The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-28

he received the degree of A. M from the same institution His graduation was marked with honors for his several stud les He studied his profession at Colum- bia college, New York, and subsequently at Leipzig and Paris Returning to Amer lea he began the practice of law in Nasn- vile, Tenn, being admitted to the bar in 1874
 In 1876 MT. Dickinson married Martha Overton of Nashville, a typical daughter of the south, whose wealth has been many times added to by his efforts as an att torney.
 MT. Dickinson took great interest in municipal questions in Nashville, at that time perplexing. In fact, the municipal government was far from the most hon. orable and clear-cut that could be de- vised This Mr. Dickinson saw He start ed in to clean up Nashville, and started that city upon straighter road, trusting that when he could not take the fight further others would. It was said of him at that time that he never lost a case, and that he would not know what to do if he did. Of course he has had other cases since those days.
 AS a speaker, Mr. Dickinson was never rated as an orator, but his enthusiasm and energy carried his purpose before him, His record for work and earnest ness and promotion. Several times he sat upon the supreme bench of Tennessee by spe- cial commission His interpretations of the law were highly regarded and carried weight He seldom made an analysis that did not cover the simplest points for the most dense For nearly 20 years he has been connected with the legal end of rail- roads He first became general counsel for the Louisville and Nashville railroad,
 ,aI fln 1nuo of the Illinois Central, having been in- duced to accept the latter by Stuyvesant Fish, then president of that road. This nosition Mr. Dickinson held almost with out interruption up to his acceptance or the offer from MT Taft. He was receiv- ing a salary of $35,000 a year as solicitor- general for the Illinois Central railroad, and goes into the cabinet for less than one-third as much.
 In 1895 MT. Dickinson accepted, under the Cleveland administration the position Of assistant attorney general of the United States and served in that capacity until 1897. One of the most important assign ments he has ever had and one which brought him into the esteem of the legal and political talent of the country, was that of representative of the United States before the Alaskan boundary tribunal. At that time 1t was said by those who heard llTn. ne Qudll1eu dS cetioiuttio AOA oho of the highest offices In the gift Of any President or people.
 Lever of Horses.
 Secretary Dickinson has made his home for a number of years in Chicago and Tennessee. His offices, as general counsel for the Illinois Central railroad, were in Chicago and he remained there great deal, but whenever possible he has found time to return to Tennessee, where he owns perhaps the finett bluegrass farm in the state-a farm that for many years has been famous over the entire country the Belle Meade farm, just south of Nashville few miles. There he retires when he needs recreation and moment tc collect his thoughts. He is great lover of horses and owns some of the state: most noted animals. Not long ago he made visit to Belle Meade It was ther known that he would be chosen by Pres ident Taft as secretary of war and he>was invited to Nashville to a banquet in his honor. There he was Jokingly chidet about the same matter that his boyhood friend at Columbus had taken in all SC. riousness-his democracy.
 q am democrat" he said. 1T hay,