Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-14

two years later was graduated. He
was a bright scholar, with a mind that
adapted itself readily TO discipline.
On leaving college ne began in Gin
! cinnati, with B. Storer as his preceptor,
the study of law, and in 1854 he enter
ed upon the practice of his profession
in Indianapolis. He was 81, square
| shouldered, fair haired, rather serious,
reserved in maner, with no inheritance
except his education and a good name,
without acquaintance, but with 4 wife
to provide for.
Unlike many ambitious youngsters
who hang out their shingles, he soon
won notice and a profitable practice.
In 1860 he was elected on the Republic
can ticket as reporter of the Supreme
Court of Indiana.
The outbreak of the civil wal soon
dragged him from the life Of the citi-
zen to that of a soldier. Governor
Morton, in July, 1862. asked hin % as.
sist in recruiting a regiment Under the
Presidents call for 0 $1,000 three-year
troops. He received the first commits
sion for the Seventieth regiment, and.
as second lieutenant, he soon raised
Company A, was made captain, helped
to fill up the other companies of the
regiment, and in less than a month
had completed it and was at its head
as colonel, ready to go to the front.
colonel Harrison Devoted
himself to his duties as a soldier with
all his ability. He served through
Kentucky and Tennessee up ~ Janu-
airy, 1864. At Peachtree Creek, while
commanding his brigade, his soldierly
Qualities drew from his commanding
officer, General "Joe" Hooker, the most
enthusiastic praise, and on his recon-
mendation he was breyetted ~brigadier
general by President lincoln just be-
fore the death of the President.
The Indiana Republicans re elected
Col. Harrison reporter o. the Supreme
Court of the State in October, 1864, and
when he returned after the wa lie re-
sumed that Office. In 1865 he again
took up the practice of law and from
that time was out of politics until 1876
the memorable political year when
Tflden and Hendricks On the one side
and Hayes and Wheeler on the other
contended for the chief offices of the
republic.
Hendricks was then governor of In
AShhos AAoioIlo wac oil OCIODtI OgdLt,
and the whole country for weeks was
hanging in suspense upon the result
there, for everyone realized it would
have a great bearing on the result in
November. Godlove S. Orth, who had
been for some time a member of the
House of Representatives, was the
Republican candidate for Governor.
A few weeks before the election scan
| dole anntorinO ohn,If Orth uraro hrn,,yhf
to public attention. The Republicans
at once realized it would be a losing
game to keep Orth in the field, and tie
Republican Central Committee substi-
tuted General Harrison in his place,
while the latter wal absent from the
State. The Democratic candidate was
known as BLUE Jeans Williams, who
was a homely, honest kind of a fellow,
but whose main reputation rested upon
the SIS suit of clothes which he wore
for an indefinite period.
Indiana has perhaps never been the
scene of a more
Holly Contested Campaign
than on this occasion. There is no
question that the name and repute of
General Harrison were worth thous-
| ands of votes to the Republican party.
II the hepuDllCaHS COuiu HOL VIII Will
/, him, they could not win with anyone.
This was the general sentiment, and it
was conceded on both sides if Har-
rison was elected Governor in October
Hayes and Wheeler would carry the
| State in November. In that event
there would nave been no contest over
the Presidency, no Electoral Commits
sion, and none of the intense strain
| and bitterness which pervaded the
whole country for three months after
election day in November. The blue
cotton trousers undoubtedly tipped
the balance oyer on the Democratic
side. but it was a comparatively close
contest, after all, and it was several
days before the country knew that
Williams had beaten Harrison for
Governor of Indiana by only 5,084 votes
in the enormous ballot which, was
cast.
This campaign made General Harri-
son q national character, and from the
days OF 1876 he was In the public mind
OF his State and Of the country. In
1880 he was elected to the Senate OF
the United States and t0ok his seat