Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-02
LANNON'S ENTERPRISE
The Achievements of Former
Cabinet Minister.
DISPLAYED TACT AS A POLITICIAN
Secretary He Lifted the once Al
most TO the Dignity of q Cabinet
Position-Changes He Made At the
White Hoase-Hfs Services a. Sec
Rotary of War.


White Hoase-His Services ~ Sec
Rotary of War.
The late Dan Lamont, Grover Cleve-
hands private secretary, is better
remembered in Washington than DAN
lei Scott Lamont, the secretary Of
war, says the Washington correspond
ent OF the New York Post. Before
Lamont's day the presidents private
secretary was concerned solely with
routine business, the disposition Of
mail, replying to unlmportant CORE
spondence and the making OF appoint
ments for his chief. Mr.. Lamont, dur
ing his tenure of the Office, to some ex-
tent made it an added cabinet posi-
ton. His personal influence with Mr..
Cleveland was on par with that of
any one of the seven counselors pro-
vided by law.
Mr.. Lamont was u perfect compile
ment for his chief. He had tactful-
ness. unfailing politeness. the widest
acquaintance with public men of any
man of his day, an alert, acquisitive
mind, a personal poise that could not
be disturbed, and a temper that was
never ruffied. The personal impression
that Cleveland made on the country
during his first four years in the White
House was largely due TO Mr.. La
mont's suavity and diplomacy. He
mirrored his chief to the public as he
would have him appear; not wholly as
he was. The angles we're blunted and
the rough sides made smooth. No one
recognized more than Mr.. Cleveland
how much OF his popularity was due to
his efficient private secretary.
Mr.. Lamont's newspaper training
stood him In excellent service. He
knew the limitations of the correspond
ent's work. the meaning and value OF
news, the difficulties with which 1t
was gathered, the importance Of accu-
racy and the vital necessity of writing
accounts OF events while they We're
fresh. He was democratic and help
full, he knew men and affairs and how
much to tell of all the inside" events
that came under his eye or of which
he had. because of his position, first
hand knowledge. He made the White
House source OF accurate, fresh,
valua BILE information such as II had
never been before, and he was In
the best sense OF the word what Mr..
Cleveland never became-a '.politi-
clan"
Commentators on public affairs in
Washington VINO had known private
secretaries under other presidents
We're so amazed and delighted at the
changes Mr.. Lamont made at the
White House and SO appreciative Of
the public value of his services that
some OF them to this day are inclined
10 call him 1.-The brains of the first
Cleveland administration" This. of
course. is an exaggerated estimate but
II Will serve to show how striking an
impression the new private secretary
made on men who were not accus-
toned TO ioosing their tongues in praise
Of public officers unless tribute was
emlnently well deserved. Here is a
description of him. written .'off the
griddle," so to speak, In the days when
he was new to the capital:
His private secretary is Daniel S. La
mont. Lamont is a wonder. He is a
small blond young man OF thirty-Six. with
sandy hair and mustache. He has a
modest personal appearance. dresses very
neatly. and there is no man in New York
state. not excepting Samuel J. Tflden,
who has a larger acquaintance with
prominent Democrats. He is honest.
knows man at a glance. and the mo-
ment any one comes into ClevelandS Of
flee he tell what his business is. He
signifies to his chief by nod of his head
what he thinks of the request about to
be made. He never loses his head has
been with politicians all his life and yet
has the most exemplary habits. He never
smokes and never Swears. He is of slight
stature and does not at first command the
attention to which his abilities en-
titled.
A sketch of Mr.. Lamont, written in
1884, bears the caption The Pleasant
History of Pink of Politeness." In
1882, when Mr.. Lamont was n nominee
for the clerk of the New York senate,
he had already developed q modesty, a
merit and an organizing and working
capacity which had won for him the
respect. the regard and the confidence
OF all who had been brought into rela-
tons with him. He had made his
mark so deeply at Albany that when
Mr.. Cleveland became president Ii was
taken for granted that his private sec
rotary would accompany him to Wash
ington. One who knew him in the Al
bany days contributes this glimpse OF
the methods that made Mr.. Lamont so
widely known after he reached Wash
ington:
In the executive chamber he always
got up to receive visitors. and his uni
versal knowledge OF public men at
Washington again held good. He saw
every one coming in at the distant door
and spoke their name to the governor,
who was quick to hear. So when
Smith of Wayback came In and said.
You don't remember me- governor, 1
am afraid the governor promptly re-
sponded:
"'Oh. yes, do. Mr.. Smith. How are
the folks in Wayback?
when the governor wrote his IA
NOUS personal comfort letter about