Evening journal., 1912-06-15
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Friend in Need and a
Friend in Deed
Bs Holland


During his entire service in the
United States Senate from 1881 to 1887
James F. Fair. who with John r
Jones represented Nevada in the SEN
ate, was a man of absolute taciturnity
He was, however. one OF the most
strikingly impressive figures in the
Senate He was almost always in his
seat when the chaplain began the ex-
ercises and he rarely left his desk ex-
cepting for luncheon or to respond to
the card Of a visitor His seat was be-
side that OF Senator Beck OF Ken
tucky; and the two men we're very
much alike in vhysique. peculiarly
marked by width of shoulders and
massiveness of chest
Senator Fair was distinguished for
the brilliancy and size of his dark
eyes. which we're a sort OF blue-blaclS
and from a distance seemed to be as
black as jet He frequently swept the
Senate chamber with them: he seemed
70 be studying every member Of the
Senate He was a patient and attentive
listener TO all the speakers. no mat
ter how dry. In committee room his
studies and measurements Of the in
tellectual capacity Of fellow Senator's
we're expressed with epgrammatic
fore.
He would have been a notable figure
in the Senate by reason of his impress
sive personality even had his name
not been associated with the big bon
anza group--Mackay, Flood, O'Brien
and Fair, who accumulated millions
through the development Of the Com
stock lode in Nevada.
One popularity Of Senator Fair.
which all his colleagues in the Senate
speedily discovered. was The strength
OF his friendship and q very strong
feeling Of comradeship. His sympathy
was unfailing and he frequently ex-
pressed that feeling to Senators who
had met with family misfortunes He
greatly touched Senator Edmunds by
the sincere expression OF friendship
and real concern which he felt when
he heard the news that a member Of
Senator Edmunds' family was serious
~ IN This quality of sympathy and
stanch loyalty to all who we're ever
his friends became known to the pub
lie at the tiroe of the failure of the
Nevada bank Of San Francisco in 1885.
This bank Mr. Fair. with some of
his business associates. had organized
some ears earlier with capital of ten
million dollars While Senator Fair
was al Washington the news came TO
him that the Nevada bank was in seri-
ous difficulty. Although he had retired
from active association with this bank
when he entered the Senate, neverthe-
less his sympathy for his former com
rades compelled him TO go imediately
to San Francisco so that he might
serve them if It we're possible.
When the Senator reached San
Francisco he called upon his former
friends and said to them frankly. Is
there anything ! can do to aid you in
this crisisg"
They shook their heads despsiringly
saying that It would require a great
amount OF money 10 put the bank upon
its feet. One of these friends said
Senator. even If we were helped
sufficiently to enable the bank TO go
on. yet there would be no hope for the
future because the prestige and cred
l. Of tho bank have been destroyed ~
How much money do you need?'
Senator Fair asked
They named an amount which was
very nearly the capital of the bank
Il will put all 7 have in the world
in this bank, because | want TO save
IT. and save you," said Senator Fair,
"And I will guarantee that We can
build II up so that its credit Will he
completely restored
From that moment Senator Fair
ceased really being a Senator for he
was determined to spend oil OF his
time and, II necessary all of his for
tune 10 save the bank
II was announced that Senator
Fair was going TO make the capital ot
the bank good was going to provide
surplus, was going to take the presi-
denoy OF the bank and was going TO
bring order ont OF chaos This an
nouncement proved 70 be the truth
and The establishment of the credit
OF the Nevada bank within six months
of it's failure by James Fair, a matl
unframed 10 banking work. has passed
| into tradition as one Of the greatest
/ instances of successful financing ever
accomplished in the United States
And the wonder Of II was that Senator
Fair did all OF this not to protect
himself. because he needed no protsc
ton. but simply because Of sympath,
for his former friends and his tena
cious loyalty to his friendships
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