The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-12
He is Lively and Active at
II Years of Age.
So Constituted That He Can
Take Things Easily.
Is Willing TO Have Burdens Of State
Fal! Upon Judge Day.

Sherman has broken down completely and
that he is secretary of state only in name
There IL, OF course, some truth In the lat
ter part Of this statement. Mr. Sherman
Is not the real head of the department
The hard work, tho knotty questions the
difficult problems, fall To the hands Of As
sistant Secretary Day and the other assist.
ant secretaries. Judge Day, 80 far as ao-
tual work Is concerned, Is more nearly
secretary of state than Mr.. sherman. But
10 should be remembered that this Is just
what Mr. sherman wanted. He accepted
the office with full consciousness Of the
fact that he was not strong enough TO cope
with all of its duties. He stipulated that
no should have strong first assistant sec
retary who could and would relieve him OF
a great part Of the burden.
Happy In His Work.
Secretary Sherman goes To his office ev-
cry day about o o'clock in the morning.
He leaves promptly at in the afternoon.
While at his desk he looks over all the cor
respondence, signs the department mall
receives ambassadors and ministers, sends
for the assistant secretaries and other en-
ployces, and goes through all the forms
and motions Of managing tho department
not jealous because all the important cases
are prepared by Judge Day or other assist
ant secretaries at tho presidents direction
and brought TO him for his approval. He
signs his name, after u little conversation
rs 10 what is going on, and is content.
Most men would chnfe under such a sys
tenn. Ten or 20 years ago this method
would not have been tolerated five minutes
by Mr. Sherman himself While secretary
of the treasury for instance Mr.. Sherman
was actually secretary. His will was su-
preme. No ono pretended 10 question IL.
But Mr.. Sherman Is sensible enough to
know that his days for arduous toll, for
alert attention 10 delicate and difficult
diplomatic questions has passed. He Is
content To permit others 20 do the hard
work. Ho realizes that there Is more TO
be done in the state department than any
one man could possibly do, and he is not
worrying because thoro are other and
younger men at hand TO do it. Mr.. Sher-
man is "a good deal of a philosopher.
Mr.. sherman attends cabinet meetings,
and the affairs OF tho state department IRE
talked over at tho council board. His fell
low members of the cabinet do not notice
TINT thoro Is anything wrong with his In
telloctuals, aside from forgetfulness
which is common To most men OF advanced
age. Mr.. sherman has just passed his
seventy fourth birthday, and while that Is
not great ago 10 must be remembered
that the secretary Of state has performed
prodigies Of mental toll during his long
and most distinguished career As con-
gresham, senator, cabinet officer and can
didate for the presidency no has passed
through an ordeal we'll calculated to break
down the retcntive powers Of the strongest
mind. Mr.. Sherman forRets names and
faces, dates, incidents, occurrences. But
when no concentrates his mind upon prin-
ciples ho is still wise and strong coun-
selor. He has all his life had the habit OF
thinking in the abstract. Logic always
came ensier and more natural to him than
a marshaling of facts. As he grows older
this bent of bis mind intensiiles. Some
amusing stories, part of thoin true and
part Of them imaginary, are told Of Mr..
Sherman's forgotfulnoss.
A Lapse Of Memory.
/ am assured that when tho recent pub.
lications concerning the seal correspond
encc with Great Britain came out i'm the
newspapers Mr. sherman sent for state
department official and wanted to know
W
any such correspondence with Great Brit
ainS We're the newspapers correct In their
characterization of itY The official stood
aghast, for no had himself talked that
matter oil over with tho secretary only
few months before. The secretary had
read tho correspondence In question and
lad signed his name TO &C. As soon as he
had been dclicatoly reminded of these facts
NJ. knr 1,1 hn h,ln tfatp
and when he had recalled it he talked of it
In most interesting and comprehensive
way. His mind easily brought Co view all
the principles involved.
The foreign ambassadors and ministers
well understand the nature of the case.
They make their formal calls upon Mr..
sherman. All their minor matters thoy
call To his attention, but they do not trust
To oral communications. They talk n lit
tie about tho matter In hand and then sub
nit written memoranda IL Is only In
this way that they arc able To I've sure of
nction. The memoranda are turned over
20 the regular bureau Of the department,
and results aro obtained II the matters
were left 10 Secretary sherman, they would
probably bo forgotten the next minute.
The Virtual Secretary of State.
Whenever the foreign ministers have
matters OF real Importance To deal with nt
the state department, and conferences are
Necessary In addition tn the submission of
written communications, they call on
Judge Day. In such cases the slight, slen-
Ter Ohio judge who has for so many years
been tho intimate friend and confidant OF
President Mckinley is virtually secretary
Of state When the president wishes an
important case taken up az the state de-
partmcut, he sends for Judge Day.
Mr. sherman Is well aware that work
which would ordinarily fall to his hand Is
being attended Co by others, but he Is not
captions or irritable about 10 nc all. He
l., i'm fact, remarkably cheerful and con
tented Hc knows, as every one knows
that will take fair Wow of the case, that
Secretary sherman is filling post In which
ho Is Of grCnt service Co the country In his
own way, and that there Is plenty of room
for others and the work and ambitions of
Others I'm that great department, which IL
every year becoming moro and moro impor-
tant. At any rate, ovory one hOnors Mr..
Sherman for his high character, his great
public services I'm the past, his record of
devotion 20 the country, md 10 Is ghoulish
60 make snort of the infrmitics which have