The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-29

most daily, and his letters We're filed
with affectionate reminders of eafler
days. with presents, pictures OF places of
interest and all that could make her de-
Ginning years most cheerful As father,
lie was no less thoughtful Of his son and
daughters His life, even when most en-
crossed with official cares, was most I'M
selfish He was always planning for their
future rather than his own.
Mr.. Stevenson is fond of walking. 1t
was his daily means of reaching the capt.
tol, a full mile from his hotel Even in
slight storm he would set forth, reach
ing the senate with rudy glow of
health as he would take the presiding Of
fcer's chair.
ALWAYS APPROACHABLE.
No man could be more approachable at
all times. There was no guard stationed
outside the vice presidents office All
were admitted when the senate was not
in executive session. Mr.. Stevenson was
often urged to restrict the ease of en-
trance TO this office, as 1t was privilege
often abused; but he always replied: "It
Is public office, and many of the visit
ors come from distant places to see the
points of interest. Let them come He
would often stop his work, signing bills
or writing letters, to explain to visitors
the history of the beautiful paintings of
Washington and the bust of Henry VIII
son, who had died in the office, and point
out many other places of interest in the
building
He was rated highly as a presiding Of
hcer, and because of his fairness was
very popular with the Republican sena-
tors as well as those of his own side
MI. stevenson has conducted a number
OF important law cases including one or
Two FAMOUS murder trials in Illinois He
mas mad experience with men of all kinds
ne retains, nevertheless, a trusting
nature Literally. he believes evil of no
one. Sharpers quite frequently have talk
on advantage of this confidence in his
IeIioWmen; but when the evidence of their
character mas been presented the victim
"ouid dismiss the matter with an OK
preston of disgust and contenpt rather
than of bitterness
- .t mas been said often that President
CteNeiahd d1d not treat his companion
on the ticket fairly. However that NAV
De, 1t Is easily ascer tained- that CleveIon5
held him in high estimation. When he
Iellred from the White house the FIRST
linc he nominated his tier assistant
postmaster general for Justice of the su.
preme court OF the District Of Coiumbi.;
Senator Edmunds. Of Vermont. then
chairman of the senate Judiciary com.
mtttee, for party reasons alone 0ppose1
confirmation
Cleveland appreciated FULLY ths services
of Stevenson in 1883, and wrote him n
most cordial acknowledgment of his good
work in the campaign, especially in iii
nois.
LIKED BY CLEVELAND
During his second term Cleveland ap-
pointed ~SteVenson's law partner minister
to Belgium, named his brother post
master at Bloomington, and in many
other ways sought to show his high esti-
nation of the vice president Shortly
before retiring he rendered life position
in-the navy to Mr. Stevenson's son. But
undoubtedly there was an awkwardness
In their relations, as there has been al
ways between the men holding these two
high and somewhat incongIt&ousG offices
AS campaigner Mr. Stesepsen has a
high Teputat on. He is cautious as well
as forcefu in his statements in public
He is man who can pass Through j.
campaign without making q record,
through inadvertence or eifusiveness,
that can injure his party afterwards
In Washington there is general i'll
dorsemert Of the Nomination of the Ifli-
noisan. In twelve years spent at the
capital Mr. Stevenson made no more
enemies than every good man is COM
PEELED to create; and most of these are
without influence. Against them he had
a host OF cordial admitting, trusting
friends, in all walks of life and in both
the great political parties. s
When Cleveland was inaugurated, in
March, 1883, his cabinet Were. civil service
reformers. Such men as BaNard, sec
rotary of state; Endicott, war: LANAI,
interior, and Garland, attorney general,
were i'll calculated to fill the expecta-
| tons of the men who had elected them,
largely on the platform of turn the
q.
ing the party which reliably has a pepu-
lar majority in the country at least
portion of the federal Offices. Even. Villas
the pOstma stcr general, was a reform
err That is, he tried for a time the
policy Of retaining Republicans who had
used their offices for upwards of a quar-
ter afsa century mainly for the purpose
of keeping Democrats out of power. The
civil service law had been in operation
little over year, excluding more than
$500 of the most desirable clerkships from
partisan appointment. The result was
that, with a cabinet all carrying out the
wishes OF the MugWumps, all working on
the theory that Republicans were more
efficient as officehelders than Democrats,
the new administration became highly
unpopular. 1T was, in fact almost uni
versally eXecrated. Strangely enough,
the Republican voters were as little
pleased with the general retention policy
as We're the Democrats; and probably the
reason was that every American voter
likes TO see fairness in the distribution
of good things, which means rotation
in federal office and an open, manly
manner of making changes without watt
ing for trumped-up charges against the
! incumbents.
| To add to the general revolt, Repub-
| licans were retained even as crossroads
| postmasters. AS a class, these always
! have been rated as the most pestiferous
| and offensive of all partisan ofticeholders
| The fourth class postmas ter generally is
| an active political worker and his scalp
, is wanted by all the opposing party men
| in the community.
In charge of these officers Cleveland put
Malcolm Hay of Pittsburg, a wealthy,
exclusive lawyer; a prominent churchman
and devotee of civil service reform. Mr..
Hay was an invalid, and had at heart a
detestation of political workers. and con-
tempt for their demands for reward He
was in his office but short time daily,
! and would not consider petitions for APP
pointments excepting where serious
charges were filed. He made this known
| through the press, and the result was
| what might have been imagined.
NETONI&A BEACH. r4