the markets and
1 can feel almost intuitively the results of
congressional action"
Why One Rich Man Works.
At this moment the brokers outside be-
came more and more anxious to see Mr..
Sage. During our long talk the door had
been Slyly opened by his cashier again and
again., and each time the old man would
raise his hand and say "In moment" In
fifteen minutes" or I'm five minutes" ac-
cording to the story he was telling at the
time. As he made the last statement the
whtte-muStached cashier came in again,
and the old millionaire rose and held out
his hand. as much as to say that the inter-
view was closed. AS l shook it said:
are one of the richest men of this coun-
try. You are said to be one of the richest
men of the world. You have more money
than you can ever spend. Your income
to-day is beyond the widest ambitions of
your youth. Now won't you tell me why
with all this you keep on working? Why
don't you retire and take a rest and en-
JOY what you have made?"
All" replied the old man, as his blue
eyes looked soberly into mine a. don't
know why. 1 don't know that I could
stop If l would. I fear l should not live
long If l did SO. I believe like work bet
ter than ! do play. My chief happiness