Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1917-03-24
SATURDAY, MARCH "a, 1917.
RIVERS MCNEIL, RESPECTED
cHIcAGOAN.

Rivers Mcneil. the popular United
States collector of customs for ChiCa.
so. has long been identified with the
Democratic party. of which he was al.
ways q leader. Born in Kentucky.
November IL. 1858. he came to Chi.
cago when a boy. His career from
boyhood TO manhood was a stirring
and useful one. After graduating
from Emory Il Henry College in Nir.
ginia. his vocation for forty years in
Chicago has been one that has
brought him in contact with all classes
of mankind. He has known the fin.
ancier intimately. and also the black.
smith. the mechanic and all have been
his friends. His life has been spent
in the effort to build up rather than to
destroy, by his living as well as by
his expressions. Has always believed
that there Is more good than evil in
the human breast.
He has often refused to run for pub
lie Office as his party on several oc-
casions has offered him the nomina.
ton for Congress, feeling at the time
that he could not leave the city OF
Chicago and devote his time TO the
work that 1t would require in Wash.
ington.
During the primary campaign to
nominate Mr., Cleveland in 1892 he
visited several of the Southern States
in his behalf, and was on a committee
10 receive delegations and to work In
his behalf during the convention.
After Mr.. Cleveland's election Mr.. Nc
Neill was offered the position of col
lector OF internal revenue, The pa
pers were filed out and he was re-
quested to come to Washington Feel.
ing and believing that a public officer
should give his entire time to the of.
flee he declined the position.
He was chairman of the committee
OF the Iroquois Club that rendered a
banquet TO President Roosevelt
He has been on great many Of the
national campaign committees and has
given his time and services free
He was an ardent supporter OF our
present president, Woodrow Wilson,
before the 1912 primaries, visited some
OF the states in his behalf, was on the
primary campaign committees, had
the honor OF having charge of the
train that carried him through the
state of Illinois on his speaking tour,
was on the Western Headquarters
Campaign Committee, and after his
election accepted the position of col
leCtOr OF customs of the port of Chi.
cagO, feeling that he could give his
time and attention TO the first public
office, such as he felt that a public of.
ficer should do,
One OF the happiest events Of his
official life was TO have the pleasure
OF donating TO his college in the hills
OF Virginia the first money that he
earned as a public official, in appre.
citation OF what he had obtained from
that small college.
In regard 10 his charity work, il
can be we'll said that he has not been
negligent in trying 10 do his part for
over forty years in that respect. His
donations have not been large, but
have been numerous, and he has tried
10 direct them in the best channels
Tor the benefit of those who needed IT,
He Is not a member of any religious
denomination visits all of the church,
IS wherever he may be, and is a firm
believer in the great good that the
religious bodies do
He is married and has three chill
dren now grown 10 manhood and
womanhood, one married and a
grandchild,
His aim in accepting a public office
was not for personal benefit but foI
the good Of the service and the bet
terment OF all that came in contact
with him.
He is a strong believer in the civil
service and the merit system, honesty
OF purpose and Of action; believer
I'm kindness rather than oppression
and severity, and he tries to act TO
ward his fellow men as he would have
them act toward him.
lie was appointed collector Of Gus
toms at Chicago, and took, charge OF
the Office July %, 1914. During the
first year Of his administration saw
ing was made in the expenses OF the