The Portland daily press., 1883-05-30
A TURNING roIsr ~ WEEDS CAREER

TURNING POINT IN WEEDS CAREER.
In 1924 an incident occurred which had
an important and beneficial effect upon my
future career. which, in fact, was the turn
ing point In my s'battIe of Iife" For the
three previous years The citizens of Roches-
ter had made earnest but unayaiIing at
tempts to obtain bank charter from the
Legislature. The committee which had
been appointed to conduct the application
were divided as to proper agent TO go to
Albany. Several meetings Of the committee
were held without being able to agree upon
either of the two gentlemen urged for the
appointment. In this dilemma, Mr.. Works
suggested that he saw no other course but
TO try and agree upon some third person,
whereupon George Andrews, quite to the
astonishmeut Of tho older and grayer men
| Of the committee, presented my name,
| which, as was very natural, was not received
| with favor. Indeed, two or three Of the
committee treated the idea Of appointing
comparatively unknown journeyman me-
chauic for such responsible mission as
preposterous, adding that such a person
could exert no possible influence at Albany.
Mr.. Works, whose voice was always poten-
tial, intimated his approval Of the sngges-
ton Of Mr.. Andrews, but thought the COM
mttee had better take a day or two for con
sideration, which was done. On The follow
ing day, when the subject was spoken Of in
the village, popular feeling manifested IT.
self in my favor. So little confidence, how
ever, was felt ia my appointment, that
majority Of the committee declined TO pay
over the money contributed to defray the
expenses Of sn agent. This, however, did
not discourage my friends Works, Andrews,
Peck, etc., who Immediately raised $500 for
my expenses. Our enterprises moved along
tremendously. The bill to incorporate the
Bank of Rochester was, by common consent,
reported first. Several other bills were also
reported favorably. Without going into
detailed account of our alternate hopes and
fears during that three months canvass, it
is sufficient to say that Rochester was the
only place 10 the State, out of the City Of
New York, favored with bank charter by
the Legislature of 1924 Two bank applica-
tions from the City Of New York were sue
cessfnl. One, the Fulton Bank, owed its
success to clause contributing large
amount, 5000, 600 believe, for the benefit
of the yice-president, Daniel d. Tompkins.
The other, the Chemical Bank, it was a.
legged, purchased its charter. Such at least
were the charges, and legislative investiga.
ton showed that a large amount Of money
had been expended, aud with damaging
effect upon several members oil The Legisla-
ture. Thecharier for the Bank Of Rochester
was the only one obtained upon its merits,
or, as others said, on account of the close
personal and social relations Of its agent
with the members of the Legislature, and
their willingness TO oblige him.
With the approval of several Rochester
gentlemen, then at Albany, made the pas
sage Of our bank bill the occasion OF legls'
lative supper, which was attended by all the
members, and went off very pleasantly. My
return to Rochester with the charter OF the
bank in my pocket secured me cordial
welcome by the citizens generally, and was
a source Of peculiar gralificlt ion to the
friends who had generously made themselves
responsible for journeyman mechanic. !
received $500 in addition to tie $500 with
which | left Rochester, as my compensation,
the legislative banquet cost $500, making in
all less than 81 900 rs the total expense Of
obtaining what was SO much wanted,-a
bank.
WHY MIR. WEED HATED OFFICE.
had given nearly the whole of my time,