The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-08-04

stock Of perseverance. industry and
lfaithfulness. 1t was but few months
more than twenty years ago that Mr..
Lamont became a national hugre as
private secretary to PTesident-elect
Cleveland, and for twelve years there
after he was almost as much Of a
public character as his distinguished
benefactor, He was the ideal private
secretary. Experienced, resourceful,
keen-wited. of good judgement and
slow tongue, he learned everything that
| it was of value for himself or employ
err to know and impaired to others lit
tie or nothing that it was important TO
conceal.
OF all the services rendered to Grow
er Cleveland by Daniel S. Lamont in
their years of conlpanionship none,
perhaps, was more conspicuous than the
secretary's invention of the phrase
Public office is public trust" with
which to make headline for wide
iy distributed public speech and his of
brilliant strategical work in smuggl-
ing Miss Frances Folsom of Buffalo up
the harbor of New York on her return
from Europe in the early summer of
1886 and, Guiding the pursuit of the
suspecting but confused newspaper re-
porters, whisking her way to Wash
ngtOn, where shortly afterward she
became the Presidents charming bride
That incident won for him the ever
lasting gratitude of both bride and
groom.
AS Secretary of War Mr.. Lamont
was little in evidence and something Of
mystery He was rarely in his Office
and was as hard to find by those who
sought him on political matters and
on business pertaining to the War De-
partment as the traditional needle in
the haymow. He had a little private
office at the end of long suite occu-
pied by the higher officials, and it was
an important man indeed who dared
TO beard him in his den on the few
occasions when he was tracked to it,
Usually he was elsewhere and but few
persons could place their hand upon
him at the desired moment. The Sec
rotary of War was in Mr.. C1eveland's
second term as much his private Sec
rotary and political advisor as in the
four years of his first administration.
Seldom did Mr.. Cleveland take impor-
tant action without first seeking the
advise of Dan" Had he consulted
him before ignoring the recommended
ton of the great editor of a great
New York newspaper for the appoint
ment of a friend on the Governors
military staff ne would have escaped
that newspapers relentless enmity
after he was nominated for the presi-
dency. But Mr.. Lemont knew moth
ing of the episode until it had passed.
Had opportunity been given him he
would undoubtedly have found a.. way
cut of the embarrassing situation
created by the fact that the Cover
nor had in a moment of carelessness
promised the uninportant but highly
coveted office to the son Of the world
renowned pulpit orator of Brooklyn.
Mr.. Lamonts Ideals may not have
been as high as those held by political
and social reformers of the present
day, but then. he was a practical, hard
headed man who dealt with facts as he
found them. If he did nothing to ele-
waite the business of politics and the
profession of the officeholding he at
least did nothing to- add to their i'll
repute. He was faithful always to
his trust whatever that happened to
be, and of that fafthfulness he receiv-
ed the full reward.-Providence Jour
nal.