Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-15

at the disposal of the President since May
II, 1902, at least such is the impression
given by acquaintance with the commission
er and his methods. Commissioner Ware
Is perhaps one of the most picturesque and
original of government officials. He has
held office a little more than two years,
and during that time he has been con-
slant target for all kinds of newspaper criti-
cIsm. He announced at the outset OF his
term that If he was to hold the once or
commissioner of pensions he intended to
DO the commissioner. He announced That
he was preparing to run the pension bureau
and that he did not propose to have any
interference. He has kept his promise and
has been interfered with as little rs p9ssl-
BILE
Reluctant to Take the Place.
Mr.. Ware came to Washington from Kan
sas with a reputation for eccentriclty Of
thought and action, even in that state. He
was personal friend Of President Roose-
welt and was appointed to his post 5y the
President after much argument. Mr.. Ware
did not want the position and he told the
President at the time the latter offered 1t
to him that he knew he would not like the
job.
THAT is just the reason l want you to
take it,. the President is reported to have
replied. "And the longer you hold the Job
the less you'll like it."
Mr.. Ware is a native of Hartford, Conn,
rents moved west when he was child ana
he was educated at the public schools at
Burlington, Iowa. AT the outbreak Of tho
civil war he was enlisted In Company y
of the 1st Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and
served through the war, being mustered out
as captain of Troop F, 7th Iowa cavalry:
Mr.. Wares service during the war was or
the hardest kind and he Is said to nave
been a daring cavalryman, after his trans
fer to that branch of the service. His pro-
motions were all gained on merit He stud
led law after the war and settled IN fort
Scott Kan, where he was admitted TO the
bar and began his practice In 1911 He
married in 1874 Miss jeanette P. Hunting
ton of Rochester, N. Y.
Gained Fame as Poet.
Mr. Ware gained much local fame in Kan
sas through the authorship of number OF
bits of verse which appeared in the news
papers and magazines under the name OF
Jack IronGuil. His most famous poem
was one dedicated to the American people
and recited Dewey's feat in Manila bay. At
least they are the verses by Whicn Mr:
Ware is better known to the majority OF
the reading public. His literary work has
taken a more serious strain than his. now
ever. He is familiar with the literature or
several languages beside his own, and one
of his best known works is translation
from the French of Terneaux-Comoans OF
Castaneda's account of Coronado march,
which was published In 1893
Mr.. ware mas Detii dCliEC III I>d'iSo' pm
tics since his admission to the bar and
served five years In the Kansas senate be-
ing afterward chosen as a representative
in Congress, where he served two years.
Since coming to Washington as the COM
missioner of pensions Mr.. Ware has CHI
deavored to inaugurate many sweeping re
forms in the conduct of the business of the
bureau. During the course of his two years
in office he has made many friends and
many enemies He has been most out
spoken when his feelings were aroused and
has frequently been accused of lacking In
the tact and diplomacy that is expected
from a man of his official standing. Mr..
Ware has never hesitated to declare his
standing on any matter relating to the bu-
reau and several times, In speeches deliV-
cred to his clerks either when he had pro-
NOTED a lot of them or on some holiday cele-
bration, he has given offense to the news
papers and to the politicians