Evening star., 1921-05-18

Lane that If he had been born in the
United States instead of Canada he
would har" been presidential timber
In his career as Secretary of the In
terror. extending from March ;. 1917"
to March l, 1920. Mr.. Lane justified
this expectation and belief His
service as head of the Department OF
the Interior covered seven years and
exceeded in length :hat of any of his
predecessors but one. He left many
solid achievements behind him. one
of his monuments is the government
railroad in Ala ska. When he became
Secretary of the Interior he found
much turmoil concerning the natural
resources of the country. and he helped
set conditions Alright by his advocacy OF
the oil and coal leasing law and other
legisla ton.
! Another CT Secretary Lanes accom-
pIishmen,s was his work for .Ameri-
caniZa1ion. His famous Flag day ad-
dress IN 1914. became known through
out the country. Mr.. Lane exposed
the shame of illitcrary throughout
the country and th" need OF educa'-
ing the foreign born element IN the
deals OF American democracy As
Secretary of the Interior a." wAS
among the first men in public HE
to discern tn" imp"rtanr" of Gt'inS
ready iOf reconstruct ron aiffl ''tf
war. H.. fought strenuousiy for a
policy of reclamation and community
settlement in the interest OF 'hc
soldiers who were about to return TO
America.
Popular as Official.
These achievements. with his tre-
! mendous grasp upon the real mean
ing of America. made Mr.. Lane one
of the most popular men VIII" ever
sat in cabinet. and universal re-
Eret was expressed when ne re
! signed his post. in justice to his
family to become vice president ana
legal adviser of the American Ie-
ltroleum tompan nies. controlled by Ed
ward l.. Doneny.
/ Mr. Lane consistently StroNe to IN
! ject into the work of the Interior DO
! partment spirit oF helpful co-op"ra-
! tlOn. which, he maintained. could bt
s.. brought about only by personal contact
| with the employees of the department.
| To this end he made it constant
| practice to mingle with the employees.
/ seeking out their views as to problems
! affecting the department and Impress
/ ing on each one whom he met in this
: way his thorough democracy and
| America ism.
! A. means of bringing the employees
| OF the department into closer touch
, with each other and as concrete
! means Of increa sing the efficiency of
! the department. Mr.. Lane oreanized
/ the Home club of the Interior Depart
| inent. composed of the department
employees. and frequently attended its
! meetings with his FANNY. The Home
! Club grew to be the largest single
! club made up of government employees.
and the Secretary always took a deep
! interest in its work. giving the club
| every possible means of cooperation
i at his command.
/ Soldier Settlement.
! His interest in soldier settlement
! was by-Wnrd AT the Interior Depart
| ment. When asked during a hearing
! before committee of Congress just
| how many ex-soldiers were actually
| interested in land settlement. Mr..
/ Lane found he was unable to answer
! in figures. ON returning to the In
| terror Department. he compiled "A
| questionnaire which was sent to more
| than million eX-soldiers. replies to
| which We're received from more than
100000 men all interested in the
, soldier settlement proposal of the
Secretary. He was instrumental in
securing an appropriation of 800. 900
for a survey of the land available for
| soldier settlement.
SON of Canadian Doctor.
i Mr.. Lane was born near Charlotte
! town, Prince Edward Island July IL.
. 1864. He was the son Of a Canadian
; doctor. who moved 10 California dur
! ing Mr.. Lanes childhood. Mr. Lane
! was educated at the University Of
California, and was graduated from
that institution in 1856 BY reason
! Of his scholastic achievements the
honorary degree of LII. -. was con-
| ferred upon him some wears later by
/ his alma mater and by New York
/ University. Brown University and
! the University of North Carolina
! Upon leaving college he engaged in
newspaper work. becoming part owner
| and editor of the Tacoma lWashing-
| ton) Daily News. In 1899 he was ad-
! mitted to the bar Of California and
| from 1897 until 1902 he served as
corporation counsel Of san Erancisco
J Even thus early in life he seemed to
/ have the vision Of greater and bet
| ter America. peopled by happier and
! better race of Americans. which was
to distinguish him in his work al the
! National Capital.
! In 1902 he was democratic ca andidate
! for governor of California. The cam
paign which followed was one Of the
most inspiring IN the political history
| of California. The inal result was
! involved i'll doubt for many days as
! the race was extremely close. but
| finally the republican nominee was de-
clared victor by narrow margin.
Never Reversed by Courts.
! 1t is recalled that Mr.. Lanes service
! as city and corporation counsel of
! San Francisco was remarkable for the
, fact that not one Of his opinions was
! ever reversed by the courts. Mr.. Lane
| received the party vote Of the state
| giSlaturc in 1905 for the United
States Senate.
| President RooScv"lt in 1865 appoint
! ed Mr.. Lane "A member of the Inter-
| state Commerce Commission, of which
! he became chairman January |, 1913
! Mr Lane was serving in that capacit V
! when he was selected as Secretary of
| the Interior.
! During his service on the Int, rState
. Commerce Commission he earned tn
! reputation of being d progressive His
! decisions, in the railroad cases were said
/ to have been almost invariably plea sing to
, men Of advanced ideas. II is said that no
| other man who ever served upon that
t tribunal grasped tn" funda m.lltaS of
; the transportation problems more firmly
or clucidated them more clearly and with