New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-26
GEN. B. F. TRACY IS 81
Hopes to Round Out a Century In
the Practice of Law.
MODERNIzED THE NAVY
Talks of Whiskey Ring Prosecu-
tion-A Founder of the Repub-
lican Party, He Is for Taft.

With a mind as active as ever ana in p
physical condition that did not betray moro
than threescore or years, General BenJa-
min i. Tracy, distinguished lawyer,
soldier and former Secretary OF the Navy.
celebrated his eighty-second birthday yes
terday I'm his law office at No. Rector
street
General Tracy looked back upon that long
stretch OF years OF his active life, drawing
upon his very early political experiences
for a few humorous tales, touching brleny
upon his career as soldier in the civil
War, and finally explaining, to his visitor.
his work as United States District Attor-
ney and later as Secretary OF the Navy, In
which capacities he rendered his greatest
services to the country.
An intimation that the interview might
tire him was waved aside by General Tracy
with the laughing remark: II am in better
health to-day than | enjoyed when | was
twenty-five years old. From that time until
five or six years years ago | was too busy
to take care OF my health
Il am not working under pressure now,
and don't take jury cases. but | expect To
continue in active practice In this manner
for many years to come. If the Lord spares
me. | don't see why / should quit until |
am at least 100 years old"
General Tracy makes his home at No. "a
East 60th street From here he walks every
morning to the Grand Central Station.
where he takes the express train downtown.
He walks quite much during the day. and
he again divides his trip home between
walking and riding. Ho said that he ate
heartily three times day, and smoked one
cigar after dinner.
one OF General Tracys ancestors was a
Pilgrim. who landed I'm Massachusetts IN
1929 The general was born In Owego TioEa
County. the home Of Thomas G. Plat. fi's
son now lives on the Tracy farm. His only
living daughter is Mrs. Ferdinand Wilmer
ding widow. General Tracy's wife ana
second daughter We're burned 10 death In
the fire that destroyed his home at Wash
ington, when he was Secretary Of the Navy.
District Attorney at %.
At the age of twenty-onc years General
Tracy was admitted TO the bar, and two
years later he was elected District Attor-
ney. lie became an Assemblyman and floor
leader, and in 1850 he was active In organ-
izing the Republican party In this state.
He was chairman Of the first Republican
County Committee ever appointed In the
state.
In 1862 General Tracy organized two re2i-
mcnts-the 1o9th and the EIth-and took
command Of tho 10th. His bravery In the
battle of the Wilderness was rewarded with
q gold medal
After the war" General Tracy said. II
resumed the practice OF law. and was mad"
United states District Attorney In 1856. !
think /, was just after th"t ! rendered
what | regard as my greatest public ""rv-
ice.
The whiskev graft scandal IN lower New
York state vas az its height iuN"siiGa-
ton showed that hundreds Of whisk"y
dealers Ia BROOKLYN alone were paying the
81 federal tax on small p"rcontag" of
their product. and were making ana send
ing forth ton times this amount without
tax, a fraud that amounted 10 hundreds Of
thousands Of dollars a year. seized this
fraudulent whIskey--as well ~ IN" dig
tillerics--connscated and destroyed A.
prosecuted and convicted such offenders ~
could Le reached hv law 1T that time.
AT this time II was 40 crime for two
or more men 20 cousuirc together 10 Dc
fraud the United states or commit Grim"
against tho United States. ! DIRE" what is
now known az the conspiracy act. took II
to Washington and had It passed I'm 1851.
II has continued unchanged, except tn"
act as originally passed provided that thos"
convicted should be fined and imprisoned,
but IL vas subsequently changed 10 fined
or imprisoned. I also drew the internal
revenue act relating TO whiskey substan-
TALLY "a Il exists today"