New-York tribune., 1899-03-17

clubs Of subscribers He used 10 walk nine miles
every Saturday to receive instruction In Latin,
logic and physics from a clergyman at Canton. Ohio
He finished college preparatory at tho
Massillon Academy. and then studied law at Can
ton. and admitted To the bar in 1876
He practised for some time at ew-Philadelphis,
Ohio. but after two years he bought The Coshoc-
ton Republican" which he conducted for TWO
years In 1851 he established The Daily Forest
city" at Cleveland. and conducted II az a WING
organ. He supported General Winfield Scott but
rejected the Baltimore platform. which lndorscd
the Fugitive Slave law Of 1880. The following your
he united his paper with The Free Democrat
under the OF The Cleveland Leader"
In the two years that he conducted The Loader
he urged the necessity of disbandng the Whg
party and the organization OF a party TO resist
tho extension OF slavery. He was ore Of twelve
men who held a meeting In Cleveland In 1854 and
organized themselves the nucleus Of the Repub-
rcan party.
In January. 1850. Mr.. Medill sold his interest in
The Leader" and. with others. bought The Chi
cago Tribune" which had been up 70 that time
daily Whlg paper OF small circulation. He at once
converted 1t into a radical anti-slavery journal
From that day forward II became an influential
and profitable enterprise. In 1866 Mr.. Medill made
a strong fight for John G. Fremont He worked for
Abraham Lincoln and against Stephen a. Douglas
for Senator in 1855. and In 1853 began pushing Lin
coin for the Presidency In the Civil War The
Chicago Tribune urged the issue Of the Emanci-
patton Proclamation and eXerted a strong influence
in favor OF It. 1t opposed President Johnson and
his scheme for ruction. upheld the impeach
ment proceedings against him, defended the Re-
construction acts OF Congress and urged General
Grant for the Presidency in 1868.
3ir. Medill chosen member OF the Illinois
Constitutional Convention OF 1870, and secured the
provision preventing special legislation for indi-
vidual benefit and many reform clauses Of great
value In 1871 he appointed by President Grant
the first Board OF Civil Service Commissioners
and wrote a report In favor OF a single Presiden-
tial term OF six years, contending that the Presi-
dent would thus be freed from Congressional pat
ronage and improper influences playing his am
bitOn for second term. Before he could urge this
Immediately after the great fire.. and resigned his
Commissionershp. He secured In his term new
and improved city charter. He Was also largely
instrumental in establishing the Chicago Public
Library and the city Exposition Building. He de-
clined a reelection because OF ill-heaith.
In 1874 he bought a controlling interest in The
Chicago Tribune" and became its editOr-in-chief
In 1928 he began resolute agitation in favor OF
high license and local option in Illinois. This re-
form was successfully carried through the Legls-
ature. In lSsS-'s9 he began the movement for the
annexation ~ the suburbs Of Chicago. which when
carried through added three hundred thousand IN
habitants 10 that city. This movement largely in
huonced Congress TO designate Chicago as the
Worlds Fair city. Mr Medill regarded as
progressive. broad minded. strong Wiled and capa-
BILE His tendency to Independent action q prob
Mr.. Medil married a Miss Patrick, Of New-Phia-
del