Evening journal., 1912-07-01
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Cabinet Officer Who
Tried the Impossible
By Holland

IN 1881 only affer the most cor
dial and earnest appeal TO him by
President Arthur. the appeal being
based quite as much on personal as
political grounds. Chief Justice
Charles j. Folger of the New York
Court Of Appeals reluctantly decided
to resign his judicial Office and en-
ter the official family of President
Arthur as Secretary Of the Treasury
In the September Of the following
year Judge Folger was nominated for
governor by the Republican party Of
New York state The party was at
that time demoralized through fac
tional troubles, and this demoraliza-
ton was intensified by the disclos-
urs that a telegram, sent to a men,
her of the state committee which or
ganized the Republican convention,
authorizing a certain notorious poli-
tician 10 act as the proxy Of an in
fuential member Of the committee
who was unable 70 be present al It's
meetings. was a forgery. So heated
and passionate was the feeling that
several Republicans ventured 10 in
innate that Judge Folger himself was
AZ least indirectly, a party 10 TINS
trick
The Democratic party in that year
nominated Grover Cleveland, then
mayor Of Buffalo. for governor.
Cleveland was elected by an amaz-
ing plurality. nearly two hundred
thousand. much the greater part Of
which came from disaffected Repuh-
licans. That election opened the
pathway by which Grover Cleveland
entered the White House
TWO years later q vacancy was ere
ated in III cabinet by Secretary Fol
zer's death. n was widely reported
AZ the time that the insinuations that
Secretary Folger had been a party
TO contemplate trick, together with
the magniture of the plurality which
was recorded against him as candi-
date for governor, had so deeply
wounded his pride and so greatly
humiliated him that his health had
been permanently impaired II was
generally believed then, and is prob
ably believed 10 this day by many
persons. that Secretary Folger died
OF a broken heart
A few weeks after Judge Folgers
death an. opportunity came to me 10
speak TO John sherman, then United
states Senator from Ohio. who had
himself been Secretary of the Trea-
sury in the administration of Presi-
dent HAYES. Of the lamentable eX-
perience NJ Judge Folger 7 said. II
suppose YOU know. Senator. II is the
common opinion that Judge Foleers
death was due to the disease which
began shortly after his defeat as can
didate for governor
yes. 7 have heard that report,
Sherman replied. but there is ahso'
lutelv no truth in IT, Judge Folger
was a sensitive. high-strung mar
hut he was a man Of too strong
character 10 suffer a political eXper-
ience of that kind to impair tbs
health. He was conscious of his own
personal integrity and he believed
! that time would set al things right
NO continued Senator Sherman
"Iudee Folrer did not die of broker
heart He was. instead. the victim
of his own imnracticable purpose y
master every detail Of the Treasur
Department. That involved an enor
nous amount of drudeery II over
loaded him with a great burden C.
unnecessary work n is an impos
sibiliiy for any man 10 serve As Sec
'retarv of the Treasury four year
and begin IN learn al Of the inhnit
details Of the administration of tha
department II is too colossal de-
partment The best that the Secre
tarv can do is 10 have perfectly com
petent suhordinstes and then pu
upop them the burden Of the man
details Of the department. u wa
this incessant drudeery, with nc
elect Of exercise which AZ last brok
Judge Folger down"
But Senator said 7. YOU Gel
tainly knew every detail of the Tres
surv Department when you neosal
Secretary Of the Treasury and 20
we're in perfect health while 20
we're Secretary and when YOU n
tired %
"Ah." said Senator sherman.
had been sixteen years mastering n
Treasury Department before b.
came Secretary I was 2 member
the Senate committee ~ finance 2
those years, and that committee h'
practically recreated much - the "a
ministration Of the Treasury pepar
ment For me 10 become Secreta'
Of the Treasury was ike passir
from one room to another ] will sa
furthermore. that no man 7an unde
take 10 master all the deatils os a.
one Of the cabinet departments wit
out running thc risk Of serieusiy II
pairing his health That Is exact
what Judge Folger did
(Copvrieht. 1912 By r J. Edward
All rights resedved)