The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Garfield, Harry Augustus

GARFIELD, Harry Augustus, American educator and public official: b. Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, 11 Oct. 1863. He is a son of James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States; was educated at Williams College, where he was graduated in 1885. In 1885-86 he taught Latin and Roman history at Saint Paul's School, Concord, N. H., and practised law in Cleveland from 1888 to 1903. From 1891 to 1897 he was professor of contracts at the Law School of Western Reserve University; in 1903-08 was professor of politics at Princeton, and in the latter year was appointed president of Williams College. In 1908-09 he was president of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce and in 1896 helped to organize the Cleveland Municipal Association, of which he was afterward president. In 1917, soon after the entrance of the United States into the World War, President Wilson appointed Mr. Garfield fuel controller. Because of the shortage of coal in the Northeastern States, especially New York City, and in Ohio, his administration of the office was severely criticized in the press, but Congressional investigation showed that the shortage was due to failure of the railroads to meet the extra demands upon them, and the situation cleared soon after Federal control of the roads was instituted, 28 Dec. 1917.