Evening journal., 1911-03-24
REV NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Way JudsOn Harmon
Became the Nations
Attorney General
By HHoIland."

Judson Harmon, now serving his
second term as Governor of Ohio. and
looked upon as sound Democratic
party presidential timber for 1912 was
for two years member of the cabinet
Of Grover Cleveland In the latter's
second administration. Yet when Mr..
Cleveland nominated Mr.. Harmon as
the successor of Richard Olney Of
Massachusetts as Attorney General,
Mr. Olney having been transferred to
the State Department, the President
was compelled even TO ask what Mr..
Harmons name was before making out
the nomination, so that IL might be
sent to the Senate for confirmation.
After the death of Secretary of State
Walter @. Gresham in 1895. President
Cleveland had no question in his mind
as to the appointment Of his successor;
he decided instantly TO name Richard
Olney. But when the question arose,
Whom shall ! nominate for Attorney
General2" the President faced differ
ent sort of problem. He felt that 1t
would be expedient to select an Attor-
ney General from the West. He turned
over several names In his mind; none
of them quite satisfied him. He was
anxious TO get a new man, strong
man, a popular man. and one whose
record as Democrat could not be
questioned.
In this embarrassment he turned, as
he often did when he sought advice, TO
the Secretary Of the Treasury. John
G. Carlisle. He summoned MIR. Carlisle
+ TO the White House one evening. and
then said: Carlisle, wish you could
suggest a good lawyer-it does not re-
| quire very great lawyer to do good
service as Attorney General man
who lives somewhere in the West and
whose nomination for Attorney Gen
eral would be approved by all who
knew him, And I would like a new
man, If possible, new IN the sense that
he is not now actively identified with
politics
"I know just the man. think, you
are looking for" said Mr.. Carlisle
His name is Judson Harmon AS a
lawyer. he stands high at the Ohio
bar"
Mr.. Cleveland then asked a good
many questions. and, among others, If
Carlisle had personal acquaintance
with Mr.. Harmon. In reply, Carlisle
said that he had become acquainted
with Mr. Harmon at the time when he
Carlisle was practicing law In Gov
ington. Ky, directly across the Ohio
river from Cincinnati.
At that interview Mr.. Cleveland did
not say whether or not he should ac-
cept Mr.. Carlisle'E recommendation.
The next day. however, a messenger
from the White House carried a note
TO Secretary Carlisle. II was from
President Cleveland, and It contained
only these words:
What was the name Of that man
whom you recommended yesterday for
Attorney General?"
Carlisle's reply was quiteasbrief; (;
he wrote with pencil upon a slip of
paper: "Judson Harmon, OF Cincinnati,
| Ohio"
Two hours later President Cleveland
sent TO the Senate the nomination OF
Judson Harmon for Attorney General
and after he had established personal
acquaintance with the new Attorney
General he made haste to thank Sec.
retary Carlisle for having recommend
ed a man of such ability and integrity
as the successor of Richard Olney as
Attorney General.
| Copyright, 1911, by r. ]. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved.)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell of
"The Time Cleveland Did Not Ask His
Cabinets Advice"