Evening star., 1902-08-11
Snap Shot of Senator Mcmillan.

SlOL VI SSldIOl lhC011lou.
gan. Governor Pingree had made a per-
sonal fight against him, but his broadness
of mind did not permit this to interfere
with his respect for man who had at
tanned the highest position in his state.
1t was not Senator McMilan's intention
to stand for election for the term which he
was filling at the time of his death. But
the political situation in the state was such
that it was feared that We're Senator Nc
MILAN to withdraw the party might not
remain III the hands of his friends. 1t was
we'll known that no one could defeat him,
because of his great strength before both
the Legislature and the people of the state.
While senator he had paid attention to the
affairs of every citizen of Michigan who
had either written or called upon him, and
had applied to the business of senator the
same business principles which had built
up his large business enterprises 1t is
said that no one ever wrote Senator McMi-
Ian letter who did not get prompt and
courteous reply.
Mr.. Mcmillan was an active director in
many of the largest banks, manufacturing,
railroad and other corporations in Michi-
gan and ii is said of him that one-fifth of
the entire population of Detroit was either
directly or Indirectly supported by the
earnings of the concerns in which he was
a large stockholder. Until a comparatively
few years ago he owned the entire street
car system of Detroit, and this brought
him into violent political conflict with the
late HaZen S. Pingree While Mr. PingrCc
both as mayor of Detroit and governor of
Michigan, gave Mr.. Mcmillan considerable
trouble, the senator was one of the few
members Of the old regime of republican
politicians in Michigan whom Pingree did
not drive out of public life. This was due
largely to the fact that Mr.. McMillan's
political methods were as thorough and
painstaking as were his business methods.
Nhen asked by a friend about the amount
of his wealth some time ago Mr.. Mcmillan
said he did not know exactly what it was
but he was certain that if he had devoted
as much energy to business in the Iast nf-
teen years as he had to politics he would
be worth at least twice as much. Bat he
liked the game of politics, and cared more
for 1t than that of money making
Born in Canada.
Senator Mcmillan, who was serving his
third term as United States senator from
Michigan. was native of Canada, having
been born in Hamilton, Ont, on May 12
1898 His parents had come from Scotland
four years previously, intending to settle in
Illinois, but friends persuaded them to go
TO Canada. After young Mcmillan had re-
ceived grammar school education he en-
tered a dry goods store, but, desiring a
larger field than Hamilton, removed to De-
troit when seventeen years old After
working for time in a hardware store he
became the purchasing agent for the De-
troit and Milwaukee Railroad Company
and later with John S. Newbery organized
the Michigan Car Company, and became
interested in great number of enterprises
which proved profitable. Among them were
the Detroit Car Wheel Company the Baugh
Steam Forge Company and the Detroit
Iron Furnace Company, Of which Mr. Nc
MILAN was president, and which employ
over three thousand men. Mr. Mcmillan
was active in the construction of the Du-
luth. South Shore and Atlantic railway,
uniting the two Michigan peninsulas and
he was connected with steamboat COM
panies, dry-dock enterprises, elevator COM
panies, telephone companies and banks.
His business enterprises made him one of
the leading men in Detroit.
His political activity began under the
leadership of Zachariah Chandler, and
when the latter died in 1879 he succeeded
him as chairman of the state central COM
mittee. of which he had been treasuer, He
served four terms as chairman of that
body. For three years he was president of
the Detroit board of park commissioners
and he served for four years as a member
of the Detroit board Of estimate
In 1889 he was elected United States sem
atOr to succeed Thomas w. Palmer He
was reelected in 1895 and again in 1901.
This last election was after a controversy
with Secretary Alger, each accusing the
other of bad faith.
Senator Mcmillan was a public benefactor
to Detroit by the gift to the city of a hos
pital costing $250,OOO and endowed with
100000, which possesses all the best medi-
cal and surgical appliances. He gave to
the University Of Michigan one of the finest
Shakespeare libraries in the country; to
the Agricultural College Of the state the
Tupper collection Of insects; a building for
a seminary for colored girls at Crockett
Tex; building FOR the Presbyterian Club
of Ann Arbor and Mcmillan Hall for Michi-
gan University.
One Of Senator McMillan's hobbies was
the career OF Napoleon, and he made
large collection of literature, portraits, etc.
relating to the great Corsican
In 1860 he Was married to Miss Mary L.
Wetmore Of Detroit.
Michigan politicians here believe that
Gov. Bliss will appoint one Of two men to
succeed Mr.. Mcmillan in the Senate until
the legislat Ire meets in January to elect
his successor. These men are ex-G Gov. John
T. Rich, who Is now collector OF cus
toms at Detroit, and Benton Hanchett
weli-known lawyer Of Saginaw. Two
other names are also mentioned as prob
abilitfes-Gen. H. M. B. Dufield and Co1
F. j. Hecker, both lawyers, Of Detroit.
Gen. Dufiield and Col Hecker both figured