The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-02-23
SECRETARY OF WAR
Hon. ]. NJ. Dickinson Is a Native of
Mississppi-Well Known in New Or
leans.

leans.
New Orleans States: Considerable III
terest has been created III New Orleans
BY the announcement that Mr., NJ
Dickinson. general counsel of the II
linois Central, is to be the Secretary OF
War in the Cabinet of President TAFT.
Mr.. Dickinson, since his connection
witt, the Illinois Central. has frequently
been in New Orleans, both OH social and
business visits, is well known in local
legal and business circles. He has di-
rected much of the litigation i'll Louis
lana. in which the Illinois Central has
been involved. As he has always been
deeply interested in the upbulding of
New Orleans. the city promises to have
in him friend at court whenever mat
ters come mp at Washington affecting
her welfare.
Mr.. Dickinson now draws $35.ooo a
year as general counsel of the Illinois
Central He will resign that Office for
one which pays only $4,000. but which
gives greater opportunities to win dis
tnCtiOn
Mr. Dickinson is between 81 and S
years of age "A native of Mississippi,
served three months in the Confederate
Army as boy, graduated from the Uni
versity of Tennessee. and finished his
education i'll Germany. His grand
father was Phelix Grundy. Attorney
General of the States: his father was a
distinguished chancellor in Mississippi
Mr.. Dickinson has always been a
Democrat. although he is a personal
friend of President Roosevelt and re
fused to vote for Mr.. Bryan. Mrs.
Dickinson was Miss Overton, daugh-
ter of General Overton. and both are
related to prominent Southern families
He is the owner of the famous Belle
Meade House and immense estates
three miles out Of Nashville. in which
city he began his law proctice He was
for 4 time Judge of the Supreme Court
of Tennessee. and was appointed by
President Cleveland assistant Attorney
General of the United States, serving
under Attorney General Harmon.
Mr.. Dickinson was selected by Presi-
dent Roosevelt to present the argument
of the United States before the Joint
High Commission, whicl, adjusted the
Alaskan boundary dispute between this
country and Great Britain. and his pre-
sentation of this case won for him an
international reputation. He has Just
retired as president of the American
Bar Association
The new Secretary of War became
general counsel for the Illinois Central
system under the presidency Of Stuy-
vesant Fish, and it is said that in the
subsequent controversy between Messrs
Fish and Hartman that he was strongly
on the side Of Mr. Fish 1t is known
Mr.. Dickinson's viii be the hand which
will have immediate supervision Of the
Panama construction.
(Note How much service could Mr.
Dickinson have rendered the Confeder
acy if he is now ffty-fo years of age?
He was at the end of the war in the
spring of 1865 between ten and eleven
years of age Why invest Mr.. Dickin-
son with this distinction when he could
not have been soldier?
1t is claimed that he has always been
a Democrat except when Bryan was
candidate of the Democracy. It this
be true, Mr.. Dickinson was in the
company of the very few Democrats
who did not vote for Bryan.
But why single ont this exception
when six and half million Democrats
voted for Bryan?
Now. If Mr.. Dickinson has been list
ed as a Taft Democrat" there could
have been urged no comment. but to
connect him as a soldier in the service
Of the Confederacy when he was be
tween ten and eleven years is rather
stretching the limit of fulsome praise.
However, the South will rejoice to
know that Taft will have in his Cabinet
man who is Of the South and will
renresent t1,e South as II should he