New-York tribune., 1905-02-26
rs HE Il TRUST BUSTER ?
Character Sketch of the Man Who
VII Probe STANDARD Oil.
[FRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.l

las been established within the last few days
~ the Washington newspaper correspondents
md adds another interesting item to the per-
-onalitv of the Commissioner of Corporations in
he Department of Commerce and Labor. AS
oon as the Kansas oil agitation began to claim
he front pages of the daily papers there was a
udden demand for information about the man
tho was ordered by the President and the Con-
yress to Investigate the Standard Oil Company
Give us a few characteristic anecdotes ABOUT
fairfield" was the order that most of the cor
-espondents received At first the assignment
aused no particular sensation along Newspaper
Row. 1t would be easy enough to gather all
he "reminiscences required from almost any ONO
Congressman or Federal officeholder for Gar
reId had been in public life decade or more
N his own State before coming to Washington,
md must have figured in numerous interesting
Incidents But this reasoning proved unsound |
"Garfeld? Why of course. I know all about |
Garfield" is the way the first Ohio Congress
man would begin when he would be urged to |
tell something about the man who is to probe |
Mr. RockefeIlers system" Let's see. He's |
.he younger son of President Garfield, was
boy around the White House. went to school at
Mentor studied law, graduated, went to the |
Ohio Senate came here as Civil Service Commits |
sioner was made Commissioner of Corporations
when the new Department of Commerce and
Labor was established. What more do you
want? oh, yes; he plays tennis and takes long
walks in the woods"
THANK you ever so much. but don't you recol- |
lect an anecdote or two about Mr.. Garfield,
urged the unsatisfied newsgatherer
Don't believe 1 can. Never heard one about
him. He's too serious" was the uniform reply |
throughout the national capital.
Those who have been associated with Mr Gar |
field for years confess, after giving the sub |
tect the most careful consideration, that the
Commissioner of Corporations is the one man !
Of their acquaintance who has never been the
victim of a practical joke, who has never per |
petrated a joke on any else, or told stories /
about himself. He goes about his work here
as he did in Ohio, with cheerful face and
smiling nod to every one, but with an earnest |
ness Of purpose that cannot be mistaken he
plays tennis rides a bicycle or tramps many
miles a day with the same busnessllke mleh' |
He laughs readily as any one, but hash
quite as much spare time for mirthmaklng as
seems to be at the disposal of the ordinary
run Of citizens. and especially government OH
Gals.
If Mr. Garfield has any hobby it is for burn {
ing the midnight oil. He is an omnivorous
reader Science fiction, history, political econ
omy-the late works from all kinds of print
ing presses-are devoured with marvellous ra-
pidity, and his friends often wonder where and
when he manages to steal the time necessary
for the absorption of such tremendous amount
of literature as he seems to acquire. President
Roosevelt has found Mr.. Garfield an exceed
ingly handy man to have around on account OF
this very trait, and frequently consuIts him
about new books. Within two days Of the
time a notable work appears the market in
New-York Mr.. Garfield is almost certain to have
a report ready. I'D advise you to read it,, or, Il
do not believe it is worth your time" he will
say to the President, and seldom indeed has
the Chief Magistrate had occasion to regret fol-
lowing the counsel given.
Next to the Attorney General and Senator
Lodge Mr.. Garfield is probably the man most
frequently consulted by the President This is
probably due to the fact that the work of the
Bureau of Corporations is nearer and dearer to
the Presidents heart just at present than any
other great enterprise of the administration
Then, too. Mr.. Garfield. from his years devoted
to that branch of the government, is expert
On matters pertaining to the Civil Service. The
President himself Civil Service Commits
sioner once upon a time, and still takes an
abiding interest In the welfare of the bureau
Add to these items the fact that Mr.. Garfield
is a lucid, forceful talker. well informed on
current topics, plays tennis handily, and can, If
the need arises keep up with the President on
ten mile jaunt across country, and it is not diff
cult to understand why he is often chosen as
companion by the head of the administration
When Mr. Garfield first entered upon his duties