Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-15
RECOLLECTIOyS OF MORTON
Characteristic Incident, Of His Career a. a
Cabinet 0hcer.
CAPITOL LIFE DlsPtlLED SOME NOTIONS
Things He said He would No, Do. b,,
Did After Putting on the Hsr-
MESA FamOus Luneheon
and a Routed Senator.

The Washington correspondent Of the
New York Sun relates a humber OF Incl
cents Illustrating Characteristic traits OF
me late J. Sterling Morton while a mem
Der Of President Cleveland cabinet. The
writer says that while Washington is prone
10 forget men who cross the stage OF its
political life. Mr.. Morton leaves "a dis
tinet impression that fingers long in the
memory Of those who knew him" Contin-
uing the writer says. in part:
Mr.. Morton was original. but not &C.
centric. He was not a stranger to the
cspital when he came here 4 dav or two
before March 4. 1888. 10 enter upon the
duties Of the once which be had accepted
N New York a day or two before
One thing that used to worry him long
before he ever dreamed OF being a member
Of the cabinet was the luxury with which
nigh oncers surrounded themselves at the
expense OF the government. One OF his
mobiles was that no man Of se~lf-rsDect
would ride about the streets in a govern
nent vehicle. drawn by a government horse
and driven by a government driver. no mat
yer what important political ONCE he might
hold.
Because Of his belief on this subject Mr.
morton was very much impressed by the
Aetion Of Secretary OF the Interior Lamar
Attorney General Garland and one or two
other members Of the first Cleveland cab
net who. with great ostentation and show
OF virtue sold at public auction the public
carriages provided for their convenience nv
Uncle sam and thereafter went about the
streets Of Washington on foot or in the
horse cars.
Mr.. Morton probably aid not know tbs,
after a time these conscientious gentlemen
recovered from their attack OF economy
ana bought the carriages back again but
Nlthout aking special pains to call the at
tention OF the public to the fact The Ne
braska democrat thought that IL be ever
held a public once in Washington he would
DO as these other democrats had done. ex-
tept that when be sold the horses ana car
riages they would remain sold.
Time Works Changes.
But time works many changes and when
In 1893 Mr. Morton found himself a member
o. The cabinet he came TO the conclusion
that after all it was Just as we'll thai he
should ride and so the old brown horses
that bad drawn Uncle Jerry Rusk about the
capital were pressed into service to draw
J. Sterling Morton. and on the panels OF
me ume-Worn vehicle which the horses
areW was painted the Morton motto: plant
100 NNA q green tree. Tampant on a |
heid OF green. This was the coat Of arms
that served for his successor. James WIZ
ton. when he became secretary Of arr1-
culture- farmer from Iowa in place Of the
farmer from Nebraska.
II was the same about the matter Of din |
her-giving and dinner-eating. In the old
Gays Mr.. Morton thought that public men
N washington ate too many dinners. A
formal dinner was a waste Of time. he said
and a waste Of good digestion and alto
Tether a new-fangled habit that failed IN
meet the approval Of his simple western
IDEAS Of proper living
In the early days OF his membership IN
he cabinet. therefore, Mr.. Morton went
20 Few II any dinners, but after awhile he
remained away only when he was not in
yited. and when he had become known 10
the people Of Washington the nights were
very few when he did not dine with a COM
pany Of brilliant and distinguished men
and women.
He was a much-sought guest and the more
dinners be ate the more convinced he was
that they we're not so bad after all. He
liked them not for what he had to eat and
drink. but for the company he met. and
many OF his most pleasant nights in Wash
tngton we're spent at the festive board.
He drank in all the fun that was going
ind but little else. He preferred water TO
champagne and when stating this fact to
bis friends he would generally give his
reason, which was the same as that Of his
old classmate, the genial Senator Thomas
w. Palmer of Michigan. The latter always
used to say TO his young friends:
Boys drink mineral water instead Of
champagne. II scrspes your throat lust
me same and doesn't give you a headache
10 the morning"
A Famous ~unche
MI. Merton was very simple in all his
tastes and was a practical joker Of the
Tild sort He was very much interested
N everything connected with the a~gricul-
tural department and In s~trolling about
the grounds one day he discovered a little
away over in one corner where
went to get a bite at noon.
shortly afterward a party Of distinguished
men were holding a conference at the de-
and the secretary invited them
al TO remain to luncheon At l o'clock
lie LED them through the winding paths
70 the corner lunehrOom. had a table spread.