The Washington herald., 1910-06-05

ined my baggage and my person. strip
ping me TO the skin. Ny heart was IN
my throat, but they found nothing. At
surgidero, where ! was TO take the train
for Havana, I was searched again.
was in Havana e week before dared TO
deliver the letters TO the man TO whom
they were addressed. moistened the
leaf Of my account book. tore 1t out,
and also gave him that All these events
occurred IN 1873 When I returned from
Havana, several years ago. where was
sent by President Roosevelt TO help the
new republic with its freight rates and
! railroad laws. old revolutionists who re-
membered my service in 1873 accom-
panied me to the wharf and kissed me
good-by on both cheeks"
why did you quit business and come
10 Washington" 1 asked.
"A workman in our lumber yards. he
was from Maine and the father of eight
children. told me that he hadn't. been
Inside Of a theater since his marriage and
that his wages were S,25 a day. had
one child and spent more than s1.25 a
day foolishly. The next morning 1 ad-
yised the man TO talk the matter over
with his associates in the yards and
strike for sL75 a day. My partner, Mr..
Stetson will consult me, I said. and ]
will advise him 10 pay the price The
strike occurred and worked out as
had planned.
Defeated by BOOdIers.
about that time, Dick spofrord, my
brother-in-law, who was a Boston law
yer, one Of the best men that ever lived
and the husband Of Harriet Prescott
Spofford, the author became candidate
| for Congress at the suggestion OF Gen
Benjamin F. Butler. managed his
campaign. An officer of the Knights oi
Labor came 10 me and demanded s.. 700
I refused to give, the money A labor
candidate was nominated in retaliation
and Dick spofrord was defeated
organized an assembly Of the Knights oi
Labor among my own employees, and
was elected master workman. Then
went after the boodlers who had beater
Dick spofford
Presently. a friend asked me to run
for the legislature on the ticket with
himself and I was elected. I had beer
a member OF the common council Of New
buryport and had served as alderman
While in the legislature. got interested
in an employers liability bill Officers
OF the Boston Builders Exchange asket
me to speak and vote against 1t, 1 de
clined to do either and the builders pu
a silent but effective boycott on my lum
Der business.
MY best friend in Boston was Johr
because he was a human being. O'Reill!
said President Cleveland had promised
him any Office he wanted. He asked th'
President to appoint me a member oi
the Interstate Commerce Commission
but political complications in New Eng
land made such an arrangement irnprac
ticable, and Mr.. Cleveland offered me
place in the diplomatic service. Wher
the Interstate Commerce Commission
was organized wes chosen secretary a
Mr.. Cleveland's request
Messengers for Cleveland.
did you come in personal contac
with him afterward?" I asked.
"Oh, yes. When he desired TO com
municate with a man in any part Of thu
country and didn't think 1t prudent 4
write, he sent me- instead OF a letter
He was a great man. and felt the re
sponsibilities of his position-a dIgnlfieC
man. who stood aloof from the pubIi
because he had no time to shake hand
and be pleasant. He would take of hi
coat at night and conscientiously real