Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-29

eXaggeraton doubtless, that Colonel Harvey
is the most powerful individual in American
political life, not counting a few candidates,
have-been and would-be. The only public
office that Harvey ever held that of
Commissioner of Banking and Insurance,
when that department was organized in New
Jersey. EXcept-eXcept that he has been
aide de- camp on the staffs of two New Jer-
sey and two South Carolina Governors.
Hence his title.
There's another very important exception.
At the age of Is George Brinton Mcclellan
Harvey began his career as a participant in
tho making of political history. He was
elected delegate to the Democratic Conven-
ton at Burlington. Vermont. where Edward
j. Phelps was nominated for Governor OF the
State. OF course a Democrat couldn't be
Governor of Vermont, but Edward ]. Phelps
was too able man TO be hidden under a Re
publican bushel and he went to London TO
become one of the best representatives
America has ever had at the Court of st.
James.
An Embarrassing Supporter
Since Harveys early initiation into politics
he has helped make Presidents. AS Joseph
Pulitzers right-hand man he managed the
Worlds part in the successful campaign for
the nomination and election of Cleveland.
and everybody knows that he fished Wood
row Wilson out OF the academic shades and
sent him on his way to the White House.
Everybody knows, too, that Colonel Harvey's
support of Wilson in 1912 was embarrassing
to the candidate and that the whole story of
the break" and the reconciliation" hasn't
been told vet But never mind. That is not
the story with which we are here concerned
Let MS go back to the village of Peacham,
lin
date, February IS, 1854. There and then
boy was born. He grew up and went 10
school and read omnivorously. He wrote for
several papers in the State, and finally ap-
piled for position on the Caledonian, of st.
JohnsbuTy. The editor had regularly ac-
cepted his contributions, but couldn't give
him steady job, The Index. however, had
an opening and offered the boy SO week.
Young George looked for a boarding place,
but found he couldn't get room and board
for less than five dollars. So he asked the
rate from Monday TO Friday and was told 1t
would be SO. Then the youthful flnancier
went TO the president of the railroad, told
him the situation and asked for a pass be-
tween st. JOhnsbury and Danville. How
are you going to get from Danville TO Peach
am?" asked the railroad president. Walk"
said the boy Harvey. And so it was that
George Harvey. when he was 15 years old,
broke into journalism at So week.
George worked afterwards other YER
mont papers, going TO school now and then
and steadily aiming at a journalistic career.
His father wanted TO send him to a business
college. and his mother wanted him to go
TO Dartmouth, but when an opportunity
came TO join the stan of the Springfield Re
publican nothing could hold him back.
Samuel BOwles the editor, had accepted his
political news-letters, and wrote him that
there was an opening on the Republican If
he would come Immediately. George bor-
rowed ten dollars from his sister and went
On arrival at the Republican ofice he was
told that beginners were usually paid moth
ing for the first six months. Harvey almost
collapsed, but argued for salary and got it,
six dollars a week. Melville Stone then took
him to the Chicago Daily News. but before
Harvey left New England he visited Peach
am and paid back the ten dollars,
One Of his first real political lights took
place a little later. when he was temporarily
in charge Of the St. Johnsbury caledonian.