The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1901-08-24
HON. CHARLES G. DAWES.
From First Page

HON. CHARLES G. DAWES.
Continued From First Page.)
officer. Although his salary as Comp
troller OF the Currency is $4,000, with
$1,000 added as ex oficio treasurer Of
the Freedmen's fund, he declined.
Commenting afterward on this step, he
remarked: ''I have determined when
l leave his Office not to go to the head
OF a bank, as most of my predecessors
have DONE" The Comptroller appoints
many men as receivers, attorneys, etc,
whose salary is greater than his own
When a vacancy occurred in the Of
flee of Deputy Comptroller two
years ago, a flood of applications
from politicians poured in. Call
ing the faithful private secretary,
Thomas F. Kane, who had been in the
department many years and was IA
miliar with the work of the office, Mr..
Dawes said: "kane, want to make
the new deputy by promoting some
one in this Office, for merit. 1 am 60
ing to name over the men and want
your opinion" 80 =
Mr.. Kans spoke highly but truth
fully Of each of his associates in turn.
When he had finished Mr. Dawes said:
Take a letter to Secretary Gage"
The Comptroller dictated as follows:
ssDear Sir: I hereby recommend for
appointment as deputy Comptroller of
the Currency, vice L. O.. Murray, re-
signed, Thomas F. Kane
Kane paused in his shorthand. But
there was no mistake.
Kane was a good officer said Mr..
Dawes to a friend, "and I never heard
him speak in jealousy or, unkindness
toward one of his associates. He was
too good man to be kept at type
writer all his life"
q. Mr.. Kane has made an excellent ad-
officer, and acted success
fully as Comptroller in many trying
cases.
1t must be admitted, as insisted by
some politicians, that there is not
much practical politics" in some ap-
pointments Mr.. Dawes has made, but
there seems to be- something very
much akin to the spirit of civil service
reform.
Bishop let us call him, not to
seem personal, had been an old school
mate of the Comptroller. He stood at
the head of his class in. everything.
He held a desk and routine job in
a large city when nlr. Dawes went into
the Comptroller's once. He was
specialist Of high rank, but in a groove.
One day, when Bishop had no special
reason to believe that his old class
mate, Dawes, was thinking of him, he
was summoned to the Treasury De-
partment.
s Il have a place for you at twice your
present salary Go and resign at
once" said Mr.. Dawes.
but cannot be of any assistance
to you politically" he replied.
It don't care about that. The pub
lie service needs men like you.''
Bishop went. He has made a splen-
did record. SAID Mr.. Dawes, apropos
of Bishop: "That man always stood
at the head of his class. He can beat
me in all the studies. He is one Of
that large class Of able men who some
how don't get true recognition for
their talents.
Another friend of former days"
was discovered experimenting a build
ing in a Western city. He had stood
=
far Western city, but the panic left
him stranded, and seeking his fortune
in a new locality he finally took the
superintendent's position to sustain
his family. Mr.. Dawes recommended
him as attorney to a receiver. In.
three months he dug out an authority
which revolutionized the practice of
receivers and saved several thousands
to the trust. His official work over, he
became a useful member of large
commercial law firm in an Eastern
city.
The strange thing about Mr.. Dawes
appointments is that the appointees
are scattered over the country far
away from Illinois, and only few of
them can hope to render him any POI.
litical service in return But almost.
without exception, they have proved
useful public servants.
In practical politics Mr. Dawes is
fond of conceiving and executing bold
movements, which, though startling,
generally prove in the end his excel
lent judgment.
In the Illinois State convention of
1900 Dawes was present, aiding Sen
ator Cullom's reelection. His person
al popularity with the delegates was a
feature Of the gathering. The fight
between the Senator's followers and
Gov. tanners for the organization was
close. Finally the Cullom men de-
c1ared Dawes must make the fight for
temporary Chairman He declined be-
cause he was a federal oficeholder.
They insisted tnat it was necessary to
save the day.
Senator Cul1om thinks it is nee
essary, said Mr.. Dawes, I'll make the.
race to oblige him, but do. you. gentle
men know what my defeat would
mean? 1t would be heralded as re-
buke to the administration, because
/ am federal ofiiceholder and the.
Presidents friend. call you to wit
ness now that If I fail to be elected
chairman I'll Immediately resign as
ComptrOlle !.
The majority was close one, but
Mr.. Dawes won All who know the
man do not doubt that In the contin-
gency he would have promptly re-
signed.-J. a. n. in Indianapolis News.