Evening journal., 1914-02-07
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
---a--s--
The Real Cause Of Judge
FOICer'S Breakdown
By Holland.

first met Judge Charles ]. Folger
shortly after his arrival in Wash
ington as the successor of William
Window. as secretar5 OF the treas
ury in the cabinet OF President Ar
thur. found him to be a man Of
charming personality. His cordiality
set every visitor at ease upon the oc-
casion of first 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 plain
ly upon his features.
Judge Folger had been but short
time chief justice of the Court OF
Appeals Of New York. having been
appointed by Governor Alonzo B.
Cornell to fill vacancy by the death
of Chief Justice Sanford e. 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 a sin
gle term as a. member of the New
York State Senate.
7 intimated to him my interest in
his willingness to yield the great
honor Of chief justice of New York
State TO accept the office OF secre-
tary Of the treasury. great as that Of
flee is. but subject to political
changes.
Judge Folger said in reply that
many Of his friends had forgotten
that President Grant in the early part
of his administration had appointed
him assistant secretary of the treas
ury in authority over the sub-treas-
ury of New York City.
In my service as assistant treas
urer Of the United States" said Judge
Folger. "I got my first practical in
sight into the nature of the fiscal OPP
crations of the United States.
4 found myself becoming intensely in
terested in a study of finance, OF
that department of it with which the
treasury department is associated. ]
should have been glad for more
prolonged opportunity TO continue
these studies. but ] 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 / was
chatting with Judge Noah Davis. who
was an intimate personal friend OF
Judge Folgor and who In his early
professional life was partner Of
Judge Davis predecessor on the
bench Of the Court of Appeals. San
ford p. Church. We spoke of the
overwhelming defeat of Judge Folges
as a candidate for governor in 1882
his successful opponent being Grover
Cleveland. and ] said that it. was the
common impression that this defeat
so humilated Folger that he at last
succumbed completely TO his morti-
fioation and died of a broken heart
Then / told Judge Davis what Mr.
Folger had said to me shortly after
he became secretary of the treasury
of his delight that he had now op-
portunity to take up again the study
OF financial and fiscal questions.
81 know" said Judge Davis, thai
there Is no truth in the report that
Judge Folger died OF a broken hear
because he was so badly defeated fol
governor. He had no expectation of
being elected govern 1r. iic was wei
informed OF the dangerous factiona
schism In New York State He knew
that split would make the election
OF any Republican candidate for gov
ernor impossible.
1T was Judge Folger's excessive
zeal. his wanton violation or disre
gard OF the laws OF health due to his
attempt 10 master every detail of tn,
treasury department that broke hin
down. He made the mistake of think
ing that he. as secretary of the treas
ury. could learn In the course of tw,
or three years the entire history an'
the entire operations Of the treasur,
department No one man conid d,
that in a lifetime. John Sherman
could not have done t. But Judgf
Folger spared himself not at all II
this laborious work. giving himsel
too little sleep, being irregular in hi
meals so that he might have all III
time possible for this study Il wa
this which sapped his health and a
last broke him down"
Copyright. 1914. by +. J. Edwards
] i