Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-11-02
sherman Was Born In 1855.


James Schoolcraft Sherman was
born In Utica, n. Y. Oct. "a. 1855. His
father was Richard U. Sherman. an
editor and at one time rather promi-
nent figure. He went to public
school at New Hartford. y. Y, and
from there to Utica academy. He was
graduated from the Whitestown, n. Y.
seminary in 1874. and from Hamilton
college In 1878. Two years later he
was admitted to the bar.
He married Miss Carrie Babcock at
East Orange. N. j.. on Jan. 20. 1881.
Their three sons, Sheriff.. Richard y.
and Thomas NJ. are all in business in
Utica. Mr.. Sherman first became
prominent In politics as mayor OF
Utica, to which office he was elected
as a Republican in 1884. Previously
he had been a Democrat. He was
elected to the Fftieth congress in 1887
and served two terms. In 1892 he was
a delegate to the Republican national
convention and the following year was
again sent TO congress. where he serv-
ed until his election to the vice presi-
dency In 1908.
Sherman belonged to the school of
Republicanism nowadays popularity
called regular" and he fought his
political battles shoulder TO shoulder
with men OF his faith without compro-
mise or ilnching. Like every public
man. he had critics. some bitter. but
he also had friends who were match
for his enemies. The events he helped
TO shape are so comparatively recent
that history cannot assign him to his
proper place until II also records the
work of his contemporaries.
Two sessions OF congress found
Sherman defeated and out OF Office.
but not for long. Henry w. Bentley.
OF Oneida county. beat him by less
than thousand votes In the race for
the Fifty-second congress. In the in.
term Sherman went back 10 Utica,
built up his law practice and returned
TO the Fifty-third congress with a sig
nal victory He remained In the house
without defeat To the Sixtieth con-
gress. when he was nominated and
elected vice president on the ticket
with Mr.. Taft.
His first year In the house brought
him into close association with lead.
ers. Joseph W. Bailey. later a sena.
tor; Breckenridge. Bryan. Bourge
Cochran. Crisp. Dalzell. Dingley. Dol
liver. Henderson. Payne. Paynter. Ray
nor, Reed. Wadsworth. Fighting Joe"
Wheeler and score OF others whose
names became household words In dis
cussions of the tariff and other ma
tional policies, were his fellows. Tho
senate held such men as Aldrich, ALI
son, Cockrell. Daniel Frye. German,
Roar. Hill. Teller. Vest and Wolcott.
Sherman went TO preside over the
senate just about the time when what
popularity Is known as senatorial dig
nifty was beginning to feel its first
break. In the chair Sherman was dig.
nifty itself. fair in his rulings, his col
leagues said. quiet. firm. sure and
seldom reversed on an appeal But
dignity so far as the traditional sena-
torial frock coat and silk hat we're
concerned generally was absent. He
regarded his time presiding over the
senate as a days business. to be at
tended to as II he were sitting In his
bank In Utica or at the directors IA.
BILE Of one OF the many enterprises in
which he had found fortune and laid
the foundations OF another for his
sons He usually appeared IN a bust
ness suit. on a hot day he came in
nannels. on very hot day a palm
leaf fan displaced the gavel and per-
haps a glass OF lemonade topped on
the book OF rules.
During the Republican state con.