The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-16
How Horace White Made
Himself Wealthy.
He Got Information From
Congress About Whisky.
Speaker Reeds First Imp ortant
Law Suit-.-How he Won Case.

ket, hut we have yet 10 hear of any sena-
tors or other persons In Washington max
ing any money on that advance OF late
years the amasslDg Of fortunes 10y lucky
strokes upon information gained in con-
gress or prospective action of the govern
ment, appears TO bo less frequent than 10
was in the old days. Quite number of
the rich men Of 30 years ago could trace
their fortunes directly 10 fortunate specu-
lation of this sort. For instance, Horace
White, the famous editor, was at the be-
ginning Of the war n newspaper CORE
spondeut here He obtained advance in
formation as 10 the leyying Of "A big inter-
nal revenue tax npon whisky, and inter
estinR number Of bis friends In the busi-
ness made himself rich man mt n single
stroke. They bought large quantities Of
whisky and held it for the advance which
was sure 10 follow as soon as the new tax
became known TO the public.
A Whisky Speculation.
Among the mon interested i'm that deal
was 5. NJ. Nickerson, "a partner of the
present secretary Of the treasury, Lyman
j. Gage in the banking business at Chi
OF money in the whisky speculation. He
Is now the successor Of Mr.. Gage as presi-
dent Of the First National bank of Chi
eaRo, "A concern which enjoys larger de-
posits than any other bank in America.
Another man who made money in that deal
was Crosby, who organized the sensational
lottery which bore his name some 30
years ago. Ho gave as his grand prize the
CrOSly DnPra HonSp i'm Chicapo
i see that ex Congressman Sorg of Ohio
Is announced as candidate for United
States senator against Mark Hanna Mr..
Sorg is another man who made money by
a lucky investment in property soon 20 be
affected by the government tax. In the
early days Of the war Sorg was only strip
ling. He had been apprcnticed as n mold
er, but he finally found "a job in tobacco
factory. A young friend of his was offered
aplace as foreman Of a tobacco factory, and
he took Sorg with him. Congress had
passed n new tariff bill, heavily increasing
the tax upon tobacco. This factory was
opened for the special purpose Of making
up large quantity Of tobacco before the
new rates went into effect. Sorg's friend,
the foreman, was offered a share of the
Profits II he would turn out certain guam
tity before the new law took effect. 10 he
and young Sorg kept the shop running day
and night They got s3, 600 for their share
and with this embarked in the tobacco
business on their own account. Mr.. Sorg
owes his present great fortune, estimated
at $40, 600, 900. to that lucky incident.
Speaker Reeds First Case.
Speaker Reed likes TO tell his friends of
the first important lawsuit he had TO try.
Ii was libel case A Maine newspaper
editor he'd charged that certain politician
was "the biggest liar in the state" and
the ncCrieved politician had promptly
brought action. Reed was employed 10 de-
fend the editor. Being his first important
case, ho was naturally anxious To win it as
"a starter for his professional career. His
friends advised him TO let II alone, as they
said. ho was sure 10 meet with defeat. But
young Reed thought differently and went
at 10 in a way quito characteristic Of him.
He admitted however, that it might be
difficult thing to prove any one man To be
tho biggest liar in "a state which had pro-
duced so many liars. He also saw the
force of the argument that the more effort
he madc 10 TroNc tho complainant the big
gcst liar in the state tie greater would be
tho damages If he should just fall short.
But tho future speaker concluded to take
bis chances III court, and he stuck by his
client.
In the trial he put upon the stand a
large number Of witnesses who testified TO
the extraordinary accomplishments Of the
plaintiff in Tho lying line. Then youHg
Reed addressed tie jury. He reviewed tho
testimony in a careful way, and then
asked the jury if they would not agree
with him that the plaintiff bad been
shown TO bo as big n liar as any self re-
specting state ought to have within its
borders.
"Thc onus of showing that there Is in
the state of Maine bigger liar than this
man" said Mr.. Reed, lis upon tho plain
tiff.''
This caught tho jury, and Reed won his
case.
The American Fool.
One Of the diplomats told me funny
story about tho American traveller who
goes into IA capital In Europe and, calling
at the American legation, demands every
thing in sight This sort of traveller from
the States is the terror of every man who
lives abroad as a representative of tho
American people He is quite numerous.
He imagines that because he is AN Amori-
can tho American minister or consul must
tlNtE uNb hif VilTIltRt,' tlht Hliu tihuiu
town, ask him 10 dine, take him to tho
opera, present him at corrt, etc. This
diplomat was charge d'afiairCs during the
,hsCncc of tho minister. An American
journalist camo along with his wife and
daughter. They were exceedingly anx-
lous to be presented az court, and because
the charge found 70 impossible 10 secure
audience with the queen they denounced
him as a failure. an ipnorGmus, n disgrace
To his country ard other nice things.
The joke Of 10 was that the editor camo
back ia the Uaited States and wrote the
matter up In his PAPER. But he had for
gotten the name Of the charge dniiaires
who had offended him. and looked In the
diplomatic list published by the state de
partment for u. Whom he had found the
name, ho puhlishcd 10 ia connection with
n scathing GcnunCiniion of TINT officials
incomrctcncy .ant, general vGrthlcssness.
But unfortunately be bad referred Co an
old diplcunti. list, ~ which the namc of
the predecessor Of the offending secretary
Of legation w1s printed nnd n was this