The Sunday globe., 1901-07-14
THE WORST so FAR.

THE WORST so FAR.
There are reforms and reformers.
All ages have been noted for reform,
and it is said each succeeding year
brings a new reform to the front.
1t can hardly be said with truth
that Mckinley was elected on the re-
form ticket, especially as a large fund
-vulgarly called a corruption fund
handled by a certain gentleman from
Ohio, new a United States Senator,
played quite an important part in
1896.
1t is not probable that reform in
methods of finance had much to do
win the appointment Of Lyman j.
Gage as Secretary of the Treasury.
Nevertheless, he was appointed, and
his selection will always be a marvel.
He had no especial fitness or training
for the place, and his only claim on
the Republican party was the fact that
he had twice voted for Cleveland as
mugwump. and was thereby supposed
to have some elements Of statesman
ship about him. 1t is strange how
commonplace and ordinary a man may
be, having his views on political
science and doing duty as a citizen,
quietly voting with his party without
being thought of as a great man, and
how, all at once, he becomes a person
Of ponderous brain power and wonder
full ability, when he deserts his party
and casts his lot with the opposition
Secretary Gage was one Of the per-
sons named. As a Democrat he
amounted to little. AS a sound-mOney
Republican he becomes a man of great
importance. He could swallow McKin-
ley and the Sherman purchasing act,
with its 16 to ! thrown in, but his
pure.minded soul coulu not brook
Bryan on a free-silver platform.
But, strange as it was to many, and
is to many yet, this man was selected
to take the place Albert Gallatin once
filled, and a weak and feeble-minded
successor to that great man he has
proven himself to be. His appoint
ment will always remain one of the
curiosities Of politics.
This man thus chosen over the heads
Of fnanciers and statesmen, who were
Republicans brought with him to
Washington a reporter to a small pa
per not heard of out of a limited circle
and now unknown, and made him his
private secretary. 1T was a thing of
beauty and a joy forever to see the
suddenly elevated scribbler, who is
now known as one Vanderlip, receiving
congratulations with his chief the day
the latter received the employees Of the
Department, when he assumed the du-
ties of the office. The private secre-
tary was the most important man in
action, of the two, and it was not long
until the clerks learned-many of
them to their sorrow-that the private
secretary was, in fact the Secretary Of
the Treasury.
But, as private secretary to so small
man, his power was somewhat cir
cumsCribed. He could not accomplish
much by way of lecturing clerks and
making himself generally disagree
able. 1t was but a little while until
the public prints bloomed out with full
some articles telling of Vanderlip's
wonderful knowledge Of finance. He
had made it study for years, and
could enlighten everybody. OF course
such a brilliant FREELY should not keep
| his dazzling financial light hidden un-
der a bushel, and, to the astonishment
Of everybody, Gage had him appointed
| Assistant Secretary of the Treasury,
and at once surrendered all manage
ment of the clerks and employees over
to his doughty satalite Patronage, all
detail of which was given to the sec
ond Daniel who had suddenly been
called to judgment
Once Assistant Secretary, the great
reporters powers had full sway. He
ruled everybody, from the Secretary
down. He swelled around and pro
NOTED or reduced as suited his fancy.
lie was all smiles to his pets; to those
he disliked he was all frowns and at
times, in personal contact, brutal
In the Treasury Department were
many men and women There were
men who had occupied high positions
in their homes, as members Of their
State, legislatures, and some as State
officers. There we're some who had
been Members Of Congress. All these
soon came TO know they must bend the
knee to Vanderlip. There were ladies
who had been delicately reared. who,
by misfortune and loss Of husbands,
had been compelled TO accept positions.
As to how some of the latter were