New-York tribune., 1901-03-14
HARRISON "REMINISCENCES.
INTERESTING SIDE LIGHTS on THE
EX-PRESIDENTS CHARACTER.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

orly American President to enter the White House
| after a of service in the United States Sen
| ate. Such is not the fact of course, though for
more than fifty years except in General Harrison's
case, the doors of the White House have seemed to
! close Obstinately against Presidential asprants
whose canvasses for nomination and election have
! been conducted from within the Senate chanber
Several OF the earlier Presidents, however reached
! the chief magstracy after political career In
! which service in the Senate minor phase.
James Monroe elected Senator from Virginia
in 1890 and remained in the upper house about four
years John Quincy Adams was a Senator from
! Massachusetts from 1903 to 1905 Andrew Jackson
spent year in that body in early life-from 1797
TO 179s when he resigned-and returned to it again
for two years from 1923 to 1925. Martin Van Buren,
was elected TO the Senate from NewYork in 1921
for six year term He was reelected in 1927. but
| resigned in 1929. William Henry Harrison was
Senator from Ohio for three years. from 1925 to
1928. Franklin Pierce represented New-Hampshire
in the upper house for five years. from 1887 1912.
when he resigned. and James Buchanan represented
Pennsylvania in the same body from 1884 to 1915.
James A Garfield had been elected to the Senate
from Ohio for the term beginning March T. 1881,
but entering the Presidency that date. never
qualified as a member of the upper house General
Harrison the Presidency from private life.
holding office the time he nominated and
in that respect his record is paraleled in the last
half century only by Lincoln in 1861, Cleveland in
1898 and Mckinley in 1897 All other Presidents in
that period entered the White House from some
other public post.
FIRST SUCCESS AS a LAWYER
An old personal and political friend of General
Harrison. the head of important bureau in the
| Interior Department under his administration, told
| some time ago the following stories of the ex-
| Presidents first success Indiana lawyer, and
of his entry into the volunteer army coloKel in
the Civil War:
He was but tws9tyope years OF age at this time,
| hard 10 tell what might be expected of him, but
| his already well developed talent for eXtempore
TO- to the 3 front on his first public appearance lie
suit and was to make the concluding argument.
and when he came into the courtroom found
effort with applause and criticism; He had taken
full notes OF the evidence and, like all beginners,
fearful of mistakes IN statement, was resolved to
read from them copiously. table had been drawn
his conservation he disc6vered that the light was
wholly insutieient The sheriff had provided but but
silence throughout the room; His voice sharp.
| corner The audience was already in sympathy
| with him. The situation was embarTassing. lie
| referred 10 his notes He wished To- be absolutely
correct He shifted the candle He turned the
Penciiling refused to come out Then in despera-
ton he flung The notes away TO ms Soy own ainAze m %
found he could think amd sPeaR Gpomd ms bt th
right words enabling him 10 express himself exact
| tly He found too the pleasure there always Is IN
| Con6denne came With these discoveries From thar
day to this wheiher addrfsS's nSf fbo ID 5ebt "f
| oratory the platform or stump. he has been an
The youthful orator carried the day the sui,
STongS %aS SPnb him e immedate and honorabe fame as
well swift advancement In his profession ny
sirei shd nnswSTy1g ncSfy he not only gained but
retained clients he 5esorzad s one Of the biest
LAWYERS at the bar and one Ne Of the most respected
ENTRANCE INTO MILITARY SERVICE.
His entering the military service was very char
| acteristic OF the man In time of great depres-
unsatisfactory +.
Morton, Indanas famous war Governor, urgently
He replied, governor. If / be Of any service
Well" the Governor replied at once. YOU can
raise regiment in TINS IS Congress es .oI; district M @
into the field with US; you have been elected re-
% h1 9d Rc viii ad TO
He proposed to go along with them and stay as
9ng as any Of them dd if he e., lived thai hat, long
recruit r others and stay at home al hmsef s. o
to go you can com command the resime,nt, m man,
to comma2d 2 She regiment do e not know W anything
about military tactcs II You can can hnd some suit,
not at all anxious to take the command"
He began at once 10 make & himself % master ter Of his his
Regniiations and the tactics In order m tuly or to
The regiment was put TO school and kept there
| until ii became proficient theoretically and prac-
| pany and the battalion. It became noted for It's
coioneis discipline was very strict. but he exac,ed
| of his men only what he required of himself-rigd
pT3' part Of the he Twemticfb s Army % corps participated
the victorious campaign waged by sherman in 1864
| against the army of General Joseph f. Johnston,
| and in month its colonel was engaged In more
| SON fought in his whole iife-more than Andrew
| Jackson fought in his life
At one time while United States Senator, General
Harrison was invited to address the Young Mems
Republican Club of Providence, r. l., and during
| his stay in that city he told his host of a
| that occurred in the Senate chamber when one of
| its members was under criticism for the method
obtaining his seat. His accuser stood In the aisle
| near him, and pointing his finger at him. said
with great earnestness: Il not surprised Mr.
| President, thai these charges made Such
| charges often made unjustly. What disturbs
me- sir is the fact that day after day the Senator
| sits and listens these charges and makes no
| reply"
| II would not" said Harrison, have suffered
| what that must have suffered in those fifteen
| minutes for the of being Senator for life"
HIS CARE AND CAUTION
| A Republican Senator, who, though a mem
Der of his Cabinet, of President Harrison s
| closest advisers. related tonight incident that
| illustrates the great and caution that cha r
| acterized his course as President
| II was called from the Senate chamber to the
F, White House by telephone message from the
| President" said the Senator. The Hawaiian an
nexatlon question nad reached % It's acute stage and
| dent wanted to discuss with me. ! found him in
an unusually nervous .. state. and as soon as en-
:" What do you think about Hawaii?'
| time in annexing the islands, Mr.. President In
| fact. since the only responsible government now
You should turn no Corners when the petition ar
rives here, but should take the shortest and
President Harrison stared at me moment and
81 am not so certain about that as you seem
TO be The fact Is, that already have received