The times., 1897-12-03
BRUCE AGAIN In OFFICE
Former Senator Appointed Register
of the Treasury.
His Services In the Recent Campaign
i'll Ohio Recognized by the
Appointment.

The appointment OF Hon. b. X. Bruce,
former United States Senator from Mis-
sissppi, tt be Register of the Treas
airy, which was made yesterday, after
noon hy the President, was not much Of a
surprise 10 politicians. 1t was understood
all the time that the place was for a col
ored man, and public opinion had IL CON
sistently that Mr.. Bruce would he the rep,
reseht8tivc officeholder. lie has had an
untIenished record, and one that eYtepds
all oyec tie country. 1t was the general
reputatioD of Mr.. Bruce, in fact, as well
as his services to the national party and
his well known ability that secured for
hirl his position. There We're several can
,lidates who had the ability to fill the
post, but Nj. Bruce was selected for the
reasons named. The Others spoken of i'll
COM eolion with the appointment were w.
A Gaines Of Kentucky, Prof Wright Of
Georgia. and Capt. Napier of Tennessee.
Tie most recent service of Mr.. Bruce
to the Republican party was in the ONO
campaign He is familiar with Ohio peo-
pi and politics, having been educated in
that State and been there in nearly every
Presidential election.
He succeeds Hon. j Fount Tilinan, )f
Tennessee, WHO has been in office the
fuI term OF four years, and four oT live
months Some months ago Mr.. Chew, Of
Indiina, was appointed assistant register.
Tia. appointment OF Mr.. Brnce was made
cut Yesterday afternoon by Secretary Gage
Mr. Bruce viii assume charge OF the Of
flee probably this week
Mr. Blanche K Bruce was born in Prince
Edward county, Va, March /, 1Stl, OF
slave parents. The family to whom he
| belonged. when lie was thirteen years of
age removed TO Missouri, where he le-
| sided unit; he beginning of the war.
He had been taught to read and write
when quite Young, and shortly after the
beginning Of tie war he attended school
for awhile a, Cberlin College, but ON ac-
| count or poor health was compelled to
| abandon lis ST udies there. The Rev. Henry
| Ward Beecher at one time urged him To
study theology and become a Congregation
| aIist preacher, which studies lie Eegan, bat
| did not pursue them long. az he felt the
| profession was not TO his liking, To sup
| ply sou3e of his educational deficiencies he
employed professors for years to give him
private instructions.
AT the close Of the war he removed I,
Mississippi and entered actively into poll
tics. In 1870 lie was elected sergeant
alarms CT the State senate; in 1872 h,
was elected sheriff OF Bolivar county, and
| two years later reelected to the same of
| flee Almost simultaneously with this h,
was elected United States Senator for the
fun tern OF six years During his Sena
| tOriaI term lac was chairman OF the com
| mittce 10 Investigate the affairs of Tia
+ eedmen's Bank, and, under bill intro
| dnced by him, the affairs of that nsti
| tuition V ere closed up and the bank butld
inc sOid to the Government for $3.50, ,0po
He was also chairman OF the COMMITTEE
on Mississippi Levees, also a member ,
the committees on Pensions ana Man.
factories. He, on various occasions, il
the absence 0f the Vice President, pre-
sidet q er the Senate AT the close a
his Senatorial term President Garfield AZ
pointni him Register OF the United State
Treasury, hich office he held for fnu
years. President Harrison appointed lir
register of deeds for the District OF CO
lunbia, VI hich lie also held for -four year'
lie is now engaged in cotton plantin,
in the State cf Mississippi, and sufrere
very severely by the March floods, whic
inundated the entire section OF country il
which he was operating.
He is professional lecturer and durin
the tw1 terms OF President Cleveland
administration he was on the lectur
platform and travelled from ocean to ocean
He is very popular campaign orator, an
has taken an active part in every nations
campaign since the war.