Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-03-20
PERSONNEL OF The CABINET
Interesting Biographies Of McKin-
ley's Advisors,
Account OF Early Struggles and
Endurance of Character That
Brought Success and
Distinction.

Senator John Sherman. McKinley's
secretary of state, has been prominent
in public affairs since 1914, when he
made himself heard in advocacy of the
presidency. He was born in Lancas-
ter, o., in 1928. He lived humbly In
those early days. What education ne
got WAS such as could be had In the
county schools OF that time. 1t was not
of an extensive sort. When he was IA
years old, he secured employment In
a surveying party as rodman. AFTER
ward he got a clerkship In N OF the
county offices. At the age OF IL ne went
to Mansfield. o., and began TO read law
in the office of his brother. 1t took MIN
four years to perfect himself in Black
stone and Kent and other worthless or
the reading schedule OF that date ana
pass the examination that secured MN
admission 10 the bar. This eventful pc
Rod was reached on Sherman's twenty
first birthday, and the celebration OF
more than usually pleasant and memoir
able.
His career as "a lawyer and states
man is familiar to the merest schooi-
boy of the land. Beginning with ms
election to the national house OF repre-
sentatives in 1854, his record has been
one of successive honors and promo
lions. After having served as represent
tative he was made senator, and such
was the esteem In which he was held
by his constituents that his reelection
To the office were as regular as the eX-
piration of his terms. Indeed, since 1854
there has been only one day wherein
John Sherman was out OF Office, Ihat
was March 3, 1881, the day after he had
rendered his resignation as secretary
of the treasury under the Hayes admin
istration and the day before he took the
oath of office as a reelected senator.
Not only has Mr.. sherman been thus
continuously honored in connection
with the legislative branch of the gov
eminent, but he has been pushed by ms
friends very hard for the presidency
time and time again. There Is no doubt
that Sherman has nourlshed a warm
and strong ambition for this high place,
and at one time IL seemed almost a GER
tainty that he would De the candidate
of his party for the coveted post. This
was in 1880, when James n. GARFIELD,
Sherman's advocate In the convention,
builded so much better than he knew
that he himself secured what he sought
for his chief.
-Four years later, too there was a
strong Sherman sentiment working In
the national convention. and again IL
seemed possible that the Ohio olo
would be put In the first place on the
ticket, but Harrison was selected. 1t Is
generally believed hat this was the bit
terest disappointment sherman ever
experienced.
Senator Sherman is now nearly "A
years OF age. He is white haired, and
his tail, slender form bends somewhat
under the weight of these many years.
but there is grim tenacity in his make
up, and his vitality is many times
stronger than il appears to be. Mental
ly he is as keen as scimiter, though his
words are far less acrid now than they
were in his younger days. His accept
ance of a cabinet position is generally
regarded as his political capitulation-
a compromise with his higher aspira-
lions.