The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-06-17

and seventeen rp"ilnpltS In the fielC
in sixty days. To give to him the mill
tary authority IT, maze tie draft he
was commissioned assistant adiutant
general of the United States an office
which he resigned as soon as the work
was finished.
After the defeat Of his party in 1863
Colonel Mcclure. at the special request
Of President Lincoln. went to Philadel
phia to aid in organizing and perfect
| ing the organization for the presiden-
tial election In the following Novem.
Der. The same year Lees army. in its
| invasion of Pennsylvania, destroyed
all his property. near Chambersburg
valued at $4,000 To do this 1t even
| went out of its way, as If with intent
| to leave him homeless as a punishment
for his ardent support of the Union
| cause.
He was a delegate to the convention
| which nominated General Grant in
1868. and after that campaign he set
tied in Philadelphia for the practice OF
law. In 1872. with his old friend, Mr..
Curtin, he Joined the Greeley move
ment, and ever since then he was more
or less Independent in politics.
He was reelected to the senate, and
in 1873 he was nominated for,mayor OF
Philadelphia against William S. Stok-
ley and made vigorous campaign, but
he was defeated in this contest and
never again appeared as candidate
for Office.
| Colonel A. X Mcclure has stood on
many platforms, has addressed assem-
blies large and small, political, social
and religious. He was noted for his
self command under any circum-
stances. but on one occasion he was
distinctly embarrassed and Ill at ease
On this occasion Colonel Mcclure
| was the chief speaker at a large as
sembly, the audience being made VI
| mainly of farmers or other persons
| who had driven to the place of meet
| ing. In the midst of an eloquent
| speech it began to rain. One after an
| other of his hearers jumped up and
! hurried out until the speaker was lef
| with an array of empty benches be
fore him.
Colonel McClure's face flushed Grim
son. He had said not "a word tina
could give offense. and he naturall.
failed to understand the sudden leav
taking, but his embarrassment wa
quickly changed to amusement whel
the chairman arose and said:
''It's all right, colonel; they're oul.
going out to look after the horses
They'll be back pretty soon"
The orator sat down until the farm
ers returned and then resumed hi
speech.
In 1876 Colonel Mcclure. with Fran
Mclaughlin. founded the Philadelphi
Times and remained its editor In chic
until 1901. when he withdrew fror
active Journalism and devoted himsel
to periodical literature. He was th
author of many books, perhaps tn
| best known Of which are Lincoln an
Men of War Times" "Our President
!, and How We Make Them" and "Ret
objections Of Half Century"
For years he was the president c
the famous Glover club In Philade
phia. and when he retired from joul
nalism the club gave him great bal
quet. Covers were laid for more tha
800, and the company included som
/. of the foremost men Of every profe
sion in the country. Another gres
banquet was given to Colonel McClur
on his eightieth birthday. between &C
and 500 of his friends attending it.
Il Two years ago Colonel Mcclure sal
, at dinner of the Clover club:
: "Old age has nothing In 1t to fea
!, | When death calls to me shall not
!. afraid. After dining with Mr.. Ca
negie once Mr.. Carnegie said to n
that he would give $200O00.000 to hay
lease on life. Two hundred million
Alec he said to me-'that's what /
|. | give for lease on this life. I'm n
!, hoggish, either. I'd give 1t for tt
! years only | don't think Carnegie
afraid Of death. but he clings to LII
:, There is a difference. I said, And
! you would be bunkoed at that price,
In 1904 Colonel Mcclure was aga
induced to take Office and was name
. prothonotary Of the supreme and 9
perior courts of PENNSYLVANIA.
VI Beware of Telephone Cussing.
i The Omaha city council has pass
i, an ordinance imposing fine OF II
e Tor the offensc Of swearing into te
e phone.