"Well I remember you, my young friend, a boy, as you came through the pine woods that day on your horse covered with lather and came up like soldier knight and reported to me the message from your General Slocum. A knight errant with steel cuirass, his lance in hand, was a beautiful thing, and you are his legitimate successor. I wish you all honor, all glory, all fame. I wish you may rise to the highest position this American people can give you."
On his return from the army, Mr. Foraker at once determined to fit himself for the practice of the law. He entered Wesleyan university, Delaware, Ohio, and at the end of two years entered the newly-established Cornell university at Ithaca, New York, and was graduated in its first class, 1869. He prosecuted his legal studies at the same time and was admitted to the bar at Cincinnati the same year (October 14, 1869), and opened a law office in that city. His career as a lawyer was eminently successful; and his thorough knowledge of the law secured for him the position of judge of the Superior Court of Cincinnati. He served on the bench of that court, 1879-82, resigning May 1, 1882, on account of ill health. He was nominated by the Republican party for governor of Ohio in 1883, but was defeated at the polls. He was renominated and elected in 1885, and reelected in 1887, but was again defeated in 1889. He was the Republican candidate for United States senator in 1890, but was defeated by Calvin S. Brice, Democrat. In 1896 he was again the candidate of his party for United States senator as successor to Senator Brice, and was elected. He took his seat March 4, 1897, and was reelected January 15, 1902, to succeed himself, his second term to expire March 3, 1909. In state and national politics he has held prominent and responsible positions. He was chairman of the Republican state conventions of Ohio, 1886, 1890, 1896, 1900, 1901 and 1903; delegate-at-large from Ohio to the Republican national conventions of 1884, 1888, 1892, 1896, 1900 and 1904; was chairman of the Ohio delegation in the conventions of 1884 and 1888, and presented the name of John Sherman for the presidential nomination to each convention; in the conventions of 1892 and 1896 he served as chairman of the committee on Resolutions and in the conventions of 1896 and 1900 he presented the name of William McKinley for nomination and renomination to the presidency. In the United States senate. Senator Foraker was chairman of the committee to examine the several branches of the Civil Service, and a member of the committees on Foreign Relations,
