The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-16

chairman Of the executive committee dur
ing the 1888 campaign. and on the death OF
William ii. Barnum. was elected chairman
OF the Democratic national committee
IN THE SENATE.
In the winter Of 1880 Mr.. Brice was elected
United States senator to succeed Henry =.
Payne and took his seat March 4. 1851. In
the Senate Mr.. Brice became a prominent
figure. He was soon made a member Of
the Democratic steering committee and be-
came also a member of the committee
appropriations. Mr.. Brice seldom spoke in
the Senate but was a close observer of
everything that was going on and was also
always deep in the counsels of the party.
He was a favorite with nearly all, posses
sing a fund of good humor, good story
teller and universally popular with senator's
on both sides of the chamber. He was adj
mired for his business and political skill
and for his abounding good humor. which
never left him on any OCCASION Mr.. Brice
served six years in the Senate. being sue
ceeded by Joseph b. Foraker. In Washing
ton he occupied the Corcoran house and
gave lavish entertainments, which became
Worldwide. Since his retirement from the
Senate he had been in Washington but very
little, occupying himself for the most part
with business affairs in New York. Until
the Democratic party adopted free silver
cardinal principle Mr.. Brice was the lead
er OF his party in Ohle, but after that he
did not take an active part in politics.
BRICE ''DISCOVERED' BY FOSTER.
Many interesting stories are told of Mr..
Brice's early career. In an article in the
Chicago Times-Herald of March Is, 1897, ].
s. Evans said: "A year ago spent the day
with ex-Secretary of the Treasury Charles
Foster, at his home in Fostoria, o. In the
course of a very long interview he spoke CT
Brice. Foster. 1t must be remembered, dis
covered the financier. He told me that Brice
was the shrewdest politician and had the
keenest perception Of any man he knew any
nh
the time he discovered him as a clerk at
Lima up to that period, and spoke about his
days In poverty and how he had spent the
night one time at his home. There were
only two beds in the residence Mrs. Brice
ana the children occupied one, while he and
Mr.. Brice slept in the other In the night
the bed Stats broke in twain and they were
forced to lie on the floor until morning. He
xola-~me this to illustrate the scantiness of
SraSrlces furniture at one time in his history.
and then he went on to describe the
gorgeousness of his Washington mansion.
Foster took Brice to New York in later
years and got him a position with railroad
corporation. Some months later Foster met
bf1ce $ employer, who, in talking about the
young Ohioan, said that he was the most
valuable man in the employ of the system.
why, said he, can't ask him a ques-
ton that he can't answer. He is absolutely
Indispensable Foster told Brice about the
conversation. Brice was pleased and told
roster that he had never allowed the old
man, as he called him, to interrOgate him
or ask his advice on any subject that he
did not give him an instant reply. Then,
shortly on the matter and, if wrong he
would correct himself with the old man.
But he was never SO poor as to be without
an answer of some sort at the moment.
Brice and his partner were originally Re
rubilcans When their railroad interests
grew SO as to demand political attention it
was agreed that one of them must become
g DEMOCRAT; To decide which one should
desert the Republicans a coin was tossed in
the air. Brice lost
HIS FIRST BIG DEAL.
Harley Porter, another Times Herald writ
er, saids few days after Mr. Evanss rem
iniscence was printed: Charles Foster was
responsible for Brice's first big deal, but he
did not discover Brice as a clerk in Lima
neither did the secure a position for the
embryo fnancier in New York The true
story is romantic enough in itself, and is an
index of Brice's chief stock in trade-colos-
sal nerve. Foster was the controlling spirit
of little railroad running from northeast
TO southwest through his own town of Fos-
toria. 1t began in the mud and ended in
the mire, but it was rich in possibilities
Some day it would stretch on forty-five
iegree line from Lake Erie down, down into
otIhe region dominated by Jaw Gould and
When that day should come the great South
west would know of no other trunk line
that could serve it so well. Positively the
only thing the road needed to build 1t was
the money that would be required to con-
struct it; Financiers of all calibers and quail
1ties mad hawked the profile and prospectus
about New York until the topic was danger
ously near the laughing-stock stage.
Brlce was known to Foster as a bright
young lawyer, who had shown much ability
not developed much of a reputation for car
rying them to successful completion. He was
hundred-ton locomotive which had not
been placed on the track properly. SO one
day when Brice suggested that he be en-
powered to go down and try to take some
money out of Gotham on the railroad deal
Foster acquiesced in a somewhat mixed
frame of mind. OF course Brice might be
SUCCESSFUL, but 1t looked like sheer waste
of good ambition that would have made sew
eral winnings in Justices court.
'Brice reached New York with a stock of
enthusiasm that would be worth millions
possibly-to any man. A few days in New
York however, took a large amount of en-
ergy out OF him. and by the end of week
he was contemplating trip back to Lima
with anything but pleasant anticipations.
On the eve of his departure he noticed
among the cable news of one of the New
York journals the statement that certain
foreign gentlemen were contemplating a trip
TO this country with a view TO making heavy
Investments in American railroads. Brce
turned at once to the shipping intelligence
and saw that a Cunarder was billed to
leave that afternoon. Then he rushed to a
telegraph office and wired the leading gem
tlemen in the european party not to start,
saying that he was on the road over with
matters that would interest them. And he
did interest them. So much that they decided
that the Lake Erie x Western was the
one particular investment that they We're
looking for, and that Calvin s. Brice was
the proper man to look after their interests
in the matter. Gotham financiers who were
upon their arrival in New York were much
disgusted when Brice returned with all the
money in sight
RAILROADS MADE TO SELL.
'sIn putting the railroad on its feet Brice
laid the foundation for his own fortune.
He was keen enough to refuse a money fee
for his work, but took service with the road
Instead. Very soon he was its assistant
general counsel, then general counsel, and
within a year or two the president of the
road. Then he surprised the staid old di-
rectors of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Day
gon by breaking into their circle before they
fairly knew that he was on earth. And
wherever he secured a foothold he intro
duced methods that made the old men sit
up. For instance, the first time Brce APP
ne had bought into he had lively tilt over
what the roads policy should be.
: What do you think railroads were built
for anyway finally inquired Brice
Railroads, sir, replied q snowy-haired
financier of the old school. railroads are the
great distributors of the products of nations.
They are the great avenues of commerce,
which bind the West and the East the
North and the South
. 'Bosh.' said Brice. railroads are built to
SELL And that is the keynote of the man.
he IS a wholesaler of railroads.
However. Brice is not merely an illustra-
ton Of the lofty possibilities which this
country offers tc hustiers. Brice is a man
better equipped than. most men. He is one
J,f era n ia