The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-24

tastes and Of high social standing in Ala
bama.
w. B. Dean, of st. Paul, represents the
great commercial interests OF the North
west. He is practical business man, who
has become part and parcel or the deVel-
opment of his State and city. While he
was born at Pittsburg Pa, in 1888, he went
to st. Paul at eighteen years of age, while
Minnesota was still a Territory. He held
a position for q time in a store, but began
business for himself in 1860, and has re-
manned continuously in the same line in
which he beean--iron and hardware-grad-
ually developing and expanding the bust
ness. He has held positions on the Water
Board the Board of Fire Commissioners
and the School Board of ST. Paul. and would
nave been rendered other political honoIS II
he had not shown "A preference for working
in the ranks He has become a shareholder
in various banks and other business enter
prises in recent years, and is director IN
one of the leading banks and in the Min
nesota, st. Paul q Sault Ste Marie Rail-
way. Mr.. Dean accepted a position as an
elector on the Republican national ticket
in 1884. and has always been an active Re-
publican.
FAIRCHILD AND FISH.
Charles S. Fairchild is thoroughly repre-
sentative of the best thought in the coun-
try's financial center-New York. He is one
of the younger members of the commission,
having been born in New York State about
fifty-fve years ago. He is a Harvard man
and enjoys a high social standing at home,
aside from his prominence as a leader of
the reform wing of the Democratic party
He held several state offices in New York,
but spent some time in travelling abroad
prior to 1880, when he settled down to prac-
tice in New York city. He was made as
sistant secretary of the treasury under Mr.
Cleyeland's first administration, and pro-
noted to the head of tine department on
April 1, 1887. He was thoroughly in accord
with the views of Mr.. Cleveland upon most
financial questions, and during the divisions
n no IL orfxr in
Mr.. Cleveland went out of office he became
the recognized leader of the Cleveland eIe-
per" delegation to the Democratic national
convention of 1892, but acceded to the aban-
donment of the contest for seats by the
anti-snapperS when it appeared that har-
mony would be promoted by such action
and that Mr.. Cleveland was sure TO win
Mr. Fairchild has been engaged for the past
eight years in the banking business as the
head Of q large trust company. he mas
given much attention to the financial prob
lem and is a strong advocate Of the retire
ment of the greenbacks and the substitu-
tion of banking currency.
Stuyvesant Fish, while credited to New
York, is in fact representative OF the
great transportation and agricultural inter-
ests of the Mississippi valley: Although a
member of an old New York family and
largely identified with Western and South
ern interests through his position as presl-
dent Of the Illinois Central Railroad. He is
the youngest member of the commission,
having been born in New York city on
June "a. 1851. He was educated at Column
bia College and at the age OF twenty en-
tered the New York Office of the Illinois
Central as d clerk. He became secretary
to the president of the company in 1872, and
in the autumn of that year became q clerk
to Morton, Bliss & Co.. at New York, and
of Morton. Rose & Co, at London. In these
positions he continued until 1875. For the
Clerk Of Morton. Bliss & Co, holding their
power of attorney. From 1876 to 1879 he was
a member of the New York Stock Tx
10 81
linois Central Railroad in 1876, and appoint
ed as treasurer and agent for the purchas-
ing committee of the New Orleans & Great
Northern Railroad, In November 1877, he
was elected secretary of the Chicago. St.
Louis & New Orleans Railroad, and in 1882
vice president of the same road. From
January of the succeeding year to April of
1884 he was second vice president of the
Illinois Central Railroad; from 1884 to 1887
vice president, and in May, 1887 he was
elected president of the road position
he now holds. The administration of Mr..
Fish has been marked by an effort to iden-
tify the interests of employees and patrons
of the road with that Of the management
He has offered the men special facilities for
becoming shareholders, so that they may
feel that in serving the road faithfully they
are adding to the value of their own prop
erty and promoting their personal interests.
The plan has been wonderfully successful.
The offer proved popular with the en-
ployes and more than half of them are
now financially interested in the success of
the road. Mr.. Fish has made the Illinois
tutions of the country. and ne has done it
by being much more than the president of
His time is very largely spent upon the
road or one of its various branches, and he
has made a careful study of the habits of
the people and the commercial conditions
and needs of every section of the Missis-
sppi valley. Probably no other railroad
manager in the country has brought his
road into such close touch with the daily
lives of the people upon whom it depends
for business.
FRIES, GARNETT, LEIGHTON.
j. w Fries, of North Carolina, we'll rep
resents the manufacturing and commercial
interests of the Southern Atlantic States.
He was born in Salem, N c., on Nov. Z,
1916, and has been a member of the firm of
+. & II. Fries, who do large cotton and
Mountaineering business and also con-
duct a Touring mill. Mr.. Fries is president
of the Peoples National Bank of Winston
and a director of the Wachovia Loan and
Trust Company, of Winston. Ete has all
ways declined to take an active part in
politics, but has held some local offices
connected with the development of the town
and State. Mr.. Fries was not delegate
to the Indianapolis convention which Origi-
mated the currency commission, and was
somewhat taken by surprise when he was
first put upon the executive committee and
afterwards upon the commission itself. He
has long been, however an active reader of
the great financial writers, as well as Il
student of practical finance, and his quail
ficationS for place on the commission
We're well known to the leaders of the move
ment in New York and Philadelphia, as well
as in the South. Mr.. Fries is a sound
money Democrat and his brother was one
of the organizers of the Palmer and Bucker
campaign in North Carolina.
Louis A. Garnett was the generally aX-
pressed choice of the business men of the
Pacific coast, where he is looked up to as
an authority upon all matters of currency
and banking. He is about sixty years old
and is one of the best equipped of the men,
bers IN respect toy expert financial knowl-
the gold standard during the many years
he has spent on the coast. He organized
the service of the San Francisco mint and
spent many years as one of its officers. He
then went abroad and spent several years
IN travel and the study of financial subjects.
Returning to San Francisco. he organized
the great reduction works known as the
Shelby smelter, with which he has since
been connected. He is the author of several
of the coinage laws of the United States,
reau at Washington by the mint act of
Feb. II, 1873. He made the suggestion to
DIR. Llndernann, who was then an employee
of the Philadelphia mint, and who succeed
and became one of the first directors of
the mint. The mints of the country had
previously been directed from Philadelphia.
Mr.. Garnett has been a frequent writer
upon coinage and financial SUBJECTS his ar
ticleS in the Forum and other magazines
having attracted wide attention and
brought him a large correspondence. The
commission has relied upon his technical
skill In the framing of their recommends
tons regarding coinage, and he has sub
ports.
Colonel George f. Leighton represents the
great Southwest on the commission and is
vice chairman of the same. He is an East