Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-02

fuencihg elections, and that is not
right
The governor laughed. You almost
persuade me to be "a What is the
expression? he said.
II wish it was politician replied
Dan.
But as We all know, the governor
sent the letter.
Mr.. Lamont took so prominent a part
In the presidential campaign preced-
ing Mr.. Clevelands election that a
New York city newspaper felt con-
strained to ask In it's editorial col
umns, III Cleveland is elected will he
or Colonel Lamont be president p
Colonel Lamont used to tell how he
came ic Washington with Mr.. Cleve-
land. On the morning after election
that, judging from the returns then I'm,
he seemed to be elected. Well" said
Mr. Cleveland, eff / am elected, you
are elected. I must have you with
me II / go to Washington" That was
all that was said about the matter.
One popularity that his intimates
often commented upon while he was
In Washington, and which has re-
CURED to their minds wildly because
Of the manner of his death. was his
keen distaste for being left alone. He
always contrived that some one should
be in the Office with him at every min
ute Of the day. No one ever saw him
take q walk of even two or three
blocks unaccompanied. If, when it
came time for him to leave his Office.
no one else was ready to so he would
wait for one of the clerks. After he
became secretary of war and while
his farsily was out Of town he used
frequently to drop in at the White
House in the late afternoon and get
one of the young executive clerks,
whose company he enjoyed, to go to
dinner with him at a hotel. He never
said why he always showed such scru-
pulous care to avoid being left alone.
One of the first things Mr.. Lamont
did as secretary of war was to weed
out q lot of worthless clerks in his de-
partment. Six were discharged and
fifty reduced In grade and pay in one
day. Another incident that army off,
GERS are fond of recalling occurred in
1895:
Senator Harris of Tennessee was in
Secretary Lamont's Office when Pay
master General Stanton entered and
began his explanation of the financial
condition of the service, referring par
ticularly to the lack of funds for the
month of June. Secretary Lamont
asked what amount would be neces-
sary to pay of all the June salaries.
oh, something like $4,000" replied
General Stanton
IF you could borrow that amount"
said the secretary, would it be suffi-
cient?'
You get me the money, Mr.. Secre-
tary, and I'll make the payment all
right" said the paymaster.
well. I'm thinking about advancing
1t myself" replied Mr.. Lamont.
There was a gasp of astonishment
from General Stanton and Senator
Harris.
II mean it." continued the secretary.
The army ought to be paid, and the
sooner they get it the better"
II can only say, Mr.. Secretary" said
General Stanton. that If you find me
the money l shall make arrangements
to pay off the officers and men who
month of June"
They used to call Mr.. Lamont 1.-The
silent secretary" in the last years of
his service at Washington. He was
thoroughly methodical in his habit and
did not waste minute.
Among the reforms and improve
ments that marked Mr.. Lamont's adj
ministration Of the war department
were the abandonment of the small
outlying military posts and the con-
centrntion of the army at important
railroad centers, on the seaboard and
on the northern and southern frontiers,
and the reduction of the term of en-
listment from five to three years. He
secured the repeal of the statute max
ing ten years the maximum period of
service of enlisted men. He was in
strumental in securing the adoption Of
the new magazine rifle and carbine of
reduced caliber for the army and was
an earnest and consistent advocate of
a general improvement of the seacoast
defenses under approved projects, in
GLIDING the development of disappear
ing gun carriages. He brought about a
reduction in the number of military
posts from about ninety-fiv to seven
ty-five, resulting In the concentration
of troops in large commands. and by so
doing improving the morals, discipline
and education of the army.
CompuIsory NJ P,s