New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-09-29
ST|MS0N A STRONG MAN
Won Wide Reputation as Pros
eCutoT of Corruption.
EFFICIENT U. S. ATTORNEY
Obtained Sugar Fraud Convic-
tions, and Had Morse Sent TO
Prison-His Political Views.

the law clerk and later as a partner or
Elhu Root. and tested amply and well
proved as a government official in his ca
pacity as United States Attorney. few can
ddates for Governor Of the Empire State
have presented better credentials than
Henry Il. Stmson.
II was while United States Attorney for
the Sout bern District of New York that
he won q. national reputation as a prose
cutor OF corruption. He brought TO light
ard punished the sugar frauds. It was
Stims0n who forced +. II. Hartman TO tes-
tify about railroad affairs. Under his pros
ecution five railroads were convicted OF or
pie aded guilty TO rebating TO the Sugar
Trust. paying fines agg-egating 100000. He
sent Charles W. Morse TO prison for mis-
using the funds OF the National Bank of
North America.
Mr.. Stimson is the son Of DR. Lewis At
terbury- Stimson. a distinguished New York
physician. once Regent Of the State and
professor in the Medical College of Cornell
University. Dr. Henry A. Stimson, pastor
Of the Manhattan Congregational Church.
is an uncle. He is also a relative Of John
Ward Stircson. author and artist. on his
mothers side he is descended from the dis
tinguished Judge BOudinot, whose brother
was Provost General Boudinot.
lie was born in New York City in 1867
and was educated at Phillips-Andover
Academy and Yale, being graduated from
the university in 1855 He stood high in
scholarship and at Yale made Phi Beta
KAPPA and Skull and Bones. He has al
ways been an enthusiastic alumnus Of
Philiips-Andover and for a time was presi-
dent of its alumni association.
His active law career was begun in 1891,
when he became a clerk in the office of the
firm OF Root & Clark. In two years he
was made a full partner. and until 1897 was
a member of the firm of Root, Howard,
Winthrop & Stimson. Elihu Root left the
firm in that year and the name became
Winthrop & Stimson. In these years he
had wide experience with government
cases.
His Work as United States Attorney.
In 1896 President Roosevelt appointed 1,ir.
Stimson United States Attorney, and the
selection was approved by lawyers of both
parties. though he had all his life been
stanch Republican and for some time
served on the county committee from the
9th Assembly District He was never
narrow partisan, however, and has always
been well liked by men of all political
parties. Such strong political timber did
lie become while United States Attorney
that in the last mayoralty campaign in
New York City he was widely considered
as the anti-Tammany candidate. He re-
signed the United States attorrnyship in
1909, as he wished to return to private
practice. He was not a seeker after Office.
Moreover, he had just been retained as
special prosecutor in the Sugar Trust case
and was unwilling 10 drop that work until
il was finished.
Previous 10 Mr.. Stimson's administra-
ton Of the United States Attorneys office
that place had been run on a fee basis
I His predecessor. General Burnett. is said
to have made 10000 a year out Of the
hat trimming cases. which dragged along
for twenty years. Much criticism was
aroused. Before Mr.. Stimson took the
place, however it was on a straight salary
basis Of $4,000 a year.
His greatest work has been the trailing
Of railroads in the Sugar Trust case. The
following is the result Of those cases:
New York Central & Hudson River Rail
road-Convicted by jury IN two cases.
American Sugar Refining Companv-C on
yicted by jury in one case: pleaded guilty
in five cases.
Great Northern Railway-Convicted by
| jury.
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway
Company-PIeadad guilty.
Chicago. Milwaukee & st. Pau Railway
Central Vermont Railway Company -
| Pleaded guilty
Mr.. Stimson has won his way largely by
/ his capacity for hard work He has not
a powerful physique. but he keeps in good
condition by plenty Of outdoor exercise.
! He has spent much time hunting and ex-
piorinE In the West He is fond of riding.
and until lately was a member of Squad
ron A. in which he had attained the rank
Of lieutenant His manner is quiet and re-
| served. Speaking recently Of his political
1 views, Mr.. Stlmson said:
I would have more government-not less
I believe in the short ballot along the line
/ OF the bill now pending in the legislature
] would have but four or five officers voted
for on any ballot For instance, 1 should
give to the Governor the appointive power
for Attorney General and the other mem
bers Of his Cabinet. He must necessarily
stand OF fail by their acts, and he would be
discreet in their appointment. AS it is,
( every one knows that in eyerey state Office
/ is more or less a n>tter Of backroom bar
ter
1 Thanks to a wearisome system of pri-
maries and conventions, only a genuine up
! heaval OF popular sentiment enables the
well meaning citizen TO express himself
upon a nomination. The majority is at all
times, ! believe, friendly to decency and
I honesty and courage in Office. But it IS the
minority, in possession Of the machinery
and always at work, that names the men
in Office. Il is on this account that I have
not particularly favored the direct primary
bill. Granting the need of reform, ] am not
sure that attack along this line viii pro-
dUce the result desired. And l think that
We have too much politics as il is. As
good party man as l am, / regard pO-
/ litical party as means 10 an end rather
than the end itself
An honest and coura geoUs administration
should be kept IN Office. and / believe that
Z can he more readily done If the voter is
oales a each election rather than Il Dlan-
Il tiul DO YOU remember what the con-
SLitutlCnal amendments were that you
voted IOr last Iall?
That is an instance Of what ! mean
We are so logged with politics that we
don't understand or remember what is act
Uaily on the ballot. II the term of Office
were just twice d. long as ii IS now. ana
If we were only asked 20 vote for few
candidates, we would give our most lmpOr-
Al present Nowadays only the men who
Ii in back rooms and dictate nominations
/ really use their brains. They rule Us and
.r; not responsible TO IS. 40 matter what
Haftlu-. they cannot Dr. reached except
t1Iouel a tedious auI cumbersome process
ilaE requires "A universally 81 sentiment
that rarely D. found.
EDWARD SCHOENECK.
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