The Washington herald., 1914-02-07
HISTORY BUILDERS.
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h FIRST met Judge Charles J. Eolser
i shortly after his arrival in WASH
ington as the successor OF william
windom. N Secretary Of the Treasury
In the Cabinet Of President Arthur.
found him to be a man OF charming
personality. His cordiaifty set every vis-
Itor 1t ease upon the occasion Of hrsf
visit. He was a handsome man. HIS
features were regular. His eyes were
large and very expressive. and the story
Of intellectual power. supplemented by
personal integrity. was written plainly
upon his features
Judge Foiger had been but short
time chief justice OF the Court OF Ap-
peals of New York. having been ap-
pointed by Cow Alonzo b. Cornell to
MI a vacancy by the death OF Chief JUS
tice Sanford f. Church.
I knew that Judge Folger's career had
been almost exclusively occupied with
practice OF the law and with Judicial
posts, remembering only that he had
served at one time for single term AZ
a member Of the New York State senate
intimated to him my interest In his
willingness TO yield the great honor OF
chief Justice OF New York State to ac-
cept the ONCE of Secretary of the Treas
ury. great as that office Is, but subject
to political changes
Judge Folger said In reply that many
of his friends had forgotten that Presi-
dent Grant In the carly part OF his nrst
administration had appointed him Assist
ant Secretary Of the Treasury in au-
thority over the subtreasury OF New
York City.
I'm my service as Assistant Treasurer
OF the United States" said Judge Foiger.
"I got my first practical insight into the
nature of the fiscal operations of the
United States. found myself becoming
intensely interested in a study OF finance.
or that department of IL with which the
Treasury Department Is associated. !
should have been glad for a more pro-
longed opportunity to continue these
studies. but I was summoned from that
office to another and was compelled to
resign. Now" said Judge Folger with
a charming smile, 81 am to have a good
opportunity to resume those studies"
Three or four years later l was chat
ting with Judge Noah Davis. who was
an intimate personal friend of Judge
Folger. and who in his early professional
nfe was a partner of Judge Davis pre-
decessor on the bench Of the Court Of
Appeals, Sanford E Church. We spoke
of the overwhelming defeat OF Judge
Folger as candidate for governor In
lsse. his successful opponent being Grover
Cleveland. and l said that II was the
common impression that this defeat so
Inundated Folger that he at last sue
cumbed completely to his modification
and died of a broken heart Then l told
Judge Davis what Mr.. Folger had said
to SbnrfIty Of hn hRez M SaCrefarN
of the Treasury. OF his delight that he
had now opportunity to take up again
the study of financial and fiscal ques-
tons.
~ know said Judge Davis. that
there is no truth in the report that
Judge Folger died of broken heart
because he was SO badly defeated for
governor He had no expectation OF
being elected governor. He was well
informed Of the dangerous factional
schism in New York state. He knew
that split would make the election OF
any Republican candidate for governor
impossible.
1T was Judge FOlger's excessive zeal.
his wanton violation or disregard Of the
laws of health due to his attempt to
master every detail of the Treasury De-
partment. that broke him down. He
made the mistake of thinking that he.
as Secretary of the treasury, could learn
in the course Of two or three years the
entire history and the entire operations
of the Treasury Department. No one
man could do that in a lifetime John
Sherman could not have done II. But
Judge Folger spared himself not at all
in this laborious work, giving himself
too little sleep. being irregular In his
meals SO that he might have all the time
possible for this study. II was this
which sapped his health and at last
broke him down
tCopynsht. lsi4l