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Show THE HABRIMAN BIOGRAPHY. Tt is stated in a special dispatch to The Tribune of yesterday morning that the forthcoming biography of E. H. JIarriman will bo issued within-, a few months. A special uoint of interest in that disnateh was the report that this biography would not contain Mr. Harrimnn's version of tho Roosovclt-Harriman Roosovclt-Harriman controversy over the $250,-000 $250,-000 campaign contribution of 15)04, be cause of a hesitancy on the part of Mr. Harr'Iman's family to figure in a political politi-cal campaign in which-tho Colonel is again a candidate for nomination, But this rumor was set at rest by Mr. C. E. Tegcthoff, Mr. Uarriman's personal agent, who said that "in -It. HaTri man's biogTaphy nothing will be omitted omit-ted concerning his life; it will be a history his-tory of all his connections with men and affaira." This is precisely as it ought to bc. There is no renson whv anything should be hidden, and wc are confident that Mr. Harriman had nothing to hide. Certainly, in tho matter referred to, it was Col. Roosovolt who solicited Mr. TlaTriman's aid, and not Mr. Karri-man's Karri-man's voluntary act in precipitating himself into politics; in fact, Mr. Harriman Har-riman avoided politics all that he could, and no one can. truthfully say that ha over raado any uolitical moves on hia own account. ' So far as known, tho only political venture he over en-traced en-traced in at all was the ono in response to Col. Roosevelt'H fervent appeal for money to uso. in the campaign of eight years ago, especially in New York. Tho later explanation of Col. Roose velt. that the money was to be used to heln tho Republican nominee for Governor, Mr. Higgius, and not to help him as the Republican nomiuco for President, is altogether too thin; for, both wore candidates of tho same party, both wore on the same ticket, and what would help the one would necessarily help the other. So far as the roturns go, it would seem that the contribution helpod Roosevelt far moro than it helped Mr. I-Iiggins, the then candidate for Governor of New York, for Roosovclt had 175,552 plurality, whereas Mr. Higgins had but 80,560. Tt ia often said that "money talks." Tn this caso the money spoke most for-vcntly for-vcntly and eloquently for Col. Roosevelt Roose-velt rather than for Mr. Higgins, and the dodge that the $250,000 was to be raised to help Higgins will hardly serve. We trust that the biography of Mr. Harriman will not fail to include the fervent aDDrcciation of him written by the great naturalist and nature-lover, Mr. .lohn Muir, between whom and Mr. Harriman there was a vory close friendship. Mr. Harriman always liked to meet Mr. Muir, invited him to meet him wherever it was possible, and to spend such time as he could in Mr. Harriman 's resorts and hmes. A vory affectionate and indeed importunate letter let-ter from Mr. Harriman to Mr. Muir is auotcd. whero Harriman strongly urged Mr. Muir to write moro than he was doiug. saying to Mr. Muir that he was too much inclined to hesitate and postpone, post-pone, that he ought to get right to work in writing, jot down whatever came to him, and keep at it all the time, then trim it up, rewrite it, expand it. revise it to suit himself, but always to keen at it. The public, Mr. Harriman Harri-man assured Mr. Muir, was anxious to get all that it could from him, and Harriman considered that the best way fo reach results was to keep working. There is no special evidence that this nlea of Mr. Harriman's had much ef feet upon Mr. Muir; but. at all events, it wns good advice for Muir, although for the average, impulsive, writer it would be the worst advice possible. But Mr. Harriman's distinguished trait was that he could deal with every one on the basis of the individuality of that person, and in so dealing with Mr Muir. he considered Mr. -Muir from the strict Muir standpoint, and did not, undertake un-dertake to make the advice general. So that in this, as in most matters, Mr. Harriman knew precisely what ho was talking about, and talked to good effect ef-fect and purpose. The uublic will welcome Mr. Harriman's Harri-man's biography as likely to be one of the. most, stirring and interesting books of tho time. |