Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-09-03


CLAN AND CITIZEN-A MAN OF
VARIED AND UNEXPECTED AC-
COMPLISHMENTS.
CININNATI, O., September 2.-The
Commercial Tribune, the leading Re-
publican organ of Ohio, prints the fol-
lowing decidedly interesting character
sketch of John R. Mclean, man OF
whose life and character, aside from
their political phases, but little is
known:
A detailed account of the life, adven-
lures and achievements of John R. Nc
Lean would form biographical volume
that very few persons would find dull
reading.
Aside from any reference to his fit
ness for the office to which he has been
nominated, John r. Mclean is an in
teresting figure. However much there
may be disposition on the one hand
to consider his election, should it by
any possibility come to pass, triumph
fraught with menace to the best in
terests of Ohio, the activity and
achievements of the man, his varied
mental equipment and the vast COM
pass of his affairs and affiliations COM
bine to form a personality picturesque
ly UNIQUE. and fun of interest even to
his political enemies.
He is a very wealthy man--some OF
his close friends say he is worth as
much as $15,000,000; he is one of the
few remaining newspaper men who i'm
presses his individuality on his publ
cation, as used to be the rule in the
earlier days of journalism; ne knows
all phases of life, as only an exper-
fenced newspaper man can come to
know them, and he has at the same
time the grasp of man of large bust
ness affairs and the breadth of one with
whom "big" politics has been an every
day occupation from his youth up. In
Washington and at the summer re-
sorts of the fashionables he is conspic-
uous as an entertainer and bon VI
want: in Cincinnati there are still many
of his friends in middle life who will
hold Mclean up as the finest fellow
about-town and boon companion they
ever saw-one who could do more
things well than anybody, from putting
on the gloves to base ball, from singing
a comic song and picking banjo or
pounding a piano to playing on big
pipe organ, from telling story to writ
ing the brightest stuff that ever went
into his newspaper.
BIRTH AND ANCESTRY.
Mr.. Mclean was born in Cincinnati
nearly fifty-one years ago, mis- birth
occurring, to be exact on September
II, 1S4S. His father Washington Nc
Lean, was born in Cincinnati, too, in
1916, and died in Washington, d. c., on
December 8, 1890. The elder Mclean
was of Scottish descent, had limited
educational advantages and was appre
ticed to the making trade. Aft
err serving his time, he associated with
him former shcpmate and established
an independent boiler shop, the part
ners erecting the building with their
own hands. after working hours. The
firm Of Mclean & Shaddinger, in East
Pearl street, was one of the best known
in the west. Washington Mclean
studied hard to overcome the deficen-
cies of his early education, applying
himself particularly TO history and pol
tiles, and by the time ne was thirty
five year old he knew intimately every
politician of note in Ohio and many of
the leaders in National affairs His
business had prospered, and he had ac-
cumulated what was considered for
tune at that period. About 1852, in
partnership with James j. Faran, he
bought the Enquirer, the principal or
gan Of the Democratic party west of
the Alleghenies. and, with his partner
as editor, he directed its business and
policy for nearly a quarter Of a CEN
fury, and then relinquished its active
MANAGEMENT to his son, John R. Nc
Lean. About 1882 he removed to
Washington, where he made large in
XGslIlEUlS III Icdl GStdlC w ME
aging the Enquirer, Washington Nc
Lean was considered one of the shrewd-
est politicians in the country. and was
known in the west as ''the Warwick OF
the Democratic party
HIS START IN JOURNALISM
The boy inherited a share OF his
fathers sturdiness and strength Of
character, and the discipline which the
elder Mclean saw fit to impose was ac-
cepted without protest by the son.
This was most strongly exemplified in
the course the young man took when
he returned from school in Germany
and went TO work at the Enquirer.
During his school days in Cincinnati
young Mclean had been famous as an
athlete. and he was an enthusiastic
member of the old Red Stockings. and
personally exerted a strong influence
in starting base ball toward the posi-
ton it now occupies. After quitting
school here young Mclean went to
Harvard, and after that to Germany.
1t must have taken pluck, coming home
from such an experience as this, to be
assigned by his father to the position
of Office boy on his fathers paper. But
it is narrated that he unhesitatingiy
took hold of the work and did it well.
Promotions followed until be had mas