The Washington herald., 1909-03-14
JACOB M'GAVOCK DICKINSON

Wasn't il Arnold Winkeiried that made
that crack about "Yon rock shall ny from
it's firm base as soon as T." Well neither
Arnoid nor the rock had anything on ia
cob McGavock Dickinson, Presiden'
Tafts Secretary OF war Dickinson
would not fy-hrst. because flying is con-
genitally unwholesome 70 a man six feet
two inches tall and weighing 20 pounds
when in hard condition; and. second, he
wouldn't fly because he DOESN'T feel like
flying. and no one he has ever met fas
been able 10 persuade him. He has met
good many people. too. in the course OF
the hfty-eight years he has tussed
through since Columbus, Miss, rrst look
ed upon him and pronounced him good
says "A writer IN the New Yo-k Globe
He was a mere child during the war
OF tie rebellion. Of course. lie had haid-
ly grown large enough 10 tote rifle,
and had TO stand on a STUMP when he
rsi1rled the charge home. But he toied
Il just the same, and yoln mud his name
on the Confederate roll n you l)ok for H.
Ana, having become accustomed t. con
rict ard the short end, ne then declared
himself a Democrat. Aac hes been a
Democrat ever since. A Democrat, mind
YOU ANY one who thinks he's WANDERED
of through the canebrakes following the
I1yah cOwbell is shy fhs first eight rO~s
r. bis mental check rack. Dickins"H- IS
has before been stated. lS a Dcmocr@t,
hard pedal on, flags hyIng. unrecon-
structed, and unrepentant. He says tha.S
why Mr.. Taft selected him as Secretary
Of War.
Anyhow. he's so good a Democrat that
some folks take him for a Republican.
until he informs them that he has never
voted any other than the Democratic
ticket all his life. When he is given a
choice between Bryan and a Republican,
he goes fishing over in Chicago did
any one say that he gave up S5,o0o-a-
year-jOb as general counsel for the IL
linois Central road 10 take the Sl2,000
roast as a Cabinet ofncer2-over in Chi
cago the news that Jake" Dickinson is
going fishing spreads like "a benedietion
over the city.
Il isn't the fact Of his fishing. so much
as II IS the stories he VIII ten when ne
gets back. The moment ne walks through
the door Of any one OF his three clubs in
Chicago. the steward begins 20 telephone
the fact OF his return. That night all
professional Chicago is sitting az his feet.
listening 10 a master OF che art make
the fact that seven-inch fish smelled
al his bait-smellsd. UIC turned away
sound Ike the thousand and second tale
that Scheherezade told ner old man.
he really Oughtnt 10 be asked 70 stand
g.
ing residence in Tennessee. where they
raise other men with the same sort Of
convictions he boasts He has the old
Belle Meade Stock Farm down there.
where he and Mrs. Dickinson go uow and
then 10 entertain friends and watch some
little gangling colts bud into racing
promise
Dickinson hasn't a heap Of money HIM
self. for he has spent about as fast as
he made. But Mrs. Dickinson is wealthy
in her own name is a famous hostess
and VIII aid In making the Taft Cabinet
a socially brilliant one Maybe IL IS be-
cause Dickinson has seen war that he Is
a man Of peace. But the sort Of peace
he likes is the peace with honor sort. He
believes IN having a good army and a
good navy, and then walking mOdestly.
just the same-he has represented the
for he Is some pumpkins as a lawyer. this
big, slow moving, soft spoken man. And
not all the gold laced diplomats that were
ever choked into corsets could make
Jack" Dickinson even Wabble IN his as
serticn Of right
That's what those who know him best
call hlm-"Jake" It's a good deal Ike
aclling the Sphinx by a pet name. it's
true. But there are haIr dozen OF so
who know him so. because he is a COM
panionable man. They used 70 say IN
Tennessee that Jake Dickinson never
told a lie or took back the truth" and
they were likely right He's the sort OF
man who Is essentially dangerous when
he is aroused.
In Nashville one n-gnt he entered a
room IN which were three men, who, ac-
cording 20 rumor. had planned To kill
him. He threw back mis- coat 10 get a
lead pencil. and the three broke so worth
Of furniture getting 20 the street Il
isn't any wonder that its considered a
good deal of honor 20 be able 10 call this
big chap Jake Nor that when he gets
away from the mahogany Of the Cabinet
table he VIII link his arm IN that Of the
President and be able 10 say: