The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-04-26
FRIEND OF CLEVELAND.
James H. Eckels, One of Cleveland's g
Appointees, Was a Man of Won
derfu1 Brain Power.
Washington Herald.

hNHtllliStoll 1Icltlu,
James II. Eckcls, one who died
suddenly in Chicago Sunday, was one
of the very few men regarded as pro-
teges Of President Cleveland. There
was no "tennis Cabinet" or other
official auxiliary to the Cleveland
&gime. Nearly all Of President
Cleveland's prominent official asso-
ciatcs were prominent before Mr..
Cleveland called them to the public
service. I'm this respect his admins
tration was unlike either that of Me-
Kinley or Roosevelt, both Of which
elevated many hitherto obscure men
to the top round of official promin-
cncc. But Mr.. Eckcls was taken ND
through the personal favor of Presi-
dent Cleveland in way that aston
ished the Presidents friends.
Mr.. Eckcls came to Washington in
the early spring of 1893, and was a
familiar boyish figure around the Ar
lington Hotel lobby. He was pale,
thoughtful, and studious, and practic-
ed regular hours and habits. He met
Mr.. Cleveland when the latter was
governor Of New York and Mr..
Eckels was Il student at the Albany
Law School. He knew Daniel La
mont, Daniel Manning, and Charles
w. Tracy. He was delegate to the
Democratic National Convention of
1892, and worked under the instruc-
tions of William G.. Whitney to bring
about President Cleveland nomina-
ton.
Mr.. Eckels came to Washington
seeking appointment as United
States attorney for the Northern dis
trict of Illinois. But Senator Pal
mer was pledged to the candidacy Of
member Of the Illinois legislature,
who had voted for him. President
Cleveland was disposed to follow
Senator Palmer's recommendation
He sent message to Mr.. Eckels that
if he would withdraw from the race
he would be taken care Of later. Eek
els yielded, maenanimously indorsing
his opponent. This pleased Mr.. Gle
veland. Everybody was set to work
to find suitable office for Mr.. Eek
els.
Secretary lamont proposed to Mr..
! Cleveland that they make Eckcls
Director of the Mint.
"I will not bury that young man
in bureau place. said the Presi-
dent. "I am going to give him place
that will lead to something's Eckels
had waited about Washington several
weeks.
1t was newspaper man who con-
veycd to Mr.. Eckels the news that he
, had been named for Comptroller Of
. the Currency.
"That's strange" suggested Mr..
Eckels. 81 am lawyer, not a bank
er. Why, I never read the national
banking act. / never had a bank ac-
count.'
But the nomination Of Mr.. Eckels
was confirmed. He read the national
banking act ami started to work. He
found himself in the center of trying
scenes. Within few weeks after
he took Office national banks began to
fail. Within a single month there
we're nearly as many failures as had
occurred during the history Of the
Office. He met the situation and
measured up to it. President Clcvc-
sand's admiration for his protege
grew. When Mr.. Eckels retired from
office, Mr.. Cleveland sent him an
autograph letter saying that no ap-
pointmcnt he had made in either
administration had given him such
satisfaction.
Lyman j. Gage. Secretary of the
Treasury, once said Of Mr.. Eckcls:
"llc is not large physically, bui he's
all brain.'