The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-10-07

yOuuB carly JuIUOu
his attention to the political field. He
was one of the organizers of the Young
Mems Republican club of Milwaukee,
serving first as its secretary, in which
position his genius for silent, persist
ent. diligent and supremely effective
organization displayed itself. Subse-
quently as chairman of this same
group of hustling young Republicans
in one of the hot-beds of Wisconsin
Republican politics, Mr.. Payne direct
ed the activities of the organization
which he had effected, and its influence
in Wisconsin politics early marked its
foremost member as young man most
decidedly to be reckoned with
His career with the Young Mems
Republican club is almost typical of
Henry G. Payne's entire experience In
the field of politics, and he knew that
field from It's beginning to its end;
from the petty problems of municipal
chickering's to the broad policies of ma
tional campaigning, Payne was an eX-
pert and an adept. Trained and
schooled until, whether in the company
Of men who influenced but a single
dozen votes in a small corner of his
home town, or conversing with the po-
tentates of his party in Washington,
he was looked upon in every circle OF
politicians as master. From this
| first secretary and chairmanship he
was in turn secretary and chairman
of the Republican county committee
and secretary and chairman of the Re-
publican state central committee, re-
tiring from the latter position in 1892.
During this period his fame in the
councils of the party had spread be-
yond the borders of Wisconsin. In
1880 he was selected as National COM
mitteeman for his state and he held
this position to the day of his death.
His worth was recognized by President
Grant, who in 1876 appointed him post
master of Milwaukee. He served ten
years in this Office under successive
appointments by Presidents Hayes and
! Arthur, and there gained an intimate
knowledge Of the postal routine which
4 he found invaluable when called to the
head of the department. This knowl-
edge is said greatly to have Influenced
! President Roosevelt in calling the for
mer Milwaukee postmaster to his cab
met.
Mr.. Payne attended the National Re-
publican conventions of 1880, 1888, and
1892. His interest in politics was al
ways that OF manager, never that of
a figure head. He never held an cleo
tive office, Dut where the smoke was
thickest, where the campaign was the
hottest, there during the pact two de-
cades could be found this silent, small,
unassuming, but ever ,keenly watch
full political scientist, observing con-
stantly and understanding as few men
are given power to understand, the in
tricacies of his subject, and to the
chosn few Of his immediate associates
giving that advice and direction which
made him one OF the most valued of
their number '-.---
How well he was trusted and appre-
ciated by one of the shrewdest judges
of men ever engaged in party manage
ment in this country may be under
stood when it is remembered that
Marcus A. Hanna, as national chair
man in the two Mckinley campaigns,
placed Payne as vice chairman in
charge of the Chicago bureau, which
meant the virtual control of the cru
cial western situation. 1t is doubtful
If Hanna's remarkable success as ma
| hot
achieved to it's fullest without Payne.
They were much alike in their poll
tical methods, both business men pure
and simple, both working to win by
the methods which had made them
millionaires at other trades and with
their terrific energy and capacity for
labor and concentration, coupled with
the clearest of political heads and the
best Of political judgment were we'll
nigh inyincible at their particular task
of Office work campaigning.
When Senator Hanna died last
spring in Washington, at the same
hotel where Mr.. Payne's death oc-
Cured today, there was no more con-
stant attendant about the Hanna
rooms than the postmaster general.
With Senator Scott of West Virginia
and others of the "Old Guard" Mr..
Payne wept bitterly when told of
Senator Hanna's passing AS vice
chairman of the National committee
he awaited the coming convention to
retire from active management. His
health was already broken beyond
mending He appeared an i'll man,
and despite sea voyage aboard a
revenue cutter to Galveston and other
attempts to restore his shattered sys-
TEN. the old campaigner knew he was
unequal to the strenuous efforts neces-
sary In the work Yet 1t is fair to
believe no mans opinion has carried
more weight with the present nation
al chairman than that of Postmaster
General Payne,
The circumstances which resulted