The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-05

nucleus OF the Republican Central Con1-
mites of Nilwankeei one of tile most,
effective political organizations in the
country. Payne served this committee
as secretary and chairman, and there
d Is no man In Wisconsin to whom more 10
due for the organization of the Repul,t
lican party, which inado the state until
this year the synonym of harmonious
devotion to tho Republican cause. Mr.
Payne went into politics as he went into
business enterprises. lie made It purely
Il matter OF business to elect his ticket.
Born in Massachusetts.
Il Mr.. Payne was born In Ashfield frank
4 lii county. Mass, November %. 1S43.
His parents were moderately blessed with
this world s goods. Henry received oiliy
a plain common school education, With
a term or two Mt an acadcniy. Wien
twenty years of age, In 1853, lie removed
{ to WisconsinSito seek his fortune rs
soon as he wns old enough ito vote sl,c II
began to manifest an active interest III y
political affairs ana In 1876 z president
Grant rewarded Ills zeal by appointing
+ him to tho flro office Of ppstnnster8of
Milwaukee,. lie was reapnointcd by
President Rhymes, and President Arthur,
but President Cleveland found another
SI,lun for the place. Mr.. Payne redoubled
his activity in business and politics, and
became identified with many enterprises.
including tho Wisconsin Telephone Con-
gpany, of wnci he was president lie
was also a director of tho First National /;
Bank OF Milwaukee,; president of tho Mil
wnukee and Northern Railroad Com
pany; vice-president Of the Milwaukee
and Cream city Street Railway Com
panics, and general manager OF their
combined properties; 81 receiver Of the
Northern Pacific Rnilrond president of
the American Street Railway Association
(lS92). He was also extensively engaged
III real estate transactions. md 1t is SAID
that the bulk Of the comfortable for
tune which he leayes, was accumulated
by fortunate speculation in realty IN
Milwaukee. In 1867 NJ Payne married
Miss Lydia w. Van Dyke, o + New York.
Mr.. Payne was a. ireH1ber of the Repun-
lean National Convention Of 1880, ISIS and
1892. His long service or the National
Committee, and the wisdom of his adj
vice, had become 50 well understood,
that when Mr.. Hanna came to he COM
imttec, and twas elected chairman In 1
1896, he at once made Mr.. Payne ms
righthand man, and the two of them d.
,rectcd affairs absolutely. Mr.. Hanna
gave Mr. Payne free hand III the ap-H
spllcution Of business principles 70 poll
tics. The idea was one exactly ftcr the
heart Of the late senator from Ohio and
Mr., Payne encountered none of what lie 4
regarded as foolish sentimentalsm
when lie advanced his ideas. He and
MIR, Hanna conducted a business CAM
5palsn, which included the raising and
disbursement Of an enormous campaign
fund, said TO have reached the sixteen
million dollar mark, and which culml-3
mated in the election Of Mr.. Mckinley to 4
the presidency.
Good Postmaster General.
Mr.. Payne was appointed to the posi-
mast -gcneralship In January, 1892. Ilc 4
made a good Postmaster-Gc General. He was
regarded as the political adviser OF tGcF
administra ton, land there has never been
any doubt of his loyalty to the administra-
ton Of Mr.. Roosevelt, 50 far as tavorng his
nomination was concerned. MIR. Payne
was the subject of much criticism during
the probing OF the affairs of the Fost-
office Department last year, which re-
suited in the uncarthing of gigantic ]
frauds. He refused at first, to take the
charges seriously. and characterized as
shot air. some of demonstrations made.
The charges were afterwards established,
which, of course, put him In an en-
ibarrassing position. 1T Is charitable to
thing that the state Of his health pre-
vented his giving the affairs Of the de-
3pnrtment that close attention demanded
of itsghead. II 1,
Mr.. Payne was In no sense a great
man. He was a fine business man, In
dustrious and full Of characteristic
American energy. In all his private
TRANSACTIONS he was scrupucrsly hon-
est. S IL
In politics. he was the embodiment Of
the spirit OF commercallsm. Quay, Hnn-
ma and Payne-the three stand together
as typical Of the commercial school OF
politics. of which 1t may be said THAT
thus far in our history 1t has been sue
{cessful. II ta$