Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-16

A special to The New York Tribune from
Buffalo says:
The name of John George Milburn, in
whose beautiful home the wounded presi-
dent is lying. has within the last ten days
become known in every quarter of tho
globe where there is sympathy or anxiety
for William Mckinley. 1t is something
that Mr.. Milburn would not have sought
or desired under ordinary circumstan-
ces, for he has always disliked everything
that approached parade and notoriety,
and has never put himself in the way OF
public applause
For twenty years or more John G. Mil
burn has been known as one of the ablest
lawyers in the western part Of the state.
In Buffalo he has belonged to that class
Of men who do not intrude themselves in
to public matters, but whose opinions,
when given, count for much-the sort OF
man whom the newspaper reporters ny
to when the soundest Judgment upon the
gravest affairs is to be had. When the
business men of Buffalo decided to build
the Pan-American exposition 1t was this
sort of man they wanted at the head OF
the great undertaking. and they selected
John G.. Milburn because he was giant
intellectually, a gentleman always, and
honest beyond the suspicion Of any mans
doubt.
By birth he is an Englishman. He was
born In the north Of England so years ago
and started in life as mechanical engi-
neer, a profession in which his father
gained considerable prominence as the
builder of the high level bridge at Ber-
wick -on-Tweed, the Tyne docks at New
castle and other works. But young Mil
burn had made up his mind early in life
that he wanted to be a lawyer, and, TAX
ing hasty and unexpected leave OF the
draughting room, he sailed for America
in 1869. and soon found an opportunity to-
study law in the Office OF Wakeman &
Watson, at Batavia, N Y. In 1873, after
four years of the most laborious prepare
ton, he passed the bar examination, but
was not permitted to practice because It
was discovered that he had not been in
the country long enough to gain citizen
ship. His case was taken up by number
of influential men in the state and a bill
was introduced in the legislature to waive
his alienage and give him the privileges
of full citizenship. The introduction of the
bill aroused intense opposition, and, after
a protracted storm OF anti-British oratory
in the senate, the measure was passed
and became chapter of the laws Of 1874.
Thus 1t is that this alien is today repay
ing the efforts of those who aided in MAX
ing him a citizen by the tenderest care
Of the nations chief ruler that human
hands could bestow.
In appearance he is a type of the sturd-
Test manhood. both physically and intel
lectually. He is six feet tall, well pro-
portioned, with broad, regular features
and the impress Of character and deter
mination upon every line. His manner Is
pleasant and cordial always, with style
of candor and elaboration that adds much
to his force as a speaker, whether IN Sc
rious argument or in lighter vein. As
public speaker he has enjoyed great pop
ularity for years. and usually chosen for
the most conspicuous duties of this char
acter at all important affairs in Buffalo.
AS lawyer he has for the last fifteen
years been member Of the firm or Rog-
ers Lock & MiIburn, the leading law firm
in Buffalo. and has been retained In most
Of the important civil cases in the local
courts in the last decade. He was within
the last year retained by the defence. TO
argue the appeal in the Molineux case,
and he made a powerful argument for MS
client against David B. Hill, who appear
ed in the case for the district attorney OF
New York.
and supported Mckinley each time he
was a candidate against William ]. Bry-
an. But he never sought or accepted po-
litical honors. There has never been
time in ten years past when John Q. NIL
burn could not have had almost any
honor of a political character that the
city or county could have given. but ne
seems without ambition in that direction.
Although a man capable OF great
achievement and a hard worker always,
vet he has the sublime faculty of taking
life easy. and no matter how many the
burdens upon his shoulders or how great
the mountains OF work before him, ne
never fails to find time for a pleasant