Evening star., 1906-06-16

Let us see what the authority on men
OF great or little fame. who's Who In
America has to say about Otto Kelsey.
lately picked by Gov. Higgins of New York
to be the official watchdog of the policy
holders interests In the big Three" and
the other life insurance companies doing
business under New York state laws.
Nothing.
Let US call on Mr.. Kelsey, in his office
in Albany. He undoubtedly realizes that
the entire country. being much interested
In life insurance matters just now, Is nee
essarily moro than superficially curious
about the career and personality of the new
superintendent of insurance for the empire
state. Perhaps. therefore. he will en-
tighten us on this head.
Really there isn't much to say. and I'm
sure that 1t will be Of interest to no one.
l was born In 1852, was a compositor. then
q lawyer. 1 was elected to the assembly
In 1893. I was controller and now I am
superintendent of insurance"
Not very Illuminating. So let US seek out
some of his most intimate friends.
lotto Kelsey? Oh, yes. Certainly. He's
UNI! Controller while ago. you know.
First appointed by Odell, when governor,
and elected to the office In 1904 Been In
the assembly. too. Honest all through;
Known as Honest Otto Kelsey. He-um!
Say why don't you go round and see Kei-
sey himself? He's fine fellow to meet.
You did? And got nothing? Well. he is
sort of absent minded about himself. I'll
admit.
Know Little About Him.
All Albany knows Otto Kelsey-in a way.
Barring an interregnum of year, when
he stayed home to run for county judge
and was defeated. he has been there In an
official capacity of some sort since 1893.
Albany knows his genial. but not over .ex-
pansive SMILE his trim. well set-up figure
swinging up and down the paved hills. his
widespread reputation for honesty. Right
here Albany's knowledge of the man stops
even that part of Albany which has to do
with newsgathering-and at THIS point IL
patterns after most of Mr.. Kelsey's friends
when talking of him and strings after MS
name all the nice adjectives that can De
conjured to mind. ALI of which makes the
patient seeker after more concrete lnIorLaa-
ton harbor the suspicion that Albanians
diligently thumb over the pages OF the
! thesaurus kept in the state library.
Said one of the few men who really know
anything other than generalities about the
career and personality of Mr.. Kelsey:
"Otto's reticence about himself VIII hur'
him at first as insurance superintendent
Beyond giving a hearty smile and a hand-
shake TO the men VINO VIII oouDuesS ue 40
mand band wagon methods, he Will do
nothing to curry their favor He Will nol
play for publicity; he is too modest. He
never wlll-for the sake of the sensation OF
the attention that 1t would focus on him
He will bury his nose in his new duties
and get there. But because he Will no'
make a great noise while keeping the lire
insurance companies in fear OF the law.
those editors and others who delight ln
seeing fur fly will criticise him most Sc
verely.
Keeps In the Background.
Mr.. Kelsey's disinclination to force his
personality before the public was aptly re-
yealed when it became necessary for him,
as controller to get out the last edition
of that unique and historically valuable
state publication. New York In the Revo-
luton" The preceding edition bore on the
title gage. where the Identity OF the author
IA usually revealed. the name OF the con-
troller under whose supervision the data
relating to the records of the states revo-
lutionary soldiers had been compiled. Fol
lowing this precedent. Controller Kelsey
name was placed on the utle page. When
the proofs came to hand Mr.. Kelsey
struck of his name, substituting therefor
the legend that the data had been compneo
from the records in the controllers ofnce
From which 1t may be gathered that
Otto Kelsey would not give town IL
brary. say, In order to have his name, In