GOVERNOR, 1903
his place. Surface had edited an entomological magazine and was teaching in one of the colleges, but he had the idea that a great work could be done to help the farmers, fruit growers and bee culturists of the state. Later I appointed him and he certainly made a success of his bureau. Like all enthusiasts, however, he could see nothing else and during my whole term he kept me busy getting him out of the scrapes into which his zeal had led him, and preventing the politicians from eating him up. At one time the North American newspaper got a number of other papers to help and set a trap to ruin him, but I succeeded in thwarting it. He is still in his place and has done much to advance a scientific knowledge of insects and to prevent their depredations. Hutchinson, who was of little use as a clerk, floated from one department to another and was finally handed back to Surface. One night when Surface was preparing for the St. Louis Exposition a friend met Hutchinson about eleven o'clock looking very doleful.
“What is the matter?” inquired the friend. “Do you know what that damned man has had me at?” he replied, “I have been down there skinning skunks.”
I listened to Quay about the heads of departments and ever found him sensible, conciliatory and anxious for my comfort and success as well as his own. After talking the matter over with Penrose, Durham and probably others, his suggestions to me were to appoint I. W. Griest of Lancaster, Secretary of the Commonwealth; William B. Rogers of Pittsburgh, Attorney General; Robert McAfee, of Allegheny, Banking Commissioner; and to retain Israel W. Durham as Insurance Commissioner and Thomas J. Stewart as Adjutant General. I told him I had thought carefully over the matter and had concluded to ask Hampton L. Carson to be the attorney general, and I told him frankly the reason, among others, that such an appointment would give color to the whole administration.
