The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-05
Sketch of His Life.

A. E. Buck. the dead Minister to Ja- span spent the greater part of his poi.ti- cal life in Atlanta. He was a prominent figure in Republican politics In Central Georgia in the late eighties and early niEeties. making a big reputation by the masterful manner in which he continual ly held office after office in spite of the many and heavy fights made against him.
 Colonel Buck was born in roxc. aft, Me, in 1882. lie received college edu- cation in d New England University and settled down to the practice of law. When the civil war began he enlisted il the union army. fighting straight through. In 1864 he was married to Miss Ellen E. Coker Of Hollowell. Me.
 At the close of the war Colonel Buck came South and settled in Alabama, where in 1868 he was chosen Presidential elector. He was member of Congress from Ala bama during the reconstruction period.
 At the close of his Congressional career in Alabama he moved to Atlanta. where until '97 when he was appointed Minister to Japan, he made his home.
 His first government office in Atlanta was clerk of the United States Circuit Court. Later on he was made Marshal for Georgia during Harrison's administra- tion. When President Mckinley was in augurated he appointed him Minister to Japan in 1897 When Roosevelt came into office he allowed the appointment to stand.
 His death came as a great shock to his friends as it was entirely unexpected. On- ly yesterday MT. O. C. Fuller, Clerk of the United States Circuit Court for North Georgia, who was a close personal friend of Colonel Buck, received letter from him.
 Colonel Buck as a man of marked per sonality. Tall and rather commanding ir figure he lad what some might have. tel med rather stern expression The lines around his mouth were drawn and al a first glance he appeared to be man hard to approach. His political eXperi- cnce had taught him to be cautious. but when he learnc1 that a man could be trusted the ! ok that seemed to come as the result Of selfish nature disap- peared. He was not quick to make friends, but he kept those that he did make. Hedged in on all sides by men who differed widely with him in politics, many of whom were not kind in their ex- pre- ssions regarding his position. he learn cd to rely largely upon himself and to fight his own battles with a masterly tand This experience made him later leader and a leader, too, who was lead CT. There were no half way grounds about ms mGtnOuS. II nc LOOK Ine TtlnS of an affair he held them and directed others at tke same time. He made his plans quietly and then he sprung them al the right time and pushed them tp success. If he met opposition he tried to pacfy 1t. If this failed he brushed 1t aside. If force was necessary, he used 1t.
 T am a Republican because I think it right to be one" he frequently said.
 While clerk of the United States Court the Government was often slow in mak- ing appropriations for it's expenses. When the funds had been exhausted and bills were past due, Colonel Buck would draw upon his private bank account and pay them He often gave checks and waited months for his money. He did this quiet ly. end few persons other than those who had dealings of this character with him knew it. When Cleveland was elected President Colonel Buck did not finch. He went to work with renewed energy and waited for the day of victory that he said was sure to come. and it came.
 When the entire Republican forces seemed to be at work for Reed for the Presidential nomination, every one was anxious to know where Colonel Buck stood.
 When the time came for him to speak he did 1t. and that, too, in no uncertain terms The result was the swinging Of the entire State machine into the lines of Mckinley, and Georgia's delegation went for him to a man. As reward for tLis, the President made him Minister to Japan and the appointment was among the first that he announced. Colonel Buck practically had the privilege of naming the position that was to be given him. He selected Japan. There was hard fight made on him by members of his party. who wanted the place for an- other but he won and with little effort on his part. Since the time that he went to Japan his friends in Atlanta have known little of him. except through such per scnal letters as he has written.