The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-24
THE LATE SAM WARD.
His Success in PaciFyine People and Healing
Differences by Means of Good Dinners.

His Success in Pacifying People and Healing
Differences by Means of Good Dinners.
New York Times.
His power us mediator during the inglerious
term of Andrew johnson became SO great and
was so generally recognized, that the mere fact
that he advocated b measure in Washington was
looked upon as a strong argument in favor of its
adoption. He lived like prince, entertained
all the brightest and most celebrated men of the
country treating all alike, indifferent TO their
politics or religion and gained an amazing in
fuence in national affairs, which he turned to
good account fer those whom he favored
All this Sam did through his power as CASTRO
nemieal pacifieater His theory was that the
way to win mems support and good will was
through their throats and that the best, because
the most available, part Of men souls rests in
their stomachs. He acted ON this belief through
out his career as lobbyist nearly eighteen years,
and his experience went far to justify his belief
No person living had a more accurate under
standing of what constituted per
feet meal than Sam Ward. He had
made the matter a study since
his youth, and was always looking out for fresh
information on the subject. He had read all the
books that afforded a hint ON cooking from those
of ancient Greece to his own day and he had
watched with epieuIean sympathy the best culi
nary processes of Germany. Italy, Russia,
France England and America He was con-
WINGED that perfect digestion was the true source
of happiness, and that he who dined properly
would enjoy an easy conscience and see the
world in its finest light. He knew to the exact
degree what temperature Bordeaux, Burgundy,
sherry and champagne should bear, and was the
most advanced thinkesin everything that per
tanned to daintiness of the table. He was no
mean cook himself, and could on occasion tUrn
out food so appetizing that the Fudest Spartan
might be tempted by it, His gastronomie knowl-
edge was his stock in trade, and upon it he lived
like potentate ia Washington, for nearly a score
of years.
Sam Ward first went to Washington to aid in
the passage of the bill for the contraction of the
currency which was favored by Secretary of the
Treasury MeCulloch- and for his work as lobby
list in regard 10 this measure he received $l2,Ooo
as dinner expenses" He conducted this bust
ness to the satisfaction of everybody interested,
and his next task was the advocacy of a tax on
lotteries, a scheme which he supported in behalf
Of John MorTissey, who wanted the tax imposed,
because he was willing to pay it, knowing that
no ne of his competitors could afford to do 50.
Mr.. Morrissey advanced good SUM 30 cover
dinner expenses" to congressman, and Sam.
Ward spent it to the satisfaction of hselnployeP
and the congressman, whom he provided with
probably the only artistic dinners that theycver
enjoyed. After these two Jobs the fame of Sam.
was established, and he found plenty of men to-
engage his services 'gastron o1c pacificator.
as he called himself Much of the railroad leSis-
lation of Congress was discussed and modelled over
the dinners which Sam prepared, and over which
he presided with so much grace and genial hos
pitality. Whenever difficulty presented itself
in the shape of personal grounds among the pub
lie men of Washington Sam appeared the
great reconciler" When General Garfield Taft
reward PRESIDENT and James Brooks on one side,
and Fernando Wood and General Schenck on the
other, became sworn enemies Sam Ward ar
ranged large dinner party at Welcker's the
DelnOnieos of Washington, and invited the
warning statesmen, taking care not to let one
party know that the other was expected. They
met IN the anteroom, and passed each
other coldly, each couple hiding their