The Washington herald., 1911-05-07
New Head of Interior Department Says
Graft and Incompetency Cause Waste,
and Gives Views on Real Reforms.

one Of the trustees Of Hanover COLLEGE.
located in the same county. Madison
had been what was called a 'Copperhead
town. because the fnhabitants had SYM
pathized with the South, and the Pres.
| byterian church there had promptly
broken away from the jurisdiction of the
North. But my father had no trouble.
He preached the Gospel and let politics
alone, Once Madison, on the Ohio River,
was pointed out as the theoretical
metropolis Of the United States. Goods
came by water and were hauled across
the prairies in wagons to Chicago. Dan
iel Webster and Henry Clay stopped
there on their way to the West. It is
still on the Ohio River. and spur of
the Pennsylvania Railroad gives 1t an
outlet to the rest of the world.
Unexpectedly, my father was elected
president of Hanover College. He would
serve, he said. until the trustees found
another man. Twenty-six years passed
before he had a chance to resign. The
president of Hanover, logically and de-
Gently, couldn't send his son to Prince
ton. / got into action at once, taking
energetic interest in the Sigma Chi fra
ternity. l locked horns with the fellows
who were running the college magazine
and started an opposition publication.
A country boy. inexperienced and living
at home-at a preachers house, under
stand-you might guess what I was
thinking about at night when I tell you
that 1 named my magazine The Bo-
hemian.' 1 got big men to write for me
and drove the other magazine out Of
busiless inside Of six months. I worked
to put the Sigma Chi on a practical ba
sis, visiting fifty colleges in different
part of the country and reorganizing
their chapters and emitting suggestions.
COIIeEiate Debater
Likewise. 1 got into college rhetori-
calls. following such men as William ].
Bryan. La Toilette, and the late and
strations. They were given first honors
al intercollegiate contests; l only got
second honors. and 50 ! never can hope
to shine in their class. Thus, the
ChautauGua circuit lost a drawing card.
/ was graduated at the age Of twenty
one. Abraham Hendricks. a relative OF
Thomas A. was a judge at an oratorical
contest that 1 should have won. He was
diSgusted with the decision and became
my friend. BY his advice, 1 read the
first elements of law at home. After
that 1 was to read two years in an Of
flee and finish at a law school. But I
was Salaried officer of the Sigma Chi
and ii was suggested that l move to
Chicago. l went, found a place in the
law offices of Writ Dexter. general So
licitor for the Chicago. Burlington and
Quincy Railway. and was put into
room &c.
In two years. desiring to learn more
about commercial Law, ! obtained a place
with Lyman & Jackson. same building.
room 10. / tried cases and moved around
considerably. After four years thus
spent with other men, I began thinking
about going into business for myself.
Rudolph Matz, a graduate of Williams
College. was my friend. and became my
partner. He left college a year before
/ did and therefore his name was first
on our sign and Office stationery. Hav-
ing located and settled, thought it only
prudent to be admitted to the bar. I
had tried cases against some of my
examiners Only one oral question was
asked IRE. The lawyer stated It inaccu-
rately and / answered II accordingly.
He corrected me and l corrected him.
after which I was licensed to practice"
Were times good or bad?"
They were as good as we deserved.
remember. Presently a man came along
and said there was trouble at the city
hall over special assessments and that
the mayor was looking for another law
yer. l didn't know overmuch about po-
litical methods but l had a theory as
to wha: ought to be done. short time
after 1 got in motion. the mayor sent
for me. Stop the ficod of letters and
the procession of men asking for your
appointment he said and go upstairs. |
take off your coat, and get TO work. |
did SO.
Got Plenty of Cases.
The special assessment attorney of
the city had to do with eminent demain |
cases. with sewers and other public i'm |
provements requiring rights on land be- |
longing to private owners. / had 800 |
cases the first year. My salary went |
into the revenues of Matz & Fisher and !
helped to keep the firm alive When the |