The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-07
TALK WITH RUSSELL SAGE.
Concluded from ninth Pnge1


and through. and as 1 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
evident that he could not be nominated.
then presented the case to our delegation.
They agreed. and when the crisis came in
the convention and il was evident that
CIay's chances We're gone L threw vote
TO Taylor, and thus brought about his NOM
nation. Well. the friends of Taylor 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
Il had not thought of that at all. and /
took some time to consider. Among other
men l thought of Fillmore. who was then
a young lawyer of Buffalo. i knew him
well. and thought he would make a good
Vice President. L suggested his name. and
It was brought before the convention. He
was nominated without trouble. L 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 over and Fillmore be-
came President. So you see upon what lit
tie things great reputations turn
WHY HE GOT OUT OF CONGRESS.
You were quite young when you were
In Congress, Mr.. Sage. You might have
made a great success there. why did you
leave politics."
II did not think politics would pay" re-
piled Mr.. Sage. Il was only four years in
Congress. / was there during the long can
vass for the speakership, in which after
five weeks of balloting We elected n. Z.
\ Of Nv
supporters. and after he was elected he
came to me and told me that / could have
any Craftsmanship i'm the House except that
of the ways and means which according
to custom, had to be given to the leader or
the defeated element of the party and con-
seqCently went To John Sherman / replied
that l wanted nothing, and that i did not
intend to stay in Congress. / told Speaker
Banks that my life was to be business
one and added: Now / want to learn all
7 can during my stay in Congress about
the government that will be of benefit to
me i'm my business. The ways and means
committee has more to do with managin,
the government of the United States than
anything else. and a position upon il will
teach me much. / don't care for any of
the chairmanships. but if at the close of
your appointments you find you have a
place left for the ways and means
committee will take it,
General Banks replied that he would
give me the second place on that COM
nittec. and did so. l found my position of
immense value TO me. / learned there all
about our financial methods and got infor-
nation which has been of incalculable value
10 me ever since. l know now just how
things ought to go / know what will be
th, Of in, 81
markets and 1 can feel almost intuitiveIy
the results of congressional action"
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 a moment :"
"ln fifteen minutes" or In five minutes"
according 10 the story he was telling al the
time. As he made the last statement the
vhite-mustached cashier came in again.
ard the old millionaire rose and held out
his hand. as much to say that the in
terview was closed. AS shook it / said:
Just one more question. Mr.. Sage. You
are one of the richest men OF this country.
You are said TO be enc OF the richest men
OF the world. You have more money than
you can ever spend. -FOUR income to-day
Is Deyohd the Wlldest ambitions or your
youth Now. won't you tell me why with
all this you keep on working? Why don
you retire and take rest and enjoy what
you have made?'
All" replied the old nan. as his blue
eyes looked soberly into mine. II don't
know why. / dent know that / could stop
IL / would j fear | should not live long
Al | did so. / believe / like work better
than 1 do play. My chief happiness to-day
Is in my work, and 1 suppose my machinery
will go on ut this same rate as long as
i've" FRANK @. CARPENTER
Friendship Defined.