Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-06
lOWANS IN DEMAND
Director Of the Mint Turns Down
Position.
BIG TRUST COMPANY AFTER HIN
Hon. George e. Roberts of #. Dodge
rendered High SaIaried Position
Concludes to Remain as Director of
the Mint.
Washington Bureau the Courier.
WashingtO March 4.

Washington Bureau the Courier.
Washington. March 4.
Positions carrying salaries requiring
five figures to express them, and the
second figure not a cipher, at that are
not offered to Iowa men every day.
1t is not particularly surprising,
however, that when such offers are
made that the recipients should reside
in the tenth district. Tenth district
men are in active demand today.
1t is not exactly news to say that
Hon. Geo. E. Roberts, director of the
mint, was rendered the presidency of
trust and security concern, at sal
airy that makes the emoluments of a
congressman look like thirty cents"
and that another tenth district gentle
man, E. H. Rich, of Fort Dodge, was
requested to accept position perhaps
carrying an equal responsibility with
annual compensation that can not be
expressed in four figures. In each in
stance the offer was declined, not be-
cause the remuneration was regarded
as inadequate, but for reasons entire
ly personal The proffer came to Mr..
Roberts as a complete surprise. He
was in Philadelphia at the time, at
tending the annual session of bureau
of the mint. The gentlemen repre-
senting the financial concern, which
has paid in capital of s5,O00,000, call
ed at the treasury, and finding that
Mr.. Roberts was in Philadelphia, at
once proceeded to that city. Here the
proposition was laid before Mr.. Rob-
erts, and his acceptance earnestly So
licited.
Mr.. Roberts discussed the PROPOSE
ton with his friends in Washington,
and after considering the question in
all its bearings. decided to decline the
position. Mr. Rich, of the First Ma
tional bank, of Fort Dodge, reached a
similar conclusion, and the decision of
these two men. involving the turning
down of salaries that for one year
would be considered comfortable
fortune to the average man, even in
this rapid day, was conveyed to the
trust and security company.
The ordinary mortal will hardly be
able to stave off a disposition to phi
Josephine upon this extraordinary Incl
dent. Il 1t may properly be termed
such. and to marvel at the calm nerve
of these Fort Dodge gentlemen in
turning down such a proposal. The
country is filled with men who are
breaking their necks, figuratively
speaking, to land political positions
paying all the way from $720 to SIS. 600
annually, while cabinet position car.
rying a salary of $4,000 is the subject
of miles of newspaper stories Yet the
proposition rendered Messrs. Roberts
and Rich would enable them to pay a
cabinet officer out of their own peck
cts, build a fine house, live in very
great comfort and have bank &C
count at the end of the year.
OF course these deductions compre
bend only the financial feature of the
proposition. Obviously the cabinet OF
congressional berth carries infinitely
greater power and prestige which tt
men Of large means is the only tempt
ing consideration.
Mr.. Roberts declined the generous
tender chiefly because his personal in,
clinings are not along the line OF
banking or investments. He is q
newspaper man, primarily, who has
developed his talent for writing not
ably upon questions of finance unit,
his copy" is eagerly sought by the
foremost publications of the times
and he has orders ahead for articles
which he cannot get time to write
Mr.. Roberts ability to analyze and
make easy and plain intricate finan
cial and monetary problems enabled
him to stride forward to command
ing position during the campaign O
1896, and as direct result of his lit
erary contributions to that contest, he
was requested, absolutely without
previous intimation, by Secretar,
Gage, to assume the Office of director
of the mint In this connection il
may be said that the affairs of the
mint were never in such satisfactory
condition as at this time. Mr.. Rob
erts has not only brought the bureau
up to the highest point of public eff
cheney, establishing himself firmly a.
the authority upon the subject o
coinage and finance, but he possesses
the cordial good will, and it would no
be mis-stating the facts to say, affec
tionate regard of every employee il
the bureau under his direction. H,
cannot help this, it does it itself.
The work is very congenial to MI
Roberts, it is exactly along the direc
ton Of his bent and natural inclina
lions and there is satisfaction al
tending the work that compensate
him as purely money consideration
could not. AS the president of an in
vestment company he would have dis
appeared from public view; woul
have entered upon new sphere O
business activity and details and re
sponsibilities of which would be, il
a measure, unknown to him. TIL
greatly increased remuneration h
would receive would not compensat
him for the sacrifices he would b
compelled to make in worry, anxiet
and hazard to his present splendi
reputation. His best friends believ
that in declining the proposal of tn
Investment company, it will be foun
in the long run that Mr.. Roberts ha
acted wisely.
:, Mr.. Rich has extensive investment
in bank stock comparatively near Fol
Dodge which under the present a
rangement he is able to give attentio
to very nicely While it is not in
probable that had Mr.. Roberts felt di
posed to accept the proposition of tt
Investment company, Mr.. Rich iwoul